Lead melting pot

[Shotgun232]

I am fairly new to casting roundball and bullets. I have been using the typical coffee can on a propane burner with a ladle to fill my molds. This does work well, however I would really like something better.

This winter I really want to go into production, so I would like to upgrade. Just wondering what everyone is using and how they like it.

I am considering buying the Lee Production pot (the 20lb model). I have heard those are good pots, especially for the money.
Any thoughts???

 

[Rifleman1776]

They are OK, but just that. Not a lifetime investment like the Lyman.
I do not favor their bottom pour. Prefer to dip with a Lyman dipper. I do not like the Lee dippers, might as well use a spoon.

 

[jamesthomas]

The Lee pots are much better than O.K. I have the 20lb. wide mouth made for dipping and its been great. The Lee dipper does need to be bigger though. its O.K. when using it for .40 caliber RBs but it needs to bigger to pour .50 caliber RBs an above.

 

[Brian6396]

I have my grandfathers LEE 5 pound pot. He plugged the bottom poor spout and im guessing it was made in the 70s since it still has the two leg plug with no ground lug. Works every time with no problems :thumbsup:

 

[capt_turk]

If you have, or have a friend with a welding machine, weld a piece of plate on a short section of steel pipe. I used that for several years until I happened to find a regular old fashion cast iron lead pot. It will work MUCH better than a coffee can. It will hold temps much better and you don't have to worry about burning a hole in it and having melted lead running all over the place.

 

[Many Klatch]

For $10 or $15 you can find an antique plumbers lead casting pot at the local antique store. Sometimes they even have lead in them. Much safer than a tin can.

I have been using my Lyman 20 pound lead pot for about 20 years. Still works fine. I did plug the bottom filler spout however since it never did work well casting big .715 and .60 ball. It just couldn't fill the mold quick enough to get a good cast.

Many Klatch

 

[capt_turk]

The old fashion lead plumbers pots are getting to be a rare bird. I hunted for one for several years before I finally found mine, or actually it found me. A friend heard I was looking for one and gave me his.

 

[Flash Pan Dan]

I got my 20 pound iron pot from Buffalo Arms. I think they are $22. The also have a 50 pound pot for $32. They work great. I would recommend that you invest in a lead thermometer. Getting the temperature right from the get-go helps a lot.

 

[cynthialee]

I have been using a small cast iron pot and a good size dipper and I love it.
Now I haven't tried one of them bottom pour pots, and they do not interest me. If the pour spout fails and refuses to close ... there is going to be an impossible to clean mess as a result.

 

[crockett]

Same thing, I've never used a bottom pour. If a ball comes out frosted or wrinkled I just re-melt it. I've cast 700 balls/bullets at a time just using simple equipment. I do like a good sized dipper, makes the job a lot easier.

 

[bpd303]

In 50 or so years I have never had any of my bottom pours stick wide open. I use a 20 lb Lyman, 10 lb Lee and a 5 lb lee dipper pot.

However they will tend to drip if not kept clean. To solve the occasional dripping, I just put my ingot mold under the spout and add the drips back to the pot along with the sprues & rejects.

I like the electric pots for precise heat control along with a thermometer. I can cast many more ball per hour with the bottom pour pots.

 

[Swamp Rat]

Just bought a Palmer pot 2 from bass pro since I was there. it was $50 there but saw it on line for $35. Like the idea of being able to put the mold in the lead to heat the mold and pour straight from the pot. Think pour from the pot might work better since the lead is still hot during pour. have not played with it yet. but if your doing production I'd say you need something larger.

 

[fleener]

all depends on what you want, but once I got a waage lead pot for bullet caster m Lee has never seen the light of day. I don't use it to cast round balls, but conicals.

The cost over 100 bucks, but it was worth every penny.

fleener

 

[Billnpatti]

My personal preference is the Lee electric pot. It costs a lot less than the Lyman pot and will last many years. Electric is better than a cast iron pot over a flame because you have a much greater control over your casting temperature. Pick either the 10 or 20 pound pot depending on how many balls you want to cast at one time. My 10 pound pot is just about right for me because by the time it is time to add more lead, my arthritic hands need a rest. I add a few ingots and by the time they are melted and up to temperature, my hands are ready to go at it again.

As for using a coffee can to melt your lead, that is a serious no no :nono: . If the bottom seam happened to give way, you would possibly end up with a lap full of molten lead. You sure don't want Mr. Winkie looking like a burnt match. :shocked2: :shocked2: :shake:

My favorite lead dipper is the Lyman dipper with the pour spout on one side. The spout fits the sprue hole in your mold very nicely and gives you a nice pour.

 

[AZbpBurner]

My Lee pot is over 36 years old and still works like new. Problem some folks have with the bottom pour is the failure to periodically disassemble and clean out the valve seat and rod. Whenever mine begins to drip, I simply drain or cast util empty, then disassemble and clean. A wire wheel cleans the valve rod, and an old bronze rifle brush works fine for the valve seat.

 

[bpd303]

Same here...
My Lyman 20 lb pot is over 50 years old and still going strong. The only time regular cleaning did not stop the dripping was one time (about fifteen years ago) I cast some unknown alloy boolits which had what I think was copper in it and it coated the spout. I pulled the valve and put some valve grinding compound on it and reseated the valve. It's been working fine since then.

 

[Shotgun232]

so would a stainless steel stock pot be better to melt my lead down?? I picked one up at the goodwill that is fairly thick, say about 1/8 inch on bottom and 3/32 on the sides.

 

[Billnpatti]

Sure, that will work safely. The only problem with a stock pot is that the sides are pretty tall, straight and square with the bottom and the pot is huge, too big to work very well for melting lead. This would make dipping lead a bit more difficult than a pot such as a lead melting pot that has relatively short curved sides that do not meet the bottom at a square angle. The pot like you describe will serve you safely until you can get an electric Lee pot.

 

[FishDFly]

Sage advice.

 

[Shotgun232]

I just ordered a Lee 20lb pot, however I will use the stock pot to melt down and clean my lead, as I am using roofing lead, which has pieces of tar and gravel suck to the surface. I just cut the lead in 1 inch strips and then melt her down and skim off the flaming tar and gravel.