- Location
- Somewhere under the rainbow
Looking at a melting pot. http://waage.thomasnet.com/item/solder-pots-and-tanks/round-solder-pot/mp80a-6-1-1393
Any thoughts?
Any thoughts?
Melting pot
- Thread starter CarbineGirl
- Start date
NorthCoastBigBore
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Northwest BC (Rural) 103-I-##
Personally I use the bottom of an empty propane cannister (just the torch size) sitting on a wal-mart heating element. Lead is melted within 7-10 minutes and I use a dipper I made to pour. I leave the molds resting either right on the element or over the pot to warm them up, depending on how hot they are. Cost me 19.99 and some scrap steel I had laying around.
The obvious limitation is that you can't pour from it, but it is a simple way to get started. If I was making production runs then I'd definitely invest in a better set up but I can cast a lot of round balls and bullets in a short enough time for me. I do buy bullets if it's something I need a lot of (IDPA for example), or even if I want to stock up. Guys like Jethunter have good prices and you get a good quality bullet. But that's because I don't have the time regardless of the setup I'm using. Too much work, volunteering, kids activities, yard work, house projects...you get the idea
The obvious limitation is that you can't pour from it, but it is a simple way to get started. If I was making production runs then I'd definitely invest in a better set up but I can cast a lot of round balls and bullets in a short enough time for me. I do buy bullets if it's something I need a lot of (IDPA for example), or even if I want to stock up. Guys like Jethunter have good prices and you get a good quality bullet. But that's because I don't have the time regardless of the setup I'm using. Too much work, volunteering, kids activities, yard work, house projects...you get the idea
Why buy such a large pot (80 lb capacity) ; $800 and it would probably take a while to come to temperature. I don't see the need for a dipper to be a problem. I have 2 Lee lead pots (roughly 10 lb capacity each) and the one for 95% pure lead, I use with a dipper because the spout used to freeze up every few bullets. Pure lead melts at 600 F roughly and while the top surface of the pot may be up in the 750 F range, the spout is at the bottom and exposed to the air which means that the lead in the spout keeps freezing. I use the second pot for lead mixtures that melt around 450 - 500 F and it works fine as a bottom pour
cheers mooncoon
cheers mooncoon
- Location
- Somewhere under the rainbow
Thanks so much. Enjoying reading this and learning.
NorthCoastBigBore
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Northwest BC (Rural) 103-I-##
For reference, this is my setup described in my post above:
just having some fun
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
For a bullet casting you have to decide on --- to dip or bottom pour
go to https://www dot midsouthshooterssupply.com/dept/reloading/lead-bullet-casting/melting-pots-and-kits
and take a look
if ordering from usa factor in exchange rate / shipping and duty
do not ship by UPS
use USPS
Customs will hold it up at least a week or more
for good info on casting/ moulds etc go to http:// castboolits.gunloads.com/
for good moulds go to NOE
they have a lot of copies of old moulds and new designs as well
go to https://www dot midsouthshooterssupply.com/dept/reloading/lead-bullet-casting/melting-pots-and-kits
and take a look
if ordering from usa factor in exchange rate / shipping and duty
do not ship by UPS
use USPS
Customs will hold it up at least a week or more
for good info on casting/ moulds etc go to http:// castboolits.gunloads.com/
for good moulds go to NOE
they have a lot of copies of old moulds and new designs as well
Not sure what you are using if for? 80 pounds is a lot. I have a Lee 20 pound bottom pour and it's inexpensive, melts lead quickly and the pour is great once you get the hang of it. I cast shotgun slugs and it has been great for that.
Way to expensive and to big.
As mentioned it takes long to heat up.
You also would want a pot that is a bit taller (/less wide) so there is less surface for the alloy to oxidize
and so you don't need to melt an awful lot of lead to have enough to scoop up with your ladle.
As mentioned it takes long to heat up.
You also would want a pot that is a bit taller (/less wide) so there is less surface for the alloy to oxidize
and so you don't need to melt an awful lot of lead to have enough to scoop up with your ladle.
CarbineGirl
I think the Ideal pot depends a bunch on the bullet you are casting. Rifle (accuracy bullets ) likely will mean dipping. And attention to all the details. Pistol not so much with the fine points but more on production. An 80lb. pot is a pretty big pot and most likely unneeded . But a 10lb. pot if you are dipping big .45 or 50's you only get about a dozen bullets per lb. and your dipper is already scraping the bottom of the pot by the time the mould is up to good casting temp. Then you have to add metal and you loose control of the temp. I use a thermometer and try to keep my temp. 10 degrees F. max spread. So when dipping the big ones I use a homemade pot of about 35 or 40 lb.
heat with a cast off side burner from a BBQ. and add a couple reject bullets from time to time to control temp. The reject bullets are picked out as I am casting. They will look just fine , but I do not need to weigh them to know I made a mistake .It's kind of like good shooting you need to do it exactly the same each time. I aim for plus or minus 2 or 3 tenths of a grain with big bullets.
I now use a Master Caster for pistol bullets and it seems to work for me. But when I first started shooting cowboy action and needed a lot of bullets. I used a Lee bottom pour pot and a 6 cavity 200.grain bullet mould And had my shooting buddy feeding the pot with metal melted in a big pot and a propane turkey cooker. He would also skim and flux for me .WE could turn out a pile of bullets in an hour. I would not buy a $800.00 pot to start with, that's starting to get up to Master Caster range. go with some thing smaller and more modestly priced ,at least until you get you feet wet. The caster will develop techniques that work for them then it might be time to upgrade the equipment.
I think the Ideal pot depends a bunch on the bullet you are casting. Rifle (accuracy bullets ) likely will mean dipping. And attention to all the details. Pistol not so much with the fine points but more on production. An 80lb. pot is a pretty big pot and most likely unneeded . But a 10lb. pot if you are dipping big .45 or 50's you only get about a dozen bullets per lb. and your dipper is already scraping the bottom of the pot by the time the mould is up to good casting temp. Then you have to add metal and you loose control of the temp. I use a thermometer and try to keep my temp. 10 degrees F. max spread. So when dipping the big ones I use a homemade pot of about 35 or 40 lb.
heat with a cast off side burner from a BBQ. and add a couple reject bullets from time to time to control temp. The reject bullets are picked out as I am casting. They will look just fine , but I do not need to weigh them to know I made a mistake .It's kind of like good shooting you need to do it exactly the same each time. I aim for plus or minus 2 or 3 tenths of a grain with big bullets.
I now use a Master Caster for pistol bullets and it seems to work for me. But when I first started shooting cowboy action and needed a lot of bullets. I used a Lee bottom pour pot and a 6 cavity 200.grain bullet mould And had my shooting buddy feeding the pot with metal melted in a big pot and a propane turkey cooker. He would also skim and flux for me .WE could turn out a pile of bullets in an hour. I would not buy a $800.00 pot to start with, that's starting to get up to Master Caster range. go with some thing smaller and more modestly priced ,at least until you get you feet wet. The caster will develop techniques that work for them then it might be time to upgrade the equipment.
