I have a Lee production pot. Works fine for the most part. Just have to keep the valve clean.

I have a mixture of molds... Lee Aluminum, RCBS and Redding... The steel molds need to be lubricated when not in use due to corrosion. The aluminums dissipate heat quickly whereas the steel will get hot enough to a point of having to stop casting for a bit. It is for this reason many casters will have multiple molds of the same bullet to hop scotch as they are casting to allow cooling.

I recommend a good thermometor or thermocouple to attempt to maintain a constant melt temperature.

I cast with the base material being wheel weight lead. I will add a few % pure zinc to help with mold fill and I water drop out of the mold (lay a towel in the bottom of the bucket) to harden them somewhat. The more antimony you add the harder a bullet will become but at some point (I forget % off the top of my head) the bullet will become brittle.

Wheel weights are getting more difficult to find "cheaply" with the high scrap prices and such... I have a few thousand lbs that I have not melted into ingots and maybe 500 lbs cast into 1# ingots. I am set for a while.

Get yourself a good guide such as the Cast Bullet Handbook from Lyman...

Vapors from lead melt can be harmful if inhaled or concentrated in an enclosed area. Molten lead is also very volitile. If you get so much as a drop of water in the hot melt it'll literally explode all over the place. If it gets on your skin or clothing you'll be pulling it off along with the skin. Very painful... Ask me how I know.

Therefore do not have young ones around. Be in a well ventilated area... wear safety glasses... keep your wits about you and food and drink away from the area...