Shad blade 1/4oz incomplete

[Thembonez]

I'm having problems getting a complete cast on the 1/4oz shad blade. About 1 out of 10 come out complete. My molds are hot, inserts hot, and lead hot. Don't know what else I could change. Anyone have this problem or figured out a remedy?

[ctom]

How are you filling the mold? Ladle? Bottom pour pot? Pure lead or wheel-weight alloy?

If everything is hot I'd start with the filling of the mold. The first thing to try is free....try tipping the mold towards the hinge side about 15 degrees, maybe 20 as you fill the cavities.  If you are using an alloyed lead, go to pure lead. If you are using a bottom pour pot, try dipping a 3 ounce ladle so the lead stays very hot during the pour.

I have the vibrating "sonar" type of mold and in one cavity I had to create an extra vent using a small triangular file.

[BareKnuckleJigs]

Might be time to flux Your lead mix.  Once or twice.

[Muskygary]

Did you smoke or hit your mold with casting release spray first? Makes the lead run into the mold quicker.

[Thembonez]

I'm using a bottom pour melting pot, and the mold has been been 'smoked'. When this happens it's always the bottom side that does it. Not enough clearance between blade insert and gate opening? Maybe fluxing could help??

[Lamar]

  Sound like to me your not using real soft lead. Small pours will do that if using hard lead. You can try what has been said and that will help but 1 out of 10 is pretty bad and I'll bet it's the lead. If you can't scratch it with your finger nail then it's to hard.

[Grizz12]

I had this problem and Mark told me to preheat the blades first I set them on the rim while warming up and that has helped me.