RCBS pro melt furnace

[waco]

Anyone have one? Is it worth the $375 Midway wants for it?
I have a Lee 20lb pot now. What is your take on this rather expensive bottom pour?
Waco

[John Allen]

I got two of them. I had the lees before. Once you go to a pro melt you will not go back. They are great. They do not drip and are smooth pouring. They also seem at least to me to maintain temp better.

[btroj]

I have had one for 22 years, worth every penny.

[waco]

As usual with RCBS products, this is what I thought would be said.
Getting tired of my "drip-O-matic"
Guess I'll start saving my pennies!
Thanks.
Waco

[Leadmelter]

I have one I bought back in the early 80"s. Never a problem, heats up a full pot in under 45 minutes. I just wished I had bought two when they were $150.
Leadmelter
MI

[waco]

I want one!

[John Allen]

The one nice thing I like is the set stop for the flow rate that you want. It works great and is super smooth.

[HighHook]

Mine has never missed a beat. Its almost 30 years old.

[DRNurse1]

+100 on the RCBS Pro Melt. I only have one but I have cast about 10,000 boolits just this year without complaint.

I might use the Lee to re melt my sprues and ingots so I can keep up my casting rate, maybe even put the 'drip-o-matic' above the RCBS if I could make a stable platform and I had the amperage.

[M-Tecs]

RCBS has a $50.00 rebate. Until Oct 31 Midway had them for $319.00. I have one on backorder.

[cbrick]

Bought mine in the late 70's or early 80's, was my main pot for many years. I only retired it to my soft alloy for the 40 pound capacity of the Magma for my most used alloy. I was sure glad I already had one when the price hit $100.00. :mrgreen:

Rick

[500MAG]

I have both and I really can't explain the difference you just have to see it for yourself. It's like a luxury vehicle vs. a yugo, both will get you there but one does it better.

[Le Loup Solitaire]

I bought a pro-melt in 1979 and have used it ever since with no problem of any kind. Thermostat is spot on, no dripping/leaking. I keep it clean and leave a couple of inches of lead in the pot when shutting down. RCBS has a rock solid guarantee if anyone needs it and their customer service is top-notch. Because of the 20 pound capacity I use it for my 4 cav molds. I also have an old Saeco which has a 10 pound pot so I use that one for my 2 cavs and 1 cavity molds. I paid top dollar for both of those back in the day and they have been worth every penny spent. LLS

[btroj]

Bought mine in the late 70's or early 80's, was my main pot for many years. I only retired it to my soft alloy for the 40 pound capacity of the Magma for my most used alloy. I was sure glad I already had one when the price hit $100.00. :mrgreen:

Rick


Rick, mine cost me nothing. Got it in 91 as a graduation gift from the inlaws when I finished pharmacy school.

I wouldn't have any problem buying one today, it will last plenty long to pay for itself.

[waco]

OK. Now I really want one. Darn bills anyhow!

[Mk42gunner]

I have both and I really can't explain the difference you just have to see it for yourself. It's like a luxury vehicle vs. a yugo, both will get you there but one does it better.

I think this quote says it best.

My Lee 4-20 works well and I cast a lot of boolits and sinkers from it. Since I managed to get a Promelt at an estate sale for $80.00 a few years ago, I have used my Lee one time to cast snagging sinkers with.

Robert

[22 rifle]

got one,started out with the lee the rcbs is more like professional equipment,head and shoulders above the lee stuff.mines a keeper-don't regret buying it.

[fivegunner]

I still use my old Pro melt that I bought in the 70`s ,before RCBS bought the company. the switch went bad and RCBS replaced it for free!:lovebooli

[Longone]

I've had mine for about 20 years and if it died tomorrow I'd be on the phone ordering another one. It has been 100% and from RCBS I would expect no less.

Longone

[500MAG]

Rick, mine cost me nothing. Got it in 91 as a graduation gift from the inlaws when I finished pharmacy school.

I wouldn't have any problem buying one today, it will last plenty long to pay for itself.

All I got from mine after pharmacy school was dinner. Wow

[375RUGER]

Worth every penny and then some. I picked mine up when Midway applied a birthday discount, at least 15%, then coupled with the RCBS rebate= GOOD DEAL

[alamogunr]

I bought mine from Midway about 5 years ago during an inventory reduction sale. It was about $100 off for a 240V model. All I had to do was cut off the European plug and wire one to match my table saw.

I also have a Lee Pro4-20 that I still use, only less often. An ingot mold under the spout handles the drips.

[surfanarchist]

I've only been casting about a year but when I got into casting the Promelt was the way I went, so I really have no data to make any comparisons with. I can say though that It works like a champ, never leaks, heats up quickly and maintains a pretty stable temperature (I use a thermometer). Every 30 bullets or so I through back the sprue and any malforms and it comes right back to temperature quickly. The heating element looks to be about 1.5 - 2 inches from the bottom of the pot so if you keep enough lead in it to cover that area it heats very fast. It’s easy to adjust the flow which I find useful in getting good fill out in different size molds. I have no idea why they cost so much, it's a pretty simple design I think. But it works.

[Dale in Louisiana]

Got one. Got two Lee pots, too, and I used to cast out of a pot on the stove.

The difference between the Lee and RCBS? Look at the difference between a Lee and an RCBS mould. Or Lee and RCBS mould handles. Or a Lee and an RCBS die.

Both will perform the function. One is just better made. It's up to you if you want to pay the premium.

dale in Louisiana

[Walter Laich]

I look at casting not only to save money but to have fun. I did well with Lees but a Pro-Melt came up in swappin and sellin and I went for it.

Must say my enjoyment factor went up though still have the Lees

walt

[Ole]

I bought one last summer and love it. RCBS has a $50 rebate on it right now if you're on the fence. (at least they were)

I used my Lee 20lb pot for a couple years and it was a CHORE to keep it working right. The way the mold shelf works, the way the column that the mold shelf screws to rotates around randomly, the way the screws would come undone while you had a pot full of lead in it.....

Bottom line is you get what you pay for. If you cast a lot you'll forget all about the lee pot pretty quickly once you upgrade.

[waco]

I would love one right now. I have the itch, just don't have the scratch.......

[mehavey]

Unless you are absolutely wedded to bottom-pour (and I purposely got away from that years ago), I'd suggest this:
http://www.buffaloarms.com/Detail.aspx?PROD=162964&TERM=furnace

It is without question the best lead pot in terms of capacity, melt time and dead-nuts temp stability to be had. Made by Waage Electronics, they are the classic standard.

I have two -- one for 1:30 and one for real Lyman#2
My old RCBS pro-melt I keep for pure lead, wired shut.
Ditto my Lyman 20-lb'r, also wired shut and held in reserve... but the Waage furnaces just keep going, and going,... and going...

[M-Tecs]

If anyone wants to go with the Waage K4757 I recommend going direct for the best price. Contact info here

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?92138-Waage-pot&highlight=K4757

[dromia]

Highly recommend the Promelt, I have two that I have been using for years one bought new one bought second hand. The feel, the quality, the temperature control, no drip and well thought out functional ergonomics makes the Lee look like the cheap lead melter it is. They shouldn't compared as they are as different as apples and oranges.

With the Promelt you get what you pay for, not cheap but worth every penny for ease of use, trouble free running, 110% customer back up not that it is needed often. It improved my casting experience 100 fold over the lee leakers and consequently the quality and quantity of my boolits, over the years they have more than paid for the extra cost in time saved not having to continually fettle and search for fixes for the lee failures and giving a far higher quality boolit percentage per session, the only throw backs now are due to operator error not operator and pot error.

[Wild Bill 7]

Bought mine in the 80's. Great machine. Nice thing is you can heat your moulds while heating the pot. Then put ingots on there to warm while casting. Well worth the money.

[Gunslinger1911]

I'll say well worth it also.

Had Lee 4-20's for decades - pretty much got the bugs worked out over the years (lots help from here !).

Then the heating element died (like in disintegrated !!) New element not expensive, but from so many years and hundreds if not thousands of lbs lead thru it, the outside metal was so warped I couldn't get it back togeather. Really, I tried for like hours !!!!!

Bought RCBS next day.

One thing I believe is that the Lee is really about 17 lbs full and the RCBS is at least 20-21.

Great is the adjustable flow - with the Lee I had to go with ladle pouring for my bigger moulds (45/70 , 500 Smith. Just open up the flow on the RCBS !!

[Smoke4320]

I had 4 lee 4-20 Pots . they all worked and poured bullets.. disliked the drips and the non constant temps and adjusting flow rates..
sold all 4 lees and bought a RCBS ...what a world of difference
love starting a pot of lead, pouring bullets and all I have to worry about is forgetting to add more lead :) :)

[cbrick]

Dang people . . . . Isn't there anyone here that LIKES the Promelt? :coffeecom

Sorry, just couldn't resist. Sounds pretty unanimous on the Promelt huh? :mrgreen:

Rick

[btroj]

I would like to get a Magma 40 pounder but just haven't been able to part with the money.

[cbrick]

Like this one with the PID & the stand I made so it's at eye level when bottom pour casting? The only reason the Promelt doesn't get used nearly as much anymore is because of the 40 pound capacity of this pot. It takes the Promelt give or take 35 minutes to heat 20 pounds to 700 degrees. The Magma does 40 pounds in about 40 minutes.

Rick

86538

[btroj]

Yes Rick, just like that. I am jealous.

[fredj338]

I hear lots of complaints about Lee dripping, mine do not, never have. Just don't smelt in them or run them dry, they work fine. Tough to look @ something 5-6x more $$ & say it's worth it, it is just dropping lead. This is coming from someone that owns a Magma. If I were going to spend $375, I would probably spend $575 & get the 40# Magma. If I could score a deal on a slightly used RCBS I would in a minute but, not likely.
A bit cheaper price here. http://www.buffaloarms.com/RCBS_Pro_Melt_Casting_Furnace_it-162490.aspx?CAT=3902

[M-Tecs]

I If I could score a deal on a slightly used RCBS I would in a minute but, not likely.

Not mine. One here for $225.00 http://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/8198770/1

[Mal Paso]

Having a pot you can turn your back on leads to the kind of complacency that could get you hurt. I like my pots a little edgy, I own Lees. ;)

[btroj]

Having a pot you can turn your back on leads to the kind of complacency that could get you hurt. I like my pots a little edgy, I own Lees. ;)


Never heard of the Lee drip called a safety feature before.

[Dave C.]

My Lyman pot is still going strong after 20+ years.

Dave C.

[garymcgehee52]

Bite the bullet and get the Pro Melt, you will not regret it.

[waco]

Ok. Aug. 25 I'll be 40. The wife said I could order the pro melt for my birthday!
I finally get one ! Very stoked to retire my drip O matic !

[Oleman]

I got one a couple months ago from Optics Planet $355 and free shipping. I've been collecting some Linotype this weekend the RCBS got put to work 200 pounds of smelted Linotype. So far it seems to work flawlessly. Temp control is correct. Pours very nicely. Just a few more lots of lead to smelt.

[dondiego]

Don't smelt wheel weights or range scrap in you Promelt!

[waco]

Don't smelt wheel weights or range scrap in you Promelt!

Oh no ! Only clean metal !!!

[chloe123]

You should check the swap and sell section of the site. There was one, used but well maintained, for 225$. As he included shipping, and RCBS stands by their products, I felt like his price was reasonable.

Based on reviews, I bought mine new about a year ago. It was trouble free, good temperature range, when I used it. Afterward, I bought a Magma so it hasn't got a lot of attention

if I do elect to part with it, it'll be via this site. I wish I could compare to a cheaper pot like a Lee. I just don't have one. Consider your use. The. RCBS is well built. Resist the temptation to save $ if long term dependability is a factor. ...can't tell you how many times I've reasoned that Harbor Freight was the answer for new tools to only have them break a few weeks after purchase

[ShooterAZ]

I bought the RCBS Pro-Melt two weeks ago, and love it, no more dripping, nada. The mold guide took a little getting used to, and for small two cavity molds I just swing it completely out of the way and use a block of wood wrapped in sheet metal as my guide. One of the things I like best about it is that it does keep a very consistent temperature. With my Lee pot I kept having to fiddle the dial to maintain the temp as the pot emptied. I did send in the $50 rebate as well. Get one.

[waco]

I'm going to order it today or tomorrow. Does it have a thermometer, or just a dial like the Lee?

[chloe123]

Dial...you supply temp gauge



I'm going to order it today or tomorrow. Does it have a thermometer, or just a dial like the Lee?

[waco]

Good to know. I should order one from NOE.

[detox]

I got one a couple months ago from Optics Planet $355 and free shipping. I've been collecting some Linotype this weekend the RCBS got put to work 200 pounds of smelted Linotype. So far it seems to work flawlessly. Temp control is correct. Pours very nicely. Just a few more lots of lead to smelt.

Linotype works best in bottom pour pots...especially smaller calibers (30 caliber and under). Very seldom do I have to cull bullets.

Whenever I cast with softer alloys I use a ladle.

[bpost1958]

I toasted two Lee pots early in my casting days. Had a 20 pound pro melt for 30 years now and it just keeps on working. Bills are over rated, get the pot and be happy :mrgreen: