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Melting pots (Read 5812 times)

mb3240 Ex Member	Melting pots Dec 28^th, 2013 at 6:44pm	Print Post
	Since I haven't been able to purchase the bullets I need (been on back order forever) I'm thinking about getting into casting. I would appreciate your thoughts and suggestion. I would only be casting small amounts of soft (9+ BHN) bullets for an original Marlin / Ballard 32-40 and a harder alloy for my 32 Winchester Special and Colt 38 Special. Specifically, will one of the $50.00 electric pots suffice or should I look for one of the bigger ones and at what volume would one want to switch from the small ones to the larger ones. Also, I have read Lyman's Cast Bullet Handbook which I received for Christmas.


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ledball Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 1010 Location: syracuse, ohio Joined: Nov 20^th, 2009	Re: Melting pots Reply #1 - Dec 28^th, 2013 at 6:50pm	Print Post
	I suggest a Lee Pro 4 20lb pot, it will do anything you want at a reasonable price. Ledball


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RayH Oldtimer Offline ASSRA # 10880 Posts: 753 Location: Oldest City, FL Joined: Jan 4^th, 2012	Re: Melting pots Reply #2 - Dec 28^th, 2013 at 6:55pm	Print Post
	2nd that!

	In GOD We Trust
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Sendaro Oldtimer Offline When the sight is on SEND IT! Posts: 588 Location: Saratoga Springs NY Joined: Nov 21^st, 2010	Re: Melting pots Reply #3 - Dec 28^th, 2013 at 7:05pm	Print Post
	The Lee will do verything that you want, and for a long time. Buy one. Sendaro


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craigster Oldtimer Offline Posts: 684 Location: lost coast CA Joined: Feb 20^th, 2011	Re: Melting pots Reply #4 - Dec 28^th, 2013 at 7:41pm	Print Post
	I have an older Lee that works pretty well, but was thinking about adding a Lyman Big Dipper. Any input/opinions ?
	« Last Edit: Dec 28^th, 2013 at 7:57pm by craigster »

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Kermit1945 Oldtimer Offline Posts: 980 Location: In Flux Joined: Aug 31^st, 2011	Re: Melting pots Reply #5 - Dec 28^th, 2013 at 8:17pm	Print Post
	Lee. I have the bottom pour 10 lb-er. The spout puked so I ran a screw into it and use my ol' Ideal dipper. I sorta miss the bottom pour convenience, but not enough to spend any money.

	"Speed's fine, but accuracy's final." Bill Jordan "Anything worth doing is worth doing slowly." Mae West
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shovel80 Oldtimer Offline Posts: 896 Location: Sonora,CA Joined: Jun 6^th, 2011	Re: Melting pots Reply #6 - Dec 28^th, 2013 at 8:24pm	Print Post
	I use a 20# Lee Also. The one without the bottom pour is called the "Magnum Melter" I just cast 100 .45 Cal bullets today with it. Terry

	ASSRA Member # 11021
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westerner Frequent Elocutionist Offline deleted posts and threads record holder. Posts: 11462 Location: Why, out West of course Joined: May 29^th, 2006	Re: Melting pots Reply #7 - Dec 28^th, 2013 at 8:29pm	Print Post
	ledball wrote on Dec 28^th, 2013 at 6:50pm: I suggest a Lee Pro 4 20lb pot, it will do anything you want at a reasonable price. Ledball Good inexpensive pot. Joe.

	A blind squirrel runs into a tree every once in a while.
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JLouis Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 10625 Joined: Apr 8^th, 2009	Re: Melting pots Reply #8 - Dec 28^th, 2013 at 8:47pm	Print Post
	Lee 20# Ladle Pot and I highly recommend that you learn how to ladle pour. If you only wish to bottom pour then you might want to look at something else as the Lee Pot has a tendency to constantly leak past the shut off stem of which is a real pain and it makes it very challenging to cast match quality bullets while doing so. I might also add that bottom pouring is quit a bit more challenging to produce match quality bullets than ladle pouring. JLouis

	" It Is Better To Now Have Been A Has Been Than A Never Was Or A Wanna Be "
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George Babits Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 1102 Joined: Sep 27^th, 2012	Re: Melting pots Reply #9 - Dec 28^th, 2013 at 9:01pm	Print Post
	The spout puked so I ran a screw into it and use my ol' Ideal dipper. I sorta miss the bottom pour convenience, but not enough to spend any money. [/quote] Same thing happened to me. I had the Lee "Production pot back in the mid-1970s. The spout would never seal up properlt. Finally put a screw into it, removed the lifting works, and used a dipper. Never bought another Lee product again. Replaced that pot eventually with an RCBS pot, which is great. I actually wore out one "pot" on that and had to replace it. Have no idea how many thousands of bullets that one has cast. If you are really low budget, just get a small stainless steel cooking pot at the Salvation Army or Goodwill and use that with your dipper. George Salmon, Idaho


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SSShooter Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 2917 Location: Southern NJ Joined: Aug 1^st, 2010	Re: Melting pots Reply #10 - Dec 28^th, 2013 at 9:21pm	Print Post
	JLouis wrote on Dec 28^th, 2013 at 8:47pm: Lee 20# Ladle Pot and I highly recommend that you learn how to ladle pour. If you only wish to bottom pour then you might want to look at something else as the Lee Pot has a tendency to constantly leak past the shut off stem of which is a real pain and it makes it very challenging to cast match quality bullets while doing so. I might also add that bottom pouring is quite a bit more challenging to produce match quality bullets than ladle pouring. JLouis +1. Never spoken to a competitive shooter who bottom pours. For whatever reason it just doesn't seem to cast the required quality bullets. The Lee 20# pot and the ladle of your choice (though I use the RCBS). The Lyman book is good, but nothing beats practice and asking here when you are not getting good results. Wealth of helpful knowledge on the forum.
	« Last Edit: Dec 28^th, 2013 at 9:27pm by SSShooter »
	Glenn - 2x CPA 44 1/2 w/22LR (Shilen ratchet-rifled & Bartlein 5R rifled), 38-40RH & 38-55WCF (Bartlein 5R rifled) & 40-65WCF (GrnMtn 'X') barrels
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mb3240 Ex Member	Re: Melting pots Reply #11 - Dec 28^th, 2013 at 10:22pm	Print Post
	Since I am looking for accuracy and not volume I will be ladle pouring. Also from what I have read maintaining a constant temperature is important so how does the Lee 20# perform in this area?


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SSShooter Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 2917 Location: Southern NJ Joined: Aug 1^st, 2010	Re: Melting pots Reply #12 - Dec 28^th, 2013 at 11:34pm	Print Post
	Lee is about as good as any rheostat controlled pot, which is most all of them. The problem is that as the lead level drops as you cast there is no feedback on the control so you need to 'learn' to slowly turn down the knob as the level drops. For about $75 you can put a digital PID controller on your pot. Mine maintains the temp within about 4-5F (max variation) at 775 when I'm casting. Here is a current thread that discusses same. (You need to *Login* or *Register* to view media files and links)

	Glenn - 2x CPA 44 1/2 w/22LR (Shilen ratchet-rifled & Bartlein 5R rifled), 38-40RH & 38-55WCF (Bartlein 5R rifled) & 40-65WCF (GrnMtn 'X') barrels
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uscra112 Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 4079 Location: Switzerland of Ohio Joined: May 7^th, 2007	Re: Melting pots Reply #13 - Dec 29^th, 2013 at 12:59am	Print Post
	Or if you've got the scratch, and are not inclined toward electronics assembly, this poster on Cast Boolits is selling a PID controller that is getting good reviews. (You need to *Login* or *Register* to view media files and links) I'm perfectly capable of building one, but may buy his just to save my time for other pursuits.

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digitall423 Oldtimer Offline Posts: 744 Location: Calhoun, TN Joined: Aug 5^th, 2005	Re: Melting pots Reply #14 - Dec 29^th, 2013 at 7:15am	Print Post
	Another possibility is the Waage pot. It is a real thermostatically controlled pot and is built like a Sherman tank. A bit pricy though. Waage doesn't list the pot for casters so you just call them and they will build you one. The Lee Magnum Melter will do what a Waage will do with the addition of a PID controller. Bill Almost forgot. Here is a link. (You need to *Login* or *Register* to view media files and links)


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