Lee casting furnace

[ACORN]

I like my Lee 20 lbs bottom pour enough to buy a second one as a back up. I tried laddle casting once - worst half hour of my life...

I can get perfect bullets very consistently and can cast 400 bullets in half an hour. The pot drips a little but you can adjust the rod and get it to stop.

I guess it's all in what you like. I was "brought up" ladle casting. Bottom pouring just doesn't feel right to me. Of course YMMV.

 

[1775usmarine]

I got a 10lb lee bottom pour with 9lbs if lead in the pot for free in a box of reloading/casting stuff the owners of an antique store didnt want. My wife is good friends with them and she told me about it. I told her to ask them their price and was suprised when they gave her the box.

Had issues with dripping but a good cleaning and light sanding of the hole and no issues in the last 7 uses.

 

[fredj338]

I started with a cast iron pot and a Lyman ladle eons ago. When Lee came out with the 10 pound bottom pour I bought one. Output increased and it was OK for blasting bullets. Weight variation was greater than with the ladle but for pistol bullets weighing around 200-230 grains or less it was tolerable. When I got interested in big black powder rifle cartridges it proved woefully inadequate.

Casting big bullets, 500 grains and heavier, the ladle is slower, but more consistent with fewer rejects. Lee's 20 pound furnace is cheap and has a much needed increase in capacity. I use it for most of my casting.

Just like with a ladle, weight variations will be temp & technique driven. Though for handgun bullets, shot under 50y, small weight variatins mean little.

 

[fredj338]

My Lee 20 pound bottom pour was OK. But I'd be lying if I said I didn't get more consistent results and better, faster melting with my RCBS Pro. I like casting higher quality bullets at a fast rate, and the better furnace just seems to do a better job of keeping temperatures exactly where you want them.

PID fixes the temp swings.

 

[Tex1001]

Tex1001; I an intrigued by the complete setup you posted. I assume the wiring was pretty straightforward? If I am correct then all I would need is a fixture to hold the sensor

Wiring is straightforward.

Thermocouple wire holder is easy (Think coat hanger). The "Hot junction" suspended in the molten metal gives superb temp control.
I don't have any pictures of my setup But I could take some if you're interested.
The more that I look, the better this unit looks:
https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B0195V53X8/?coliid=I3O9LPBXGMMYL5&colid=ZUC0MZVW5LZW&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it

 

[ACORN]

OP;
BTW; I have never purchased anything that I was locked in to keeping for the rest of my life, not reloading/casting equipment, guns, cars and even houses. If I acquired something and later decided I didn't like it, I have always been free to try another. I have been able to sell my unwanted items or donate to a worthy cause, never being made to use an item I didn't like, and it's all in the continuing education of life...

I agree but having limited income does call for trying to make informed decisions. I'm glad you can afford to do otherwise. As I said, I prefer ladle casting. It's what I was introduced with.

 

[Bib]

I agree but having limited income does call for trying to make informed decisions. I'm glad you can afford to do otherwise. As I said, I prefer ladle casting. It's what I was introduced with.

I've tried a couple of times to send a PM with a list of the casting equipment....unsuccessfully. Do you have your private messages disabled?

 

[ACORN]

I've tried a couple of times to send a PM with a list of the casting equipment....unsuccessfully. Do you have your private messages disabled?

I did receive your PM and replied. Did you not get it?

 

[Bib]

I did receive your PM and replied. Did you not get it?

Ok....got it