which bottom pour melting pot is best, and why?

[Dthunter]

Whic bottom pour Lead melting furnace would you buy?

Lyman Mag-20
RCBS Pro-Melt

Are there any other quality makes?

I just found a dealer that offers the RCBS For $350.00
And the Lyman Mag-20 for $293.00

Let me know what you guys think.
I will be buying next week.

I need info/experience/pros/cons/etc.

thanks guys!

[Cmemiss]

After looking and reading comments here and elsewhere I am getting a Pro Melt delivered on Tuesday.

[engineer401]

Buffalo Arms is a little cheaper. http://www.buffaloarms.com/casting_f...s_pr-3902.aspx

[jimkim]

I bought a Lyman Mould Master XX furnace for $50.00 including shipping. George Damron is THE MAN!!!!

If I couldn't find a Lee, or a used RCBS or Lyman, I guess I'd get the RCBS, because they have a really great two year warranty for the original owner.

[Jammer Six]

Jimkim, I don't understand your post.

[Matt_G]

I would get the Pro Melt.
In the interest of fairness though, I have to admit I have never used a Lyman Mag-20.
However, I have been using my RCBS Pro Melt for a long time and love that thing.
It doesn't drip, it's a good size for long runs and it holds a consistent temp all the time.

Looks like the link engineer401 gave you is the cheapest around right now.
When you get your furnace, whichever one you get, let us know how you like it.

[bobthenailer]

Ive owend the lee , saeco , and tried a friends lymans 20 lb pot before buying my RCBS pot, 20 years ago , i do like the lymans mould guide better than rcbs and installed one on my RCBS pot.
When i bought my RCBS pot they had a LIFETIME warentee.

[Cowboy T]

I wouldn't overlook Lee's Pro 4-20. The reputation that it has in some circles of being a "drip-o-matic" is a bit unfair, as a dirty pot is usually what causes this. Keep it reasonably clean every now and again, and it'll work great and save you plenty of $$.

[Lloyd Smale]

Ive had a few lee pots when i first started and detested them. I then went to two lyman 20s and had them for many years till they were lost in the fire. they were decent pots but any pot will eventualy wear out heating elements and lyman charged to replace them. I went with rcbs pots this time and have two 20s. There a bit better pot in my opinion although they cost more and should be. The main reason i went with them is rcbs stands behind there stuff and doesnt charge a guy a 100 bucks when they go bad. So far they havent but they dont have near the miles on them the old lymans did.

[Shepherd2]

I've got to disagree with you Cowboy T. After my 40 year old Lyman pot bit the dust I bought a Lee Pro 4-20 and it dripped from the get go. It didn't have a chance to get dirty before it started to drip. I tried all the fixes, vise grips, etc, etc and it dripped. I finally sold it to a member here for little more than the cost of the postage and bought a used Lyman Mag 20 from another member. I've been a happy caster ever since.

I'm not knocking Lee Precision in general just their lousy casting furnaces. I've got lots of Lee products but I'd cast over a campfire using a tin can and a spoon before I'd buy another Lee dip-o-matic. If I had to buy another furnace today I'd get the RCBS for the warranty but I'd have no qualms about getting a Lyman.

[Jammer Six]

I see that there are more than one dissatisfied Lee pot owners. According to my research, these pots represent the lowest cost pots out there.

RCBS, on the other hand, represents the highest cost pots out there.

So what I'd like to know is this: are there any dissatisfied RCBS, top-end pot owners out there?

[ronbo]

I used my old Lyman 61 for almost 40 years with some minor wiring repairs done by me (burned off wire ends by the thermostat) and it still worked when I sold it, bought a new Lyman Mag 20 pot last year and so far it has been great, like the mould guide better than the RCBS but Lymans warranty is not the best.

[John Ross]

I see that there are more than one dissatisfied Lee pot owners. According to my research, these pots represent the lowest cost pots out there.

RCBS, on the other hand, represents the highest cost pots out there.

So what I'd like to know is this: are there any dissatisfied RCBS, top-end pot owners out there?

Not at this house. The Pro-Melt was designed and built by Ohio Thermal and first offered for sale at $120 retail in 1978. I bought one then and added another to my casting room some years later after RCBS bought them out. They are identical apart from the paint scheme.

33 years later, no issues with either. Original one on the bench, RCBS green one on the floor at left. Different alloy.

The Lyman mag or whatever looks to be well made but I have no personal experience with it.

[barkerwc4362]

I have three RCBS Pro-Melts. All have modified Lyman mould guides on them. I also have various Lee pots, that I never use anymore. The Pro-Melts are worth the extra money! I received my first Pro-Melt as a Christmas present in the early 90's. The last one was purchased from Midway when they were on sale, plus the RCBS $50 rebate. A really quality product and slick to use with a Lyman mould guide fitted.

Bill

[Jammer Six]

Any dissatisfied RCBS owners? Any at all? This is your chance...

Anyone?

[Shedhunter]

Good thread. I think my next pot will be the RCBS, most people love them but they are pricey. I think the Lee 4-20 I use now will be only for melting down WW because it has started to drip more than usual, even after tearing the pot down for a good cleaning.

[Reload3006]

when I buy another it will be RCBS ... I still am gagging at the price. but if you want good tools you pay for them i suppose.

[captaint]

Pretty sure I got the lifetime warranty with mine too. Bought it in about the mid to late 80's. I like it a lot. No complaints here... enjoy Mike

[Springfield]

I started out with LEE's have gone through 4 of them. Had a couple of Lyman's and they were better but too small. Still have my RCBS and my Magma(RCBS is NOT the most expensive pot out there!) I do most of my work with the Magma and use the RCBS for all the pure lead work, like C&B balls and some maxi balls for rifles. My main gripe with the Lee's, beside being too small, is they don't keep a steady enough temp for me as the sensor in not on the pot but in the tower behind the pot. Too much lag time, too many frozen spouts. Plus the drips. If you are only dong a hundred bullets I suppose that's OK but I like to do large batches so I am always adding lead to the pot.

[jimkim]

The two year warranty is from the RCBS website.
http://www.rcbs.com/general/warranty/