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Best lead pot? (Read 9013 times)

Bob259 Participating Member Offline Posts: 27 Joined: Nov 25^th, 2017	Best lead pot? Nov 14^th, 2021 at 6:36pm	Print Post
	What’s the best 20+ pound lead pot that holds temp consistently.


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Cat_Whisperer Frequent Elocutionist Online No 1, 9.3x74R Posts: 3987 Location: Mountains of Virginia Joined: Apr 17^th, 2004	Re: Best lead pot? Reply #1 - Nov 14^th, 2021 at 6:54pm	Print Post
	any of them IF you have a PID Controller for it.

	Cat Whisperer (trk) Chief of Smoke Pulaski Coehorn Works and Skunk Works Drafted May 1970, Retired Maj. U.S.Army assra #9885
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oneatatime Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 4468 Location: Rocky Mountains Joined: Oct 30^th, 2011	Re: Best lead pot? Reply #2 - Nov 14^th, 2021 at 6:58pm	Print Post
	Or you have a gas burner under it;-)


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4570mike Senior Forum Member Offline Posts: 460 Location: On the Peninsula Joined: Apr 11^th, 2013	Re: Best lead pot? Reply #3 - Nov 14^th, 2021 at 7:14pm	Print Post
	I’ve been using a Lyman Mag 25 for the last few years and have been very satisfied. Keeps the temp consistent.


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JLouis Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 10625 Joined: Apr 8^th, 2009	Re: Best lead pot? Reply #4 - Nov 14^th, 2021 at 7:20pm	Print Post
	The inexpensive Lee hooked up to a 1000 Watt Dimmer Switch. I now have a Lyman MAG25 Digital Melting Furnace that was gifted to me that really holds the temp. very well. But Prior too I just used the Lee 20 Lb Pot hooked up to the 1000 Watt Dimmer Switch. What it does is to provide a constant Voltage / Amps to the heating element and no more cycling on and off then taking place. I used it for well over 20 years and it held the temp. extremely well. A typical 110 Dimmer Switch as is found at Home Depot, Lowes or the local Hardware store for adjusting your in home lighting will not work. And I highly recommend that you don't even try it for the sake of fire risk. It will quickly over heat and if it does not fail first or even fail to trip your breaker first an electrical fire or damage to your wiring could also take place.
	« Last Edit: Nov 14^th, 2021 at 7:34pm by JLouis »
	" It Is Better To Now Have Been A Has Been Than A Never Was Or A Wanna Be "
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KFW Oldtimer Offline Posts: 634 Location: Wyoming Joined: Dec 18^th, 2016	Re: Best lead pot? Reply #5 - Nov 14^th, 2021 at 7:48pm	Print Post
	RCBS Easy Melt has been a great upgrade for me, have had all the old Lyman, Lee, Saeco, Coleman white gas, and propane burners pots for past 50+ years and this is the best so for me and I cast alot. The others work fine with a drop in thermometer, but The RCBS still wins.


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JerryH Frequent Elocutionist Offline ASSRA Member #10876 Posts: 1327 Location: Easton, CA Joined: Nov 9^th, 2014	Re: Best lead pot? Reply #6 - Nov 14^th, 2021 at 8:09pm	Print Post
	I'll second the use of a PID controller with any pot you care to use.

	I'm not a complete idiot, some of my parts are missing.
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JLouis Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 10625 Joined: Apr 8^th, 2009	Re: Best lead pot? Reply #7 - Nov 14^th, 2021 at 8:31pm	Print Post
	The last time I bought a Lee 20lb Ladle Pour Pot it was just to have an extra one to use. The original Pot I bought back in 1998 is still working just fine. The new one was well under $60.00 shipped to my house and I still have it. I personally do believe it is not so much about what kind of Lead Pot or the temp. it can actually hold. It is allot more about on learning just how to cast match grade bullets. Even if a Pot does not hold an exacting temp. as long as they are all within 4 tenths and then shot in the order as cast there is no need to spend any extra money for a PID, Dimmer Switch or even a Digital pot and that has been my own personal experience. No matter how much money one spends for such things they will not simply now cast match grade bullets. It is only you who can learn how to do it yourself and to do it with what ever pot that you might choose.

	" It Is Better To Now Have Been A Has Been Than A Never Was Or A Wanna Be "
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Bob259 Participating Member Offline Posts: 27 Joined: Nov 25^th, 2017	Re: Best lead pot? Reply #8 - Nov 14^th, 2021 at 8:35pm	Print Post
	I have a RCBS Pro Melt but the temp is not what the lead is actually at, let’s say set at 760 and with a thermometer it’s only at 730. I may just run it wide open and use a PID set up to keep it where I want. Was hoping I didn’t need to go that route.


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Bob259 Participating Member Offline Posts: 27 Joined: Nov 25^th, 2017	Re: Best lead pot? Reply #9 - Nov 14^th, 2021 at 8:36pm	Print Post
	Cat_Whisperer wrote on Nov 14^th, 2021 at 6:54pm: any of them IF you have a PID Controller for it. 👍


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cuslog Senior Forum Member Offline Posts: 263 Location: Calgary, Alberta Joined: Dec 29^th, 2011	Re: Best lead pot? Reply #10 - Nov 14^th, 2021 at 8:50pm	Print Post
	Cat_Whisperer wrote on Nov 14^th, 2021 at 6:54pm: any of them IF you have a PID Controller for it. Yes - Lee 20 lb. pot - recently built a PID controller for it - about $60 worth of parts. Set at 825, 822 is as low as it gets and 828 as high. Unless of course, I add material or a cold ladle etc.


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JerryH Frequent Elocutionist Offline ASSRA Member #10876 Posts: 1327 Location: Easton, CA Joined: Nov 9^th, 2014	Re: Best lead pot? Reply #11 - Nov 14^th, 2021 at 8:55pm	Print Post
	Bob259 wrote on Nov 14^th, 2021 at 8:35pm: I have a RCBS Pro Melt but the temp is not what the lead is actually at, let’s say set at 760 and with a thermometer it’s only at 730. I may just run it wide open and use a PID set up to keep it where I want. Was hoping I didn’t need to go that route. If you do decide to use a PID controller I would suggest you by-pass the the RCBS thermostat and and use the PID controller only.
	« Last Edit: Nov 14^th, 2021 at 9:02pm by JerryH »
	I'm not a complete idiot, some of my parts are missing.
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JLouis Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 10625 Joined: Apr 8^th, 2009	Re: Best lead pot? Reply #12 - Nov 14^th, 2021 at 10:22pm	Print Post
	Thank you Jerry H for bringing it up. Even if using a dimmer switch or some others the original controller does have to be by passed.

	" It Is Better To Now Have Been A Has Been Than A Never Was Or A Wanna Be "
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texasmac Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 2153 Location: Central Texas Joined: Aug 16^th, 2004	Re: Best lead pot? Reply #13 - Nov 14^th, 2021 at 11:57pm	Print Post
	JerryH & JLouis, I disagree as I've used an RCBS Pro Melt for several years with a separate PID and never bypassed the thermostat - ran it "wide open" with no problems with PID temps up to 785 degrees. If it won't reach the required temperature with the PID then bypassing may be required as the thermostat is not working properly. But try it with the PID first prior to bypassing. I still use the Pro Melt with the PID for the bottom pour feature when casting handgun bullets. But for BPCR bullets I prefer the RCBS Easy Melt with the built-in PID. Wayne

	NRA Life (Benefactor & President's Council) Member, TSRA Life Member, NSSF Member, Author & Publisher of the Browning BPCR book
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JerryH Frequent Elocutionist Offline ASSRA Member #10876 Posts: 1327 Location: Easton, CA Joined: Nov 9^th, 2014	Re: Best lead pot? Reply #14 - Nov 15^th, 2021 at 12:35am	Print Post
	texasmac wrote on Nov 14^th, 2021 at 11:57pm: JerryH & JLouis, I disagree as I've used an RCBS Pro Melt for several years with a separate PID and never bypassed the thermostat - ran it "wide open" with no problems with PID temps up to 785 degrees. If it won't reach the required temperature with the PID then bypassing may be required as the thermostat is not working properly. But try it with the PID first prior to bypassing. I still use the Pro Melt with the PID for the bottom pour feature when casting handgun bullets. But for BPCR bullets I prefer the RCBS Easy Melt with the built-in PID. Wayne I cast at 825 degrees with my Lee 20# pot and PID controller for all my match bullets. I never had good luck casting below that temperature. YMMV. I can see no reason to run two thermostats when casting. The PID controller will be the most accurate one.

	I'm not a complete idiot, some of my parts are missing.
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