- This topic is empty.
-
Topic
-
DDRanch
-
Replies
-
Full.Lead.Taco
NOE currently doesn’t do steel molds, just aluminum and brass. While some people really like brass for heat retention, I generally prefer aluminum because they weigh less. Brass casts great but weighs quite a bit more than aluminum.
Howdy all.
What are the advantages of going with your brass versus steel molds?
I have several of the NOE molds in brass but was wondering.
Dang molds are almost to pretty to use!
robertpedersen1
As mentioned, NOE doesn’t do steel/iron. But there are plenty on the market from other makers.
My basic opinion, hitting just a few points each:
Aluminum: Light. Easy to work with. But easy to damage. Excellent heat transfer. (Quicker to temp and reduced hot-spotting.)
Brass: Casts so well. Looks great. Good heat transfer. But heavy! Easy to damage. (And they warp easily if overheated – especially if improperly stress relieved.)
Steel/Iron: Cheap. Durable. Lighter than brass. But they rust, and heat transfer is terrible.
mike1a
The simple answer NOE doesn’t make steel molds.
That’s the difference.Actually I use all of the above. I use what offers the best design that is available. I like Ideal/Lyman molds because there is a lot of historical data on certain mold designs which is interesting for reference/goofing off. I load for both at the same time. However the idea that brass molds are also beautiful plays into it for me. I really wanted a particular bullet and I have been looking around and I finally found one available in an NOE design. Since I might not be spending much money on molds and such for a while I decided to go with a 4 banger NOE brass mold because I felt like it was an investment.
Casting wise brass is freaking heavy and it can get tiring, esp with 4 holes. 2 holes are easily managed I think. But it’s really just about getting into a rhythm and those issues go away for me. When brass is ready and casting it is pretty consistent. Steel is also consistent when temps are right, but brass seems a bit lower temp and consistent over a wider range of temperatures. But that could just be me….
Mike
AlvinYork
Looks like most issues were mentioned. Just my two cents.
Aluminum is light and heats up quick. Too quick, I think. I often need to cool down the mould with a damp rag when excessive heat signs appear. Worth mentioning again is that they are easily damaged.
Brass is the heaviest of the choices but seems to hang onto heat/maintain temperatures much better than aluminum. In my experience I haven’t found them too easy to damage. Certainly much less so than aluminum. I used to have an issue with heaving these moulds around but with the Third Generation NOE Lead Pot Mould Guide the amount of time holding that weight is cut in half. I highly recommend that guide even if you’re using the aluminum moulds.
Iron(steel) – I first started casting with Lyman/RCBS ductile iron moulds so I may be inclined to favor this material. They are quite tough, weigh less than the brass and, once you get the mould to temperature, it stays nice and hot throughout your casting session. Rust, however, is the enemy of this material and there is moisture everywhere.
robertpedersen1
mike1a
AlvinYork- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.