Well, I have to add a twist to my previous plug. While I still like my basic Lee pots, when I tried to get some parts, I got the ol' "we don't have parts for those anymore, but will sell you a new one...."
OK, they DID offer to sell me a new one at "half retail," PLUS shipping,... PLUS me shipping my old one back (why, if it's so useless and ouitdated?), so it would cost more than buying a new one outright through any one of our favorite outlets anyway.
No sense arguing with the gal, as the practice today seems to be to hire someone who knows nothing about anything to stall the customer in need. I asked to speak with engineering and I doubt that will happen. I can see how the new pot liner may not be backward compatible, but am annoyed that they didn't make it that way. I don't see how the element and temp switch would not be backward compatible though - it makes no sense to change that. The switch is a basic, decades (many) old mechanical switch still made the world over and any would do or could be done without when using the PID controller.
So, the element,.... if I could just get my hands on a photo I know to be accurate, I could tell if the old/new interchange. I barely get time to cast, so getting time to dissect one of the pots will be hard to come by. When I do, I'll share if I learn anything useful. Bottom line - such a basic thing - no more complicated than a toaster - should be serviceable for a couple lifetimes unless there are proprietary connectors involved. I worked in process heating for eight years and there's no shortage of heating element configurations to be found., but looking takes time and vendors won't want to spend that much time if you're not buying a BUNCH of them. Been out of it long enough my contacts are no longer viable.
If I had someone who could draw a seamless pot, I think I'd just MAKE a new pot and buy a ladle. I get that frustrated playing the "parts game" and am disappointed with Lee that they're doing it too now. Either stuff just goes out of style faster these days, or time is accelerating on an exponential curve as I age. I do believe that if I were ambitious enough, I could prove a link between that and the FACT that gravity is RELATIVE. RELATIVE to my AGE!
My epiphany - Don't fill 50 cal ammo cans with ingots and hide them under a bench when you're thirty. As they sit, they get heavier. The longer they sit, the heavier they get. Like age-hardening but much more aggressive.
Anyway, I still like my old Lee pots, but one has a too-large spout* from too many cleanings and the other needs (probably) an element. If you're not a patient tinkerer (broke), but spare parts when you buy the pot, because Lee may not be offering arts for it thirty years from now. I'll find a solution, but figured I should give a heads-up because not everyone is going to want to mess with it. I guess thirty years isn't bad, but they're still too good on all counts but the couple issues to throw away.
*Not such a big deal on the 44 moulds, but I cast way more 22, 30 and 357s, especially combined.
