Bottom-pour vs. ladle pots...

[Deus Machina]

I am, as always, frugal in my search. But I also realize that quality only hurts once.

So I'm looking to finally buy a lead melter. I'm looking at the Lee Production Pot 4, but in my search I came across Lee and Lyman ladle pots for less. And, discounting the pour spout, ladle pots seem to get more pot, itself, for the money.

So, is ladle pouring really that much more of a hassle? I'd be worried about lead cooling enough to not pour well, or to not make ingots in a single piece. I'm guessing that must be unfounded, but...

Is it worth about half again the price for that spout, as opposed to relatively equal pot sections?

 

[IllinoisCoyoteHunter]

I would go with the bottom pour pot for a couple reasons. I have done it both ways, and found the bottom pour to be faster. Also, the "junk" in your melt stays on top while the clean lead is poured out the bottom. I flux my bottom pour pot and leave the junk on top to slow the oxidization of the metals (tin). Sometimes I will add kitty litter and let it float on top while casting. Also, you don't have to worry about clearing the dross/gunk out of your way before taking a ladle-full of lead to pour. This is my opinion. The main drawback of a bottom pour pot is that almost all of them will eventually develop a leak (at least the Lee pots)...which usually can be fixed easily...but some leaks require a through cleaning of the spout seal (junk can still find its way to clog the seal). Good luck

 

[Dean Williams]

A bottom pour pot is sure a lot handier when it comes to making a lot of bullets. There is no problem with using a ladle if that's what you want to do, though.

When it comes to making ingots, I don't feel that a melting pot is the way to do it. You will spend most of your time waiting for lead to melt, unless you get a furnace that will melt 40 or more pounds at a time.

The Lee 20 lb bottom pour melter is only about $15 more than their plain 20 lb melting pot.

I've done it both ways, and a lot of it, to boot. If you're making bullets, bottom pour is the way to go. If you're just melting lead to make ingots, get a Coleman stove or a turkey fryer and go at it like you're killing snakes.

 

[Deus Machina]

Well, my plan was to gather up a bunch of lead and linotype, mix into hardball for a few month's worth of bullets in one go, and cast the rest into ingots for later. So a burner in the garage and a pot my not be out of the question, later. But i'm trying to avoid open flames (I'm in an apartment, which doesn't look kindly on that. Even in the garage, I'd have to keep the door shut. Blah.) and electric heaters that get that hot run more than the melters do.

But I would like a big lead-specific pot, for its ease of use. Maybe I'll just leave it another paycheck, and put half aside for the 20-pounder now, and the other half when I can find a place they're still in stock.

 

[earplug]

For clean alloy bottom pour is really nice

I f you can use a different pot for melting junk scrap lead, then use the clean ingots in a bottom pour pot, you will be happy.
If you have to use one pot for melting scrap and casting bullets, the bottom pour may get fouled up.
I melt and flux my scrap on a Coleman stove using a Goodwill found iron pot.
Bottom poor is so much easier to use.

 

[Walkalong]

Or you could just use a bottom pour ladle.

 

[snuffy]

Here's my take on this question. If I were starting out, knowing what 40 years of casting has taught me, I'd go straight to the pot I have now. Does that make any sense? I guess what I'm trying to say is; get the lee pro-4-20 pot. Here's why; You can use it both ways. As a bottom pour, or you can dip out of the top, with a ladle. As for which ladle, the Lyman ladle works best for ladle casting. Besides it's thermostatically controlled, where some melters are not. I have an old saeco that goes full bore, right up to 900 degrees. Since it has a 20 pound capacity, I use it for making alloys.

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=645810

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=286579

 

[MCgunner]

I use a Lee bottom pour. I've had it for a quarter century and it's still working fine. I think you get a little better heat control, less time out of the pot for the lead. And, it's faster.

 

[sqlbullet]

Get the 20# bottom pour. Ladles require more complicated technique, and are slower. For some purposes I hear they are better, like big round ball.

I don't know what weight of bullet you will be casting, but unless your total mold capacity is below say, 300 grains (2X150, 3X100, 6X50) you will be waiting on a 10 lb pot to 'catch up' for uniform casting temp. I have both a 10# and a 20# in my shop. With the 10# I am deal with far more variability in the lead temp since the lead additions are 10% of the pot rather than 5%.

I have been considering setting up my bench so the 20 # acts as a pre-heater to the 10# since I like the spigot position on the 10# better.

 

[SciFiJim]

sqlbullet, that would be interesting to see. Are you talking about one mounted above the other? Please post pics if you do it.

 

[snuffy]

I have been considering setting up my bench so the 20 # acts as a pre-heater to the 10# since I like the spigot position on the 10# better.

Be careful with that. Be darn sure your electrical supply is up to pulling 1600 watts through one receptacle. I'm no electrician, but I don't think standard wiring would tolerate it too long!

Ladles do work better with beeg boolits! (calm down grammar police, jest tryin to be a little relaxed here, I do know how to spell it!) When casting 45/70 boolits 340 grains on up, the bottom pour of my lee pro-4-20 seems to run too fast, the lead must swirl and fail to fill-out properly. Using a ladle results in complete fill-out and nice flat bases. Same goes when making 12 gauge round balls.

 

[sqlbullet]

Snuffy, my whole house is 12/2 with ground on 20 AMP breakers and outlets. No run is over 100' either. Would have had a few of those in the basement so I put a sub-panel down there. The only 14 gauge wire in the house is the dedicated circuit for the smoke detectors.

This particular circuit is only about 10 linear feet (probably 20' of wire) from the main panel, and no other outlets on it. I pulled it just for these power hogs.

 

[Shweboner]

How do you clean the Lee pot?

Mine developed a leak a while back that was a real PITA. Now, it will not pour at all. I have tried heating the spout and poking with different picks from the bottom and the inside of the pot and there is no change.

 

[Deus Machina]

Try letting it cool, and see if you can't remove the pour stem. Then stick something down in that hole and try cleaning it from the top.

Again, LET IT COOL. Removing that stem while it's full of molten lead would be a story to tell the kids, assuming you weren't sitting close.