Opinions on RCBS PRO-Melt furnace?

Canuck Bob

Canuck Bob

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EE Expired
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I am about to finally get a proper casting furnace. I realize all the pros and cons of the Lee pots. This thread is to ask folks how they like the RCBS furnace rather than compare the two pots, thanks.

RCBS has always treated me great regarding warranty. Everyone else an exercise in futility. American casting sites rave about these pots.

How do users rate them and was the cost worth it in your opinion?

Also has anyone had warranty experience with these pots?
 
I bought one in 1982 and I still have it. 3 Years ago the dial temperature rheostat went bad and the pot was dead. I pulled it apart and quickly diagnosed the problem, not much to them and that is the beauty of the system. I always wanted to built a PID temperature controller for it so now was the time to do it. I bypassed the rheostat so the pot is on full temperature all the time and I have it plugged into my PID controller that keeps the lead at + or - 20 Deg. F.

If it ever drips it is because some garbage has got in between the nozzle and seat and a quick clean-out and you are back in business. I wonder how many pounds of lead this thing had melted, probably around the two ton mark.

If you have ever had to fight with a Lee 10 LB pot then this will be a dream to use, no drips and repeatable temperature settings.

Take a thermometer and watch a lee 10LB pot go thru its paces casting 45-70 500 gn. bullets, it is an eye opener. It quickly looses temperature and takes a long time to recover once you put in another lb of lead to remelt. If you are getting good fill out on your 500gn slugs and the temperature is about 700 Deg. F when you start, after your 20 bullet and you want to add a 1 lb ingot of lead to the pot the temperature will drop to almost 525 Deg F instantly and good luck with fill out now. You will have to wait about 5 minutes to get back to proper temperature and put your mold on a hot plate to keep it hot before you can go another 20 bullets.

With the RCBS you can get about 100 bullets before needing to refill the lead and takes about 1/2 the time to go back to the proper temperature. If you want to add the 1lb ingot of lead while you are going the temp dips slightly but will not effect the proper fill out of you bullets.

If you are casting hollow point bullets you have a narrow temp. range that you have to keep the mold in and the lead to make them correctly. Good luck using the Lee 10 lb pot, it can be done but a lot of messing a round to find the exact temp and the speed you have to work at to get them correctly.
 
I could not/can't afford a new one, so I bought a used one on Ebay a couple of years ago for $180.00. They seem to fetch a little more on there now, but are still a bargain compared to new at Wholesale sports.

I have had Lee pots and a Saeco, the RCBS is the best by far.
 
I had Lee pots and I had an RCBS as well. After I acquired the RCBS I used the Lees to melt ingots while casting from the RCBS. I was casting from a 6 cavity mold and this worked nicely. The only issue I ever had was the odd nozzle blockage. A quick cleaning and back in business. I cast literally hundreds of pounds of 38, 9 mm 44 and 45 bullets. When I stupidly sold it and stopped casting I got about 2/3 of what I paid for it.
 
I bought a used unit from the EE, it's great ! Buy it once, cry only the once.The bottom pour is great, and I use it with a thermometer, and is surprisingly steady and repeateble temp wise.Large capacity is a big bonus for buckshot and gang molds.
 
Best furnace on the market and RCBS stands behind them. Bought my second Pro-Melt from Grafs over Xmas. $330US and RCBS had a $50.00 rebate promotion on.
 
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