My RCBS "Pro Melt" Lead Pot Story...

seagiant

seagiant

Member
Hi,
Years ago, I wanted a new 20# Lead Pot...

After searching came up with two that I liked a RCBS and a Magma Pot...

The Magma is the bee's knees, but was more than I wanted to spend.

The RCBS was not really cheap either but was less and looked like it would work for me.

I actually came up with an idea, and decided to call RCBS and see if they had a repaired Pot or a return or anything I could get a better price on.

A shot in the dark, but I hit pay dirt as the Nice Lady said they did have a dent model for $200!

Well jumped on it and had a hard time finding the dent but it is on the top right front corner of the casing, actually hard to see.

Just thought it might be interesting on what people here are using for their casting.

Still want the Magma but more than I need and the RCBS with my homemade PID runs beautiful!

ooo5.jpgC-2.jpgMasterpotLg.jpg
 
J

Jeff H

NW Ohio
Dipped out of a cast-iron pot on the kitchen stove or campfire growing up.
There was an old bottom-pour in there along the way, but I don't remember the brand.
Dipped out of a cat-iron pot on a Coleman gasoline-fired camp stove for a while, once out on my own.
Used a neighbor's 10# LEE sometime in the mid-eighties and bought me one.
Back home after ten years away and my dad and I cast out of the LEE 10# pot and his cast-iron pot for a while, until he bought another LEE 10# pot and set it up at my place, where we did all our casting.
Off and on, from the mid-nineties to about 2012, I also dipped out of a huge cast-iron pot and ran a Magma(?) machine caster when a friend who was a commercial caster got behind on orders.

My two LEE 10# pots are getting old and I've considered upgrading, but then I'm so used to the little LEE pots that I don't know if I care to start new habits.

That RCBS unit looks really nice though. I'm still thinking about upgrading, but the two old pots still work, so I guess I have time to dally a bit longer.
 
Brad

Brad

Benevolent Overlord and site owner
Staff member
Got my 20# RCBS from Paulwhen I graduated from pharmacy school in 91. Used it exclusively until roughly 5 years ago when my wife bought me a 40# Magma pot.
The Magma is a great pot. Never used the bottom pour feature.
 
Rick

Rick

Moderator
Staff member
The Magma is great for those that wish to bottom pour. It has a dual spout and fills two cavities at a time. I have used that feature but the vast majority of my casting is with a ladle.
 
Bret4207

Bret4207

At the casting bench in the sky. RIP Bret.
Still using an, IIRC, 8 cup stainless steel measuring cup. Yup, it's a big sucker. It sits on an open coil hotplate and has done anything I've ever asked it to do with up to 6 cav moulds. It will work with the 10 H+G but the Rowell ladle is a bit clumsy in it. I also have 2 SAECO/Lyman 10lbsers I have been intending on mounting on above the other for 20 years now. Had 1 Lee pot, never again! Others may get along with them but I'd rather use a ladle and bean can than that BP Lee!!!
 
seagiant

seagiant

Member
Hi,
RCBS now has the "Pro Melt 2", which seems to come with a built in PID.

I fought building a PID for years telling myself, I did not need one but...

After using it in my Casting see the advantage and would not cast without it now.

I also use the PID for a Gun Kote Oven and my Knife Heat Treat Tempering Oven.

Each has it's own Thermo Couple that just plugs in.20220216_150849.jpg81099_ProMelt2.jpg
 
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Winelover

Winelover

North Central Arkansas
Started 50 years ago with the Lee 10# bottom pour pot. Moved on to the Lee 20# which is a vast improvement. Then a 220volt ProMelt. Also using a Lyman Mag 25, with bottom pour feature locked down and RCBS Easy Melt (dedicated ladle pot). The latter two are the only ones with PID's..........which, IMO, is the weak link. Both PID's quit while casting. the Lyman, I repaired. Found a blown tube style glass fuse. The RCBS Easy Melt sits empty, on my shop floor, wait for disassembly................need to drill out the rivets.
 
Mitty38

Mitty38

Well-Known Member
A Lee Cast iron dipper over open fire for musket ball.
Or I would just do that on a hot plate on the porch in an old soup kettle that I process my pewter, lube, sinkers and small lead batches in.

Then after I started casting for .357 with my first sprew plate type mould. I bought an electric pot.
A 110v Version of the 20lb Lee bottom pour. And a lyman thermometer. I have space issues so pretty much use that for all my bullet and sinker casting now, just empty it our and put it back in its box after every use. It's served my well and never had any issues with it, accept the dressed drip if I do not clean the valve out when I drain it.
Being a 110 has never caused me any issues. As I have limited service any way and would have to upgrade for another 220 outlet. Plus I never cast on a day I have plans to do anything else. I usually make a half day of it. It's kind of a mental get away for me, like sitting by a camp fire, listening to music. So warm up time is not an issue.
 
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P

Petrol & Powder

Well-Known Member
I started my lead casting career using an iron pot over a camp fire. I did that because I wanted to prove to myself that I could do that.
I moved on to a Coleman stove (much better) and still use that when casting ingots.
Got a bottom pour electric pot and felt like I had found nirvana.
 
R

richhodg66

Well-Known Member
Used and fought with a Lee 10 lb pot for years. Finally had enough and dug up a used Lyman model 61 which works a whole lot better. I did pick up one of the Lee 20 lb ones, still haven't used it yet.
 
J

JustJim

Well-Known Member
I started out a huge cobbled-together furnace to cast bullets as my part of the local ammo re-man consortium, then a ladle on a gas stove to cast round ball. Had a Lee for a bit, then got a SAECO. When the SAECO died, I hesitantly shelled out around $200 for an RCBS. It has worked well for 25+ years. I thought about a PID, but I figure that since my routine has given me consistent bullets I'm not going to change.

A Magma would be nice, but I haven't done a cost/benefit breakdown. I'd probably get more use out of a Star lube-sizer.
 
KeithB

KeithB

Resident Half Fast Machinist
Keeping the PID separate from the casting furnace seems to me to be a better idea than putting them in one unit where the heat can get to the electronics. As pointed out by @seagiant in post #11 a separate PID can also be used with other devices. Plus, if either fails the other can still be used.

Just my opinion.
 
Winelover

Winelover

North Central Arkansas
Rick said:
All you need is ventilation and you can cast inside. In the air conditioning or heat with no wind.
Click to expand...
I'm an outdoorsy sort of guy. Cast early in the morning when there is very little wind. Want a slight breeze so it blows away from me. I have two different casting areas. In front of the house, that blocks east and south winds. Back of the house that blocks north and west winds. Hence, I don't want a 50+ pound pot.
 
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