Lee Production Pot corrosion...

I try to pour enough jigs at one time that I only have to pour once a year. I got a new 1/24th ounce jig mold a couple weeks ago and wanted to pour some. Plugged up the pot, got ready to pour and nothing at all would come out of the bottom pouring port. I took a torch tip cleaner and jabbed it up in the hole for a while. Still nothing. I ended up having to pour all the lead out of the top of the pot, take the stem out, and clean the port with a drill bit to get all the rust out of it. I'm guessing that the rust is caused by Galvanic corrosion? Do you guys store your pots with lead in them, or empty them each time? I don't see a way around emptying it each time, but wanted to ask, because I know there are guy here who know way more about it that me. Back when I used the pot every few months, I never had this problem.

Keep the lead in it and flux well. I use bees wax. My pot is 40 years old and never been cleaned. It's probably had 500 pounds of tire weights through it......sometimes goes 6 or 7 months without use.

Most of the bullet pour guys leave the pot loaded as well.

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Originally Posted by tlefire

Keep the lead in it and flux well. I use bees wax. My pot is 40 years old and never been cleaned. It's probably had 500 pounds of tire weights through it......sometimes goes 6 or 7 months without use.

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Huh... I have fluxed the lead with wax, nearly every time I use it. I use paraffin wax, not bees wax, but I use it none the less.

Mine was inherited. Had to be at least 40 years old too. I did clean it every few years but this year I had to replace the kettle, so I went on Lee's website to order parts and they replaced my parts for free. I am not cautious about what I throw in either, old cast net weights, snow white with corrosion pour well after a little cleaning in the pot. A steel tea spoon works well to scrape the junk out of the inside that's floating on top of the lead. I always leave lead in the pot too.

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Originally Posted by rojoguio

Mine was inherited. Had to be at least 40 years old too. I did clean it every few years but this year I had to replace the kettle, so I went on Lee's website to order parts and they replaced my parts for free. I am not cautious about what I throw in either, old cast net weights, snow white with corrosion pour well after a little cleaning in the pot. A steel tea spoon works well to scrape the junk out of the inside that's floating on top of the lead. I always leave lead in the pot too.

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The lead that I use is lead I got from a scrap metal place. I melted it all down, skimmed off the gunk, then fluxed it with wax. I poured it into muffin tins and that’s what I use. It sounds like I’m doing things like you guys are but not having the same results

I've read to leave pot empty when it has long layovers between uses. BUT... I have mine half to 3/4 full all to time when it's idle. I have had a few times where I had to clean my pot but I really think it is more of what is in the lead to make up its alloy. I have not used wax ever in my years of pouring but lots of folks here do.

Respectfully speaking the scrape material you purchased may have something in it you don't know about. I'm assuming your preheating your mold well, I leave mine open resting on top of the kettle to heat up. Next I'm assuming you sooted up your mold, helps the lead pour in well. Can you post a picture of your pours? All the guys here can read them like tea leaves and give good advice. Right now I would suggest buying a few heavy sinkers from Walmart and dump you current lead batch back into the tins. After you do that melt the weights you bought and see if it's you or the lead. I bet it's the lead and your supplier is not selling you decent enough quality to pour the small jigs we use for Crappie fishing. I bought some off Ebay, supposed to be pure lead, anything but pure lead. I use it to pour Saltwater Jigs for Flounder 1/2 oz Jigheads, makes those monsters well but forget pouring 1/16oz jigheads with it.

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Originally Posted by rojoguio

Respectfully speaking the scrape material you purchased may have something in it you don't know about. I'm assuming you’re preheating your mold well, I leave mine open resting on top of the kettle to heat up. Next I'm assuming you sooted up your mold, helps the lead pour in well. Can you post a picture of your pours? All the guys here can read them like tea leaves and give good advice. Right now I would suggest buying a few heavy sinkers from Walmart and dump you current lead batch back into the tins. After you do that melt the weights you bought and see if it's you or the lead. I bet it's the lead and your supplier is not selling you decent enough quality to pour the small jigs we use for Crappie fishing. I bought some off Ebay, supposed to be pure lead, anything but pure lead. I use it to pour Saltwater Jigs for Flounder 1/2 oz Jigheads, makes those monsters well but forget pouring 1/16oz jigheads with it.

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The lead that I got was wall lining lead for an X-ray room and some old lead pipe. Those are supposed to be top quality. There is nothing wrong with my mold or pours. 1/32 and 1/24 ounce. Full pours, they’re perfect. I don’t have any problem at all pouring perfect jigs. My problem is rust in my pot.

Got it, my bad, got off the point. Well mine didn't rust just the junk built up to the point it kept a slow drip.

Whe you're are finished pouring and want to store. Make sure you have a full pot of lead. Next burn wax in pot like your fluxin the lead. A black smug will form on the walls and should stop the corrosion. Be prepared to smoke up you house or shop.