Recommend a Lead Furnace???

gth

gth

CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Rating - 100%
17   0   0
Location
Close to North Bay, Ontario
I want to cast some 50cal bullets for my muzzleloader and some slugs to reload in the shotgun. I wont be using the furnace everyday but I still want a quality outfit rather than fight with junk.

What furnace would be the best for a guy that might go on a casting spree once every 6 months or so to replenish the stockpile?? Or can a guy get away with a cast iron pot/coleman stove and a good ladel?
 
I use a cast iron burner I found in an equipment surplus store. Typical Chinese stuff but strong and very hot. Ran $45 with a hose/regulator. Burner is about 5" across.

You can also find similar at Cdn Tire used for deep frying turkeys. A bit more money but on a stand. Just make sure the stand can handle the weight.

I went to Fields and got a cast iron pot with lid. Thinking 25cm across 3" deep. Holds easily 35lbs of alloy. I use a steel cooking ladel. Can scoop up 4ozs of lead which gives me lots to saturate the mold for a good fill.

Dirt cheap, extra strong.

Jerry
 
I've been using a LEE 20 lb bottom pour pot for about 6 years now, and I cast approximately 5000 to 10000 rnds a year with it. The only time I have had issues with it is when I run out of clean lead ingots and have had to resort to melting wheel weights in it. The dirt from the wheel weights fouls the valve and you get a drip problem or the nozzle plugs up. I'm sure this problem would be the same with any bottom pour pot. The Lee pot is about 1/2 to 1/3 of the cost of a Lyman or RCBS.
 
Considering what you want it for, you're probably better off going to your local flea market and picking up the biggest cast iron pot or dutch oven you can find. Buy an RCBS lead ladle and break out the old Coleman camp stove. I wouldn't bother with the LEE stuff.

I've got a couple of RCBS Pro-Melts that I wouldn't trade for anything, but then again I"m casting for a lot of different calibers. The Lyman furnaces are okay as well. A buddy has one that seems pretty well made. The Lees I've used, observed all seem to leak & dribble no matter how much you fiddle with them and/or adjust them.

Even with the Pro-Melts, I often still break out the cast iron pot, Coleman stove and the lead ladle and do a bout or two of casting. Its how I started and I still enjoy it immensely.
 
I bought a cast-iron kettle with a lid - like the type one uses with an airtight stove. Got it from the junk-pile at Crappy-tire for $9 bucks. (missing handle, but who cares). Works great and the opening is large enough for the bigest ingots. Maybe just a little heavy once you get cooking.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom