Lee Electric casting pot problem

J

John Hill

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I have a new Lee Pro-4 20 LB electric melting pot (110 volt) and am having a terrible time stabilizing the temperature. It seems like any setting that I dial in, just accelerates to 800 degrees quickly, even if I set it on the minimum setting. Has anyone else had this problem? I cast with it for the first time today and had to keep unplugging it to cool it down. Ugh!:eek:
 
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My experience with the Lee pot is thirty years old and out of date but I have never run into this one. How full of lead is your pot? With only an inch or two in them temps will run hot. If you have it nearly full and it does it, I hate to say it but I think returning it to Lee for a warranty repair would be the way to go. Good luck!
 
The first word in the title is the problem, LEE. I wore out, returned, got fed up with 4 Lee pots original purchase, and three 1/2 price warranty replacements. Bit the big ingot and bought an RCBS 20# bottom pour. What a dream!

A Lee pot filled with cold lead might make a good canoe anchor.
 
I've used Lee pots since they first came out. The thermostat is a potential problem. It senses heat radiated off of the outside of the pot, not the lead temp. This is why the t'stat knob is not graduated in degrees. The only reliable way to regulate temp on any Lee pot is with a temp control unit (Think Barber-Coleman). Ask me how I know.
_______________________
Boxers or briefs? At my age, Depends.
 
Tex1001, what is a "temp control unit (Think Barber-Coleman)"? How do you use it? That is, do you rewire the Lee or do you turn it up and plug it into another device or what?
Thanks
John
 
Call or e-mail Lee and ask them how to proceed. They have a good warranty with their equipment. You get temp swings depending on how full your pot is but that is excessive. I keep a good thermometer in the pot and adjust things as the lead level drops.
 
Industrial-type temp controllers bypass the factory temp controller. Barber-Coleman is one of the manufacturers, but there are a few other names. They typically use a thermocouple sensor suspended in the molten lead to give tight control with the heating element. They ramp up the temp with no or very little overshoot. I have a single controller that I use with either of my Lee pots or a 400w heater plate for my RCBS lube sizer. See azjohn's link above.
_______________________
Boxers or briefs? At my age, Depends.
 
I started reloading in 1968 and have used Lee equipment exclusively. Only had 1 problem in all these years and they replaced the unit free.

I've been casting since 1975 using a Lee pot and it has worked flawlesly after tens of thousands of rounds cast. I bought a second pot in about 1995 and it too is perfect.

Call them and they'll replace it.
 
Not everything Lee is of poor quality.
I have green stuff, blue stuff, orange stuff, dark red stuff, and red stuff.
I buy what I believe will do the job well.
It also needs fit the budget for the task at hand.
Lee makes some gems and has made some good contributions to the industry.
I currently just wish they would offer a high grade steel version of the six cavity mould for those that would be willing to pony up for it.
 
Anymore, the PID controllers are quite popular, and not just on Lee pots. They will maintain constant temp =/- like 2 degrees. A little wiring and maybe 60 bux in parts and you're good to go. Mike
 
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