Choosing a melting furnace.

[IanH]

Mine

does not have a big steel knob like that on top. You said remove it. did you add it? I would think the big heavy weight would help keep the pintle seated.

Remove the steel knob, redrill and tap it to the pintle threads

The new furnaces all come with a big steel knob for lifting the valve instead of the wooden ones. Repurpose it to the pintle and put a wood one on the stud you took it from so you don't get burned working the valve.

 

[RB POWELL]

Trying to get started casting lead round balls for my T/C Hawken and black powder revolvers. Am sourcing equipment, have bought several molds and a ladel, ordered a Lyman Mag25 from ebay back in December, that never arrived, so got a refund from ebay. Still need something to melt the lead, looking for practical advice on choosing something simple, reliable, and preferably idiot proof, RCBS, Lyman, etc...

Lee makes quality melters at reasonable cost.

 

[TDM]

Yep, there was a time long ago when I looked down on Lee products. 30-40 years ago their stuff was so cheaply priced I figured it wasn’t any good. Not anymore, while they may not be the best, they remain the only manufacturer that hasn’t priced themselves over the moon.