Do you leave alloy in the pot?

[paulsnapp]

I was just wondering what the best practice is for shutting down a melting pot. After I am done casting, do I drain all remaining alloy out of the pot, leave anything that is left over in the pot and just heat up next time, fill the pot to some level before shutting down? If I am to drain the pot, is there any cleaning that needs to be done before putting the pot away? Thanks for any advice!

[gunoil]

I turn mine off and turn it back on next time, full pot. I warm molds on hot plate. I have had nice boolits lately, couple people brought nice lead over here, and i add ww's and range ingots to to good soft lead. I dont flux anymore. Just let the garbage stay on top. I have a twin fan system 8 inches above my pot, 7" tube going all the way out the roof. I wear respirator some.

I have bought tin,bizmuth,pewter on ebay and at estate sales. I am still learning from pros here! I want a hardness tester. One guy on here has a good mod for tester he sells. Some do the pencil hard test. I enjoy casting and i drop in water. I ordered a magma star lubesizer. as of now all i have is alox.

[LUCKYDAWG13]

i keep a full pot i like to think that it will help agents rust

[lka]

I always use it up start with a fresh pot so I can cast either shotgun or pistole, only ppe for me is a glove.

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/05/23/u2apu8a7.jpg

[41 mag fan]

1/2 pot...takes less time for my Lyman furnace to heat up that way vs a full pot or so it seems

[btroj]

I leave at least a 1/4 pot.

[imashooter2]

Full to the gills. I have different pots for different alloys.

[Jack Stanley]

Mine doesn't get below a quarter of a pot and whatever is left when I turn off the power is what's there the next time . I think I remember reading the instruction years ago that advised leave at least an inch in the bottom . Something about being easier on the pot or heating element I forget which though .

Jack

[Doc Highwall]

Full to the gills. I have different pots for different alloys.

The same here.

[roberto mervicini]

never below 1/2

[Shuz]

This issue was brought up a few years ago. A guy who repaired many pots for others suggested to leave the pot about half full before turning off. It was supposed to be easier on the heating elements. As a side benefit, when you start the pot back up, it takes less time for the melt to reach temperature because of all the metal that is directly contacting the sides of the furnace as opposed to all those ingots lying there with air space around them.

[prs]

I also leave whatever is left and never less than about 1/3 pot full. BUT, nobody gave the necessary warning; when you turn that pot back on, you have to keep an eye on it in case there is a drip or leak. The ONE time I failed to do that, I got a giant free-formed piece of lead artwork on my bench.

prs

[leadladen]

1/4 full for restart

[jimb16]

1/2-3/4 here. I pretty much use the same alloy for both rifle and pistol, so I don't worry about which I'm casting. I just heat her up and get casting.

[H.Callahan]

About 1/4-1/3 minimum. If I have more in the pot than that, I will leave it at whatever level is it at.

[Case Stuffer]

I usea RCBS Pro Met tha is close to 30 years old. I never cast to the pi where it is less than1/3 full and most sessioms end with it 2/3 to full.

All these years ,casting sessions and more boolits than I even like to think about and it has never leaked or given any problems at all.

[Shiloh]

Usually run it to an inch deep if I wrapping a particular batch up.

Shiloh

[Calamity Jake]

Full to the gills. I have different pots for different alloys.


+1 ^^^^^^

[HATCH]

My master caster is always left 3/4 to full.
Yes it takes longer to heat it up compared to 1/4 but if you heat up a 1/4 pot of lead your still gonna need to add more lead to the pot anyway so why waste the time.

I have a Pro4-20 pot that is 80% full of pure lead.

[plainsman456]

I leave about 1 inch in the pot when done for the day.

When i am winding down i un plug the pot and cast till the nozzle freezes up,about 1 inch is left every time.

[fredj338]

Always. If you want your Lee pot to leak, empty it often, it only puts crud in the spout. Also leaving alloy in the pot means it heats faster. So I always leave the pot at least 1/2 full. In fact, I never let it get less than 1/2 empty.

[243winxb]

Always. If you want your Lee pot to leak, empty it often, it only puts crud in the spout. Also leaving alloy in the pot means it heats faster. So I always leave the pot at least 1/2 full. In fact, I never let it get less than 1/2 empty. This i have to try.

[Bucking the Tiger]

I try to leave 1 to 1 1/2" lead in the pot of my Lee 4-20. Like a car, I am not into running it dry.

[SciFiJim]

I always end a casting session by refilling my pot and then unplugging it. It is going to have to be full next time anyway and a full pot has a place to rest and preheat a mold while it is heating up.

[ffries61]

I refill mine also at the end of a session, saves start up time next session.