Gonna get a melting but which one

[fish_4_all]

Here is what I need. An all in one pot that I can flux, clean, melt and pour out of. I don't want to get 2 pots right now, can't afford it anyway. I will be melting mainly wheel weights and some cleaner lead but I will have to do a lot of cleaning and fluxing and that kinda boring crud.

I also want to get it all clean so when I do get to pouring my jig heads, pencil lead and other sinkers I can just go and not have to clean. Just take ingots and put them in while I clean what I have poured. I dont want to get a melting pot that I have to get a heat source for either so electric is gonna serve me best for sure.

Anyone have any recommendations? I was thinking about the 4# Lee melting pot but not sure if that is going to be enough to really pour a lot so I was thinking the 20# version. 15 minutes isn't bad though for the 4# version so I don't know. I am not doing a ton of pouring, maybe 200 jig heads, 500 pencil lead and 200 sinkers a year so not going into production anytime soon.

this is just to get started, I can upgrade later to a bottom pour later but having the melting pot gives me something to clean lead in anyway for when I do get the top pourer.

[GCD]

Go ahead and get the bottom pour now. Get the Lee Production Pot IV.

The little 4# laddle pot won't get your wheel weight lead hot enough for a good full pour, you'll end up with gaps and short pours. This is the voice of experience.

If you flux and clean you'll be fine with the bottom pour.

[crappiedoc]

I'm with GCD on this one. Since your not goona pour quantity the
LEE procuction pot is the answer, the bottom pour will make life easy.
And if you wash your ww off and let them dry you'll minimize the need
for fluxing. I make ingots in a cast pot and haven't fluxed yet, skim the
pot and when it cools if i leave a thin layer on bottom for the next melt,
I can take it out and dump off the carbon stuff. I pour with a Lee pot
thats 20 yrs old at least. It smokes the electric ladles they don't last.

[GCD]

I'm with GCD on this one. Since your not goona pour quantity the
LEE procuction pot is the answer, the bottom pour will make life easy.
And if you wash your ww off and let them dry you'll minimize the need
for fluxing. I make ingots in a cast pot and haven't fluxed yet, skim the
pot and when it cools if i leave a thin layer on bottom for the next melt,
I can take it out and dump off the carbon stuff. I pour with a Lee pot
thats 20 yrs old at least. It smokes the electric ladles they don't last.

I'd just like to add to make darn sure your wheel weights are completely dry before putting them in the melter, water and molten lead explodes!

I bake my wheel weights in the curing oven at 350* for about an hour to get any moisture out of them, just a little moisture trapped where the clip is attached will pop and spatter lead out of the pot.

[PBUG2009]

im with gcd also....i actually do the this with mine..only thing i do is empty my pot every now an then and clean it out....had my pot for about 6 mths now and havent had a problem yet doing this...and i do pour heads for other people also...

[azslabber]

Fish,I have had the Lee 20# for about 6 years now.When I first started and really did'nt know anything about it,all I did was melt and clean wheel weights.At least 500 pounds of ingots later it still works like it did when I first got it.All that you really have to make sure of is to keep a regular screw driver right there to turn the adjusting screw if it starts to leak out of the spout.I think it was the best $60 that I have ever spent,lol.

[Fatman]

Fish

Go and get the IV bottom melter, My oldest one I bought in 1984 and it's still going strong. course I clean mine out after every pouring session. If you're gonna clean the wheel weights in it get an aluminum pie plate and after you load up the pot just put the pie plate over the top and it will take care of any splatters.

Make sure you wear EYE PROTECTION, GOOD GLOVES, LONG SHIRT, HEAVY JEANS AND BOOTS. I know a few guys who wear full face shields. I've been burned with lead and I'll always make sure my buds are careful!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If you need any info let us know and we'll be more than glad to help you out.

Be safe and enjoy!!!!!!!!!!!

Fatman

[fish_4_all]

Isn't it a pain in the arse to get all the clips out of the bottom pour pot? I realize they float and anything fluxed will float but doesn't the rod for the pour get in the way?

If I can get away with the bottom pour and still be able to clean and flux then I will definately go that way.

[azslabber]

Just an old teaspoon and scoop all the stuff out.Very simple.

[crappiedoc]

When I started I hung the ww on a wire till it melted off and pulled the clip
out and repeated. Still do now that I think about it, cause I only ww lead on
my bucktail jigs which I use Poly-Sil paint on. The antimony makes the lead
tougher, so the lead doesn't dent when it hits something hard, saving the
paint job. I get my lead from scrap metal dealers, I like plumbing lead the best
However when they remodel x-ray rooms you can really load up on pure, soft
lead, it'll come in sheets(the best) or like a wallpaper. The problem with the
paper stuff is the glue, but you can tear around it, which when its free who
cares. Our hospital has remodeled 3 times the last 15yrs. My friend got the
first batch which was 1/16 sheets 4'x8', that was the best I've ever seen,
over 4000# of it. Roof jacks are awesome to.