I've poured for years and there will be times when no matter what you can't get that stupid barb to pour right. Before I bought the collar less ball head mold I just cut the collars off. I won't put my molds on top of the pot, I just pour lead into them till they heat up, never smoked a mold, but I do flux.

You'll never be perfect pouring so relax and have fun doing what your doing. If you get a bad one, as has been said just dip in slightly to melt the lead off.