lead melting pots recommendation

[French Colonial]

The absolute best pot for casting heavy bullets and a lot of them is a Waage
https://heatingequipment.waage.com/viewitems/lead-free-tanks/1000-degrees-melting-potIt will hold temperature better than any of the others and that makes a difference when weighing match grade bullets.

But it is to expensive for a small amount of round balls, I would rate the Lyman pots next in quality and while the Lee's work I gave two of them away and kept the Waage and Lyman.

 

[redbeard381]

Lyman 10 pound cast iron stove top pot.

Use a Lyman ladle to scoop and pour lead.

Needs a thermometer too.

Why thermometer?

 

[Mulebrain]

The absolute best pot for casting heavy bullets and a lot of them is a Waage
https://heatingequipment.waage.com/viewitems/lead-free-tanks/1000-degrees-melting-potIt will hold temperature better than any of the others and that makes a difference when weighing match grade bullets.

But it is to expensive for a small amount of round balls, I would rate the Lyman pots next in quality and while the Lee's work I gave two of them away and kept the Waage and Lyman.

I just bought that pot used for 120.00, still have to get it hooked up

 

[4119Bill]

I bought the Lee Pro4-20. I like it for casting I use it for casting balls conicals and fishing weights. I don't use it to process dirty lead I process that in cast iron pot and a propane stove.

 

[French Colonial]

I just bought that pot used for 120.00, still have to get it hooked up

You will love it, holds a lot and holds temperature like no other.

 

[BS]

I also use a propane fish cooker, small stainless pan, RCBS pour, and a thermometer.

Fish cooker has a pressure dial that I marked for 800 degrees.

I get better fills than with my LEE bottom pours.

 

[tjiann]

My Lee 4lb pot has served me faithfully but my casting quantities have steadily increased as my number of guns increases. So, I just upgraded to the Lee 20lb pot.

 

[Ranch 13]

The Lyman magnum 25 pot with the built in PID works extremely well. Altho the temperature setting on it and my lead thermometer did not agree, but after i figured out the difference between the two all has been well.
It works very well for either ladle or bottom pouring, and you don't have to run it thru a cool down process when your finished casting, just unplug it.

 

[jfaldo]

I've been using a 20lb capacity Waage for nearly 30 years. Thermostat went out a couple years ago. Now have it hooked to a PID controller and hopefully will last me till I go to that big shooting range in the sky.

 

[kelljp]

The Lyman magnum 25 pot with the built in PID works extremely well. Altho the temperature setting on it and my lead thermometer did not agree, but after i figured out the difference between the two all has been well.
It works very well for either ladle or bottom pouring, and you don't have to run it thru a cool down process when your finished casting, just unplug it.

Wow, that pot is real impressive ! Thought I'd left all those PID algorithms behind when I retired.

 

[Kentuckyjed]

https://www.cabelas.com/shop/en/lee...p.ds&msclkid=c5a09503c67917824405f02e88c8a4bd

 

[BadDaditood]

Another vote for the Mag 25
Worth every penny
(I still use an iron pot on a Coleman stove for the dirty work of smelting and alloying large amounts)

 

[flntlokr01]

Lee bottom pour going strong for 25 years. Does leak a bit from time to time, i keep a ingot mold under it to catch leaks. I find putting a screw driver in the slot at the top of the stopper and spinning back and forth with a bit of pressure normally stops it.

Same for me; once in a while I pull it apart and give the pot a thorough wire brush cleaning. 25 years and still going strong. Good to remember to not let it run dry; that keeps the spout clean and gets the next melt going a bit faster.

 

[mtfishn]

Having used my Lyman pot for over 30 years I can’t help with the newest products. My Lee pot worked fairly well but the bottom pour seemed to leak from the start. It would be cheaper to buy the Lyman from my experience.

Same here. Bought a USED Lyman 10lb pot in the '70s. Had to re attach the heating element when it burned off a few years ago...still going strong. Bottom pour does leak occasionally,,, but usually cured with a few taps to the stopper. The Lyman has a narrow but deep cavity so I often will use the ladle. I recently got a lead thermometer and was pleased to see how consistent the Lyman thermostat is. I'm casting 50-60lbs a year now between MLs and BP cartridge rifles. I bought a new Lee 20# pot....fearing my Lyman was on its last leggs.....but haven't used it yet.

 

[Kevin]

Had a lee bottom pour for years, cast untold hundreds of pounds of lead through it for modern pistol bullets.
Rheostat went out for the second time, and I upgraded to an RCBS that was on sale.
Love it. Having constant temp control is sweet. Have cast about 300 pounds for muzzleloader bullets so far, it has worked
great. Wish the pot was bigger than 25 pounds. Those .69 mini's and .760s really eat that lead fast.

 

[Horse Creek]

Time to replace/ upgrade the lead melting pot. Was surprised at all the different models.
Does anyone have a recommendation from personal experience with any of the new units ?
Was also surprised at how expensive some models are now.

I am still using the same old Lee pots I got years ago. I take my time and just dip the lead out. Works for me.

 

[64Springer]

Why thermometer?

Correct temperatures are critical to good casting.

And a thermometer is better than sticking your finger in the lead and guessing.

 

[ZUG]

For smelting scrap lead I use a turkey fryer and a large steel wok. I cast it into ingots and then that will go into my Lee 20# electric melters. I use both bottom pour and a dip pot. I do the smelting outside and casting inside the garage. Ventilation and safety gear is used all the time.

 

[Whiteoak15]

For smelting, cast iron or heavy steel pots work fine to purify your lead or alloy and get it CLEAN; steel muffin tins make great ingots and are easy to handle. DON'T mix alloys or clean your mix in a bottom pour pot! Sooner or later some unwanted junk is going to find its way to the spout and it will get you cussing. CLEAN lead or alloy will flow just fine. I'll bet most of you know that already but for those who are starting, believe me when I tell you that I learned this lesson THE HARD WAY!!!

 

[Rifleman1776]

Another vote for the Mag 25
Worth every penny
(I still use an iron pot on a Coleman stove for the dirty work of smelting and alloying large amounts)View attachment 261175

Beautiful but very costly.