rusty bullet mold cleaning the rust...

[smokenrust]

I just bought an old rusty bullet mold, a genuine Winchester 38-56 WCF to be exact. and it is rusty to some degree, but big question is, How do I clean the cavity without damaging it? Or just run some lead in it and let the heat and lead descale it? or run a brass brush in there?
Here is a pic of it... Thanks, SnR

$_571s.JPG

http://www.ebay.com/itm/COLLECTABLE-ANT ... 7675.l2557

[Lefty Dude]

Naval Jelly, and a nylon brush

[yooper2]

I would either use the naval jelly w/nylon brush or the lead and rust removal cloths available from Midway. I've saved a couple of neglected old molds with them. Whatever you do, stay away from wire brushes.


Eric

[TomF]

I too saved a mold of late. I cleaned up the outside as well as the mold faces with oil and 4/0 steel wool. I then cast a few boolits from WW material. I then used a small amount of lapping compound in the cavities, twisting the lapping compound and boolits until the cavity came clean.

TomF

[6pt-sika]

If you don't mind taking the wood off the handles you can put it in a sonic cleaner and it'll get it relatively clean .

[Hawkeye2]

While Navel Jelly will do a great job it is an acid and will etch the metal causing some damage to the unrusted areas. Evapo-Rust will remove all the rust and won't etch or damage the surface but will get down to the bottom of the pits too. It will clean that mold in about 15 minutes, rinse off with water. No labor involved.

http://www.rustremover.net/

[Griff]

I've used 3-1 oil and bronze wool to good effect on light surface rust.

[M. M. Wright]

+1 on the EvapOrust. Just remember that it needs to be at least 70 F to work properly and a little more heat makes it work quicker.
I've used a bullet cast and drilled, then epoxy in a drill bit or blank to make a lap that is coated with fine lapping compound then clamped into the mold and turned with a drill motor to polish the mold. It may increase the size of the bullet by .001 or so but the bullets will size down to whatever. I've even used this method to make a mold for larger bore diameters that wanted a bigger bullet.

[OldWin]

I've done several old Winchester bullet molds that had rust in them.

My favorite method is to use Kroil and 0000 steel wool. Don't be in a hurry. Spray it down good with the Kroil and let it set for a day. Then work it a little at a time with more Kroil and the steel wool. Wipe it off with a paper towel once in a while to check your progress.

You will be surprised. Kroil is great stuff!

[smokenrust]

I already got the mold soaking with some oil and waiting for the old rust to start letting loose... but it wasn't Kroil... might spray it down with that stuff tomarrow, I don't have evaporust...
When going after other rusty surfaces, I use one of them dryer sheets that has been used up as a rub cloth and soak that with oil. and sometimes an aluminum scratchpad works too but not using it here.
Thanks for the input and suggestions, SnR