[madcratebuilder]

What are some of the better melting pots on the market. A friend just gave me 50lbs of pure lead so I guess it's time to cast rb's. Are those 10lb Lee pots that drip the lead any good or should I use a pot and ladle and a gas burner.

[RugerBob]

I personaly would not use any bottom pour for anything other then ingots that are already clean. I would go low end gas, unless your gonna get into more. I use a dutch oven over turkey fryer set up. Just for cleanin tho (smelting). I have the Lee bottom pour and I do reccomend it highly. For the price you can't do better. Whats a little drip, as long as penicillan is not required its a ok.

[RugerBob]

something like this.
http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/rrmaynard/lead004.jpg

[Floppy_D]

I've used two Lee pots, one bottom pour, one not. You can smelt in the bottom pour pot, but you will be cleaning the pour spout from time to time. They both work great, the bottom pour is faster but a bigger hassle. The ladle method is plenty quick and less mess.

[nicholst55]

I use a Lee bottom-drip, but only for casting. For the initial smelting I use a cast-iron dutch oven on a turkey fryer. I only use clean ingots in the bottom-drip.

I've done it with a ladle and with the bottom-pour, and I find the latter method infinitely faster. I put a layer of sawdust on top of the molten lead and don't have to worry about it oxidizing.

[Voodoochile]

For making my ingots, I just use a old Stainless Steel U.S.Army issue canteen cup & my single burner camp stove.

For making my projectiles & sinkers I just use a Lyman Mini-Mag furnace setup, simple & reliable is the name to me & with my Ladle I can cast well over 100 conicals in an hour using a single cavity mold & no mess like those bottom pour jobs.

[MCgunner]

I've owned a Lee pot for 25 years and am still using it. It's the only way I pour. It is the only way to really easily control lead temperature which makes a big difference in casting quality. It's a whole lot faster and easier to use and cooler in a shop that's already running over 90 degrees and gets up around 110-120 in there in summer. I open it up to vent the fumes, big fan blowing 100 degree 70 percent humidity air. I don't want any flames near me nor do I wanna spend a lot of time casting. :rolleyes: Not so bad during the 80 degree days we call "winter" down here. The only problem with the bottom pour pot is occasionally, something will get in there and you'll need to use a screw driver to get it to stop dripping. It drips on the base plate and you just lift and remelt the spill, not a problem. Need to keep a screw driver handy, though, for this.

I highly recommend a bottom pour pot, much easier, much better cast quality. I know Daniel Boone didn't have one, but you can carry this authenticity crap a little too far. :rolleyes: Build a camp fire in your front yard if ya want, but I'll plug in the pot, LOL!

[BHP FAN]

I'm with McGunner on this one.I own a pot and ladle,but haven't used them for years.As long as I have electricity,it's the Lee 10 lb bottom pour for me.By the way,a welder's torch tip cleaner works very well if you ever need to clean the spout.

[madcratebuilder]

Thanks guys, that has given my a lot to think about.

[Zeke/PA]

I use Lyman bottom pour furnace that I've had for about 30 years.
I use a walnut size lump of Bee's wax for a flux, skim the impurities off the top and have no trouble with "dross buildup" on the pouring spout.
For smokless pistol bullets it seems more convient to purchased lubed and sized stuff so I now home cast mostly for my blacl powder arsenal.

[scrat]

lee production 4 bottom pour. one tip. keep some jumbo paperclips with you. i bend them in an L shape. when the spout starts to slow down or comes out wrong. i push the jumbo paperclip up the spout. always gets out whatever is blocking it. then im back to casting.

[MCgunner]

lee production 4 bottom pour. one tip. keep some jumbo paperclips with you. i bend them in an L shape. when the spout starts to slow down or comes out wrong. i push the jumbo paperclip up the spout. always gets out whatever is blocking it. then im back to casting.

I like to use small finishing nails and hold 'em with needle nose pliers, but I've used paper clips, too. I have melted and poured ingots from raw range scrap with a pot, though. It's easier than fishing the slag out from around the pour spout, but I've melted 'em in the pot, too. Trick is, don't let the lead level get too low if you're using range scrap or tire weights with those little clips.

For actual production, though, the bottom pour is my favorite.

[Pancho]

I've used the Lee production bottom pour for over 20 years. I am mostly satisfied with it but it does have a tendency to leak past the valve due to crud build up. One time I'd just filled the hopper and added flux scraped off the crud and was ready to run some balls. Just then the valve decided to stick in the full open and I had molten lead going every where. I went into panic mood and grabbed for the nearest coffee can to catch the molten lead. Forgotten by me I'd used that coffee can to save 6 rounds of 22 cal. l.r. You guessed it the rounds exploded spashing molten lead over everything including myself. No injuries and no one around to see the stupidity.

[messerist]

I use a coleman stove with a small dutch oven to melt the lead. temperature may not be as accurate but I've learned to keep the heat where I need it. I use beeswax also as a flux, or a few broken crayons from my kid's endless supply of them.:)

[MCgunner]

The bottom pour does take a little technique. You don't wanna open it up way open. That's when it can hang. Keep the pour hole open if it gets something in it with the paper clip deal and use a screw driver on the valve stem thing, work it back and fourth, if it starts to drip. That will seat it and keep it from dripping.

Once you figure out how to use the thing, the bottom pour is the only way to go.

[madcratebuilder]

I think I well go with the bottom pour Lee pot. Is the 10lb large enough? Or should I get the 20lb? I well be casting for round ball and conical only. I would think you would want to do a least 5lbs at a time.
How does everyone set the pot up, on the floor or on your bench? I have no idea how much heat they give off. I would like to work from my bench top as I have a bad back and bending over is not an option.

[rodinal220]

Lyman Mag Dipper.I have been using it for 25 years with no issues.I still have a little Lee 4lbs pot I originally started with,still works for small test batches.

[MCgunner]

10 lbs works for me, but I don't like to cast too long before taking a break, LOL. With a 6 cavity mold, I am betting a 20 lber would be worth the extra cash, though. I only cast single cavity for the BP stuff, but wanna get a 6 cavity for some of my favorite .38 bullets.

[Black Toe Knives]

I use a hot plate and a small skillet. I always work outside. Never in shop. Lead fumes are dangerous.

[Oldfalguy]

a 6 cavity RB in at least .454 would be nice to have but I haven't run into who might make them?? I would enjoy making some to fit my BP stuff but I doubt one mold would cover ROA, 1860 and 1858 bores, perhaps a .454 would be a valid compromise but just do not know.

Mark

[Olmontanaboy]

I think I well go with the bottom pour Lee pot. Is the 10lb large enough? Or should I get the 20lb?
I'd go with the 20#

[madcratebuilder]

I'm going to start with a few double molds I have for my Colts. The molds has one RB and one conical.

[MCgunner]

I'm going to start with a few double molds I have for my Colts. The molds has one RB and one conical.

I bought a brass mold like that for my .31, kinda neat. I like shooting ball when plinkin', but if I ever actually ever carried the thing, that pointy conical looks like it'd penetrate better.