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Got another question about casting here

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Old 02-04-2008 | 12:12 PM
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From: Towanda,pa
Default Got another question about casting here

Damn,I hate beating a dead horse.....For the past years
now what casting I have done was over gas and a 20 lb
pot and with a dipper...Now my loading room is small and
after having the house fire a few years ago,I admit I get
a little nervous with the open flame...

So IF I were to go to an electric pot,which model might
you guys suggets..Should I stay with the dipper or do
you all think the bottom pours are a better choice?
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Old 02-04-2008 | 12:25 PM
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From: Eastern PA
Default RE: Got another question about casting here

I used the bottom pour, Lee I think it was and also the gas and pot with dipper. Really no difference. The only thing I like better about the bottom pour is not having to skim off the slag every so often. But I wouldn't cast indoors without proper ventelation. Best wait for decent weather and do it outside.
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Old 02-04-2008 | 12:36 PM
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Default RE: Got another question about casting here

I use a Lee bottom pour electric pot. Had it for years and it still works fine. I like the bottom pour feature, but you don't want to get any dirt in your lead or it can clog up the spout.
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Old 02-04-2008 | 12:48 PM
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Giant Nontypical
 
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Default RE: Got another question about casting here

By all means be sure your ventilation is good I use a bottom pour Lyman from 20 or more years a go in the out building with a large fan in the window. Lee
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Old 02-04-2008 | 01:27 PM
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Typical Buck
 
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Default RE: Got another question about casting here

I have a Lee 10# bottom pour and a Saeco 20# bottom pour, both do the job. The Lee has a habbit of leaking at the spout which can be an anoyance. The Saeco doesn't leak as much and has a wider mouth that allows for larger ingets to be melted. Both are old pots but still going strong. The Saeco also has more room under it, so I can cast with my hollow base molds, the smaller Lee pot does not have enough room.

Get a 20# pot, if you cast much it will be worth the extra cost.
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Old 02-04-2008 | 02:11 PM
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Default RE: Got another question about casting here

Goat---Your right but lee does make a 20 lb pot...

What about the temps. on these electric pots? Do they stay pretty consistend?
How long does it take the electric to warm up again after adding more lead?
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Old 02-04-2008 | 02:29 PM
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Nontypical Buck
 
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Default RE: Got another question about casting here

It depends how much casting you do. I do a good bit of casting for several types of bullets(alloy mixtures). I personally like the small Lyman pots(I have several). I prefer to use a ladle, but I only do a couple of hundred at a time.

If I did a lot of production I might go to a bottom pour, but I am not in a big hurry when I cast my bullet's.

The small Lyman pot is also very easy to empty out if you want to change your alloy. They are very well made, and will last a long time.

Fumes are a problem. A lot of people blow a fan across their pot. That is the wrong way to do it. The correct way is to put a small fan as close to the pot as possible(two feet is fine) You want to pull the fumes off the pot, and blow the fumes out a window. Tom.
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Old 02-04-2008 | 03:10 PM
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Default RE: Got another question about casting here

HEAD0001
What do you mean by the small pot? The 10 lb model? Seems to me that
would be too small and have to reheat every time you add lead to it..

Is this a problem or does it not have any ill effect's...
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Old 02-04-2008 | 06:38 PM
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Nontypical Buck
 
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Default RE: Got another question about casting here

Yes the small one. As I said I do not get in any hurry when I cast. I am constantly fluxing. You would be surprised how much filth you can flux out of your alloy. I just add one or two ingot's at a time. Once the pot is hot it does not take much time. But as I said I am not in a hurry.

I have had some of the bigger pots(still do). But since I like to stir and flux the alloy a lot, it just seems to work for me. I can cast a couple of hundred bullet's in an hour or less. That is fast enough for me.

And as said earlier it is very easy to clean these small pots. Tom.
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