I will try the mold release asap. As far as the temperature goes, I have turned the lead pot all the way up to 10 and from what I have been reading that should be roughly 950 to 1000 degrees F. I don't have a thermometer to confirm this though. I kinda think what Bassbull posted is what i'm seeing happening. The lead cast fine without a hook in the mold but when I insert a hook I'm losing the barbed collar. Sometimes the whole barb and shank and sometimes just the barb. I just don't know if I have the guts to start carving into my mold to let the gases escape!!