I put it together upside down

[robinghewitt]

All day modifying my Lee production pot to put the plunger in the middle 'cause it was leaking and blocking up.

Anyway got it all back together, put in some lead, switched it on and thought that doesn't look right, not much room under the spout ::

I had the heating coil at the top rather than the bottom, it's now sitting under a fan cooling down, thank goodness for welding irons.

 

[arilar]

Squire Robin,
Cant you just turn the pot upside down? :hmm:
Trying to help a friend out. eace:
Regards,
ARILAR :: :thumbsup:

 

[jrdavis]

you plan on casting bullets or cooking hot dogs with that thing :huh:?

 

[Slowpoke]

Just buy you a new one and "E-bay" the other one to some chap in New Zealand.

SP

 

[robinghewitt]

Just buy you a new one and "E-bay" the other one to some chap in New Zealand.

Don't know if I'd get much for it now it's non-standard ::

Anyway, it's all back together the right way up and the fan is cooling 50 shiny new Minies for tomorrow.

 

[bowjock]

I would love to see you modifications and how you did them to your pot????

 

[robinghewitt]

I would love to see you modifications and how you did them to your pot????

It's not quite right yet having developed a bit of a tilt, easy enough to fix but I'll have to melt the lead in it before it will move ::

The idea was that if the plunger came down vertically in the middle it would be much easier to clear the spout if it blocked.

Also a shorter spout to keep it molten inside, which meant sawing about a quarter inch off the aluminum outer jacket.

I sawed the old spout nearly flush and got my son to weld the hole shut. I drilled a 5/8" hole and made a new spout which riveted it from above like a big eyelet.

For easy crud removal I made it so that if you flip the lever right back you can take the rod out without undoing screws. The rod goes through a hole in the iron strap so it can't disengage accidentally.

Slightly awkward because I have to raise it up so I can see the new spout but I don't miss the clogging up, drips and unexpected spillages that were such a feature of the original design ::

 

[robinghewitt]

And here's the group ::

 

[Slowpoke]

Gentlemen.... we are in the presents of genius. :applause:

Was that group offhand at 100 yards? If so that is impressive... How many pounds is the trigger?

SP

 

[robinghewitt]

Was that group offhand at 100 yards? If so that is impressive... How many pounds is the trigger?

Blimey, I wish. It was 100 yards standing, but there was a convenient wooden post holding the roof up and
I kinda leaned against it ::

I don't know how much the trigger costs ::

 

[Slowpoke]

Robin,
You slay me..... Not "Pounds" as in money.... "Pounds" as in weight. How much pressure do you have to exert on the trigger to get it to go off.

"Chuck"ly over that one.

Never the less that's a great group. It's a 58 caliber, so how much powder are you using.

 

[robinghewitt]

It's a 58 caliber, so how much powder are you using.

You think I know these things :crackup:

I was using a cheap Pedersoli adjustable measure but having left my specs at home I didn't adjust it. It is still set to 55 gns, but who could say what that works out to in the real world.

IDEAL 481 mould with a modified cavity, lubed with lard and beeswax mix, then sized .001" under bore size, P53, Badshot Lea near Aldershot, 3 lands, and nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition, our three main weapons are surprise etc ::