Lee pot problem

[Tom Compton]

HOT POT!! Been using bottom pour 'bout 40 yr. My old 10 lb rusting out in spots got new 20 lb. Pouring .395s its great. Started on some .58 minies (550 gr) and having too many culls both visual and weighed like 30%+. Decided the stream is too small and dug out a Hot Pot I bought used some time ago but never used. Man, it fills that mold up rat now. Maybe 1/10 rejects and no dipping.
TC

 

[coloradoclyde]

An electric ladle?.... :haha: ..... :thumbsup:

 

[rijerolmon]

You are correct!! Mine does NOT leak...it pores.
Plug the damn thing and use a ladle.

 

[coloradoclyde]

I'm amazed at how many people have difficulties with the bottom pour.....
For me, the speed and ease of use of a bottom pour far out weighs the occasional tinkering involved.

A few things I have found helpful are:
Never store the pot empty (half full)
When fluxing, scrape sides and bottom with spoon
Always use clean lead....
Tapping it turning the rod will stop drips.

And the most important....Keep a drip pan under the spout. :grin:

 

[RhinoDave]

I'm pretty much in the same boat as Clyde. Never have had a serious problem with my bottom pour and it's been around for a long time. After a long session of casting, I usually have one of those creative little pyramids under the pour spout from the occessional drip. It just goes back in the pot. I do the same things Clyde does to keep it going.

 

[Billnpatti]

Yep, looks a lot like what I had only mine was on a bench and not on a table saw. Same mess, though.

 

[Billnpatti]

.....There is a learning curve, and not everyone can navigate that curve....That's just the way life is....

Now, Clyde, what I had was not a problem handling the learning curve, it was a recurrent mechanical problem caused by dross getting into the spout. My lead was as clean as I could get it but, as you well know, lead can, and does, oxidize in the pot and dross and other impurities will float to the surface. I kept my lead skimmed and as free of dross as I could keep it. Most of the time, my bottom pour pot worked just fine but on those occasions when the spout became plugged or started leaking and required cleaning it slowed and occasionally stopped my casting. I have as much as or possibly more patience than most anyone but that was a vexation for me and one that I was glad to rid myself of. Learning curve problem? Naw! You missed your guess on that one. :slap: :haha:

 

[Rifleman1776]

You are correct!! Mine does NOT leak...it pores.
Plug the damn thing and use a ladle.

That is what I have since done.
BTW, I once had a Lyman bottom pour I used for years with great success. Put into 'dry' storage for a while after a move. When I took out it had rusted away to almost nothing. :cursing: Can't afford the price for their new ones. That is what keeps Lee in business.

 

[Golfswithwolves]

My Lee pot worked well for awhile then started to drip. The usual tricks to fix this have not helped very much, and my last casting session ended quickly as the spout leaked rapidly and uncontrollably. This pot may end up as a dedicated ladle-only outfit with the spout plugged by a screw unless I can get it to stop its dripping. I have an RCBS Pro-Melt on order as life is too short for a guy to be shackled by equipment problems.

 

[Kansas Jake]

I guess one can always fall back on the old standby Coleman camp stove with a sauce pan to melt the lead. I use one to melt and clean up range recovered lead and have used it for casting off and on. I do like my Lyman electric pot better for casting though. It is not a pour pot, so I use a Lyman ladle.

 

[Rifleman1776]

one can always fall back on the old standby Coleman camp stove with a sauce pan to melt the lead.

That is what I did with some mystery metal recently. I cast a bunch of .600" balls for use in my smoothie. I used the Coleman and a Lyman pot with a ladle so I wouldn't contaminate my pure lead.

 

[Heelerau]

Yesterday after reading this subject, I looked up my old lee bottom pour pot that I had quit using due to excessive dripping. I drilled out the nozzle with the appopriate drill, then had a look at the seat. It seems I may have damaged the seat with a drill years ago, leaving a small notch in the seat. I cleaned up the nose of the rod, attached it to a battery drill and used the rod to hone the seat, till I got a nice make all-round, like grinding an exhaust valve. Viola !! it has worked so after 27 years I can use the pot again, ( I don't through much out !!) I tried it out on my .568 pritchett bullet mould which is bothersome and keeps getting shrinkage from the base up, I think the trick is not to actually have the lead to hot.

 

[coloradoclyde]

:thumbsup: :hatsoff:

 

[phoenix511]

I have a SAECO bottom pour pot that has given fine results for 20+ years. I flux often (Brownell's and Midway both sell flux especially tailored to bullet casting), stir the molten lead, and skim off the dross.

I wonder if too little fluxing, or using sawdust, candles, etc may not be very effective, thus allowing impurities to clog the pouring spout?

 

[Rifleman1776]

I wonder if too little fluxing, or using sawdust, candles, etc may not be very effective, thus allowing impurities to clog the pouring spout?

Personally, I question the value of using flux products. For years I used a black granular substance. When that ran out I simply started stirring and skimming frequently. Works. So, now I don't use any smoky, smelly stuff.

 

[azmntman]

So, now I don't use any smoky, smelly stuff.[/quote]

Except fer the black powder!

 

[NEW222]

I had not been here in a short while, but am glad this topic got brought up. I am surprised to find out I was not the only one with problems. My pot also has the 'LEE Drip'! That is why I always use the little welding rod to clean the hole. I had always wanted to keep my pot in great shape, but I guess someone borrowed it, used it and put it away dry. When I again started using it, it had started to drip. I thought it may have been a rust issue, but after reading, I am thinking I should truly empty it and clean it carefully, both the rod and spout. I have not once thought of the possibility of a foreign object keeping it from working properly. Thanks for the tips.

 

[JohnN]

After reading all the comments and suggestions I thought I would give my Lee Pro bottom pour another chance. Cleaned it up real good, made sure the hole was clear, and did the lapping as suggested. Still dripped. Tried adjusting the screw. Seemed like when it quit dripping it also quit pouring. Much prefer using my Lyman furnace and a ladle. The bottom pour is now relegated to making ingots.

 

[Don Steele]

I'm wondering if the spout that so many of us have had issues with, can be easily replaced..??
Any chance it just screws in and out..???
I've never tried, my pot stays loaded pretty much all the time. Anyone ever tried just replacing that spout..??

 

[JohnN]

Not based on any kind of testing but I think the lead has to be super clean for them to work properly. Just frustrating when it works for awhile only to start dripping after a few balls. Wouldn't mind if I had extra hands to turn the plunger while holding the mold and the hammer handle I use to knock the sprue off.