Lyman pot saved from the landfill.

[BKB]

I noticed a rusty and really dirty old lead pot sitting by a garbage can at a National Guard Armory. It seems one of the guys was moving and brought the old pot to the office to see if anyone wanted it, they didn't. Lucky me. A cleanup revealed that the bottom pour plunger, handle and power cord were missing. There were really not good pictures of the plunger to copy, so a shaft was turned .015 under size for the hole and three flats milled on it to let the molten lead pass. For lack of better guidance, the point was turned 60 degrees then lapped into the seat. A straight handle seemed poorly placed for me, so brief session of heat and beat produced a pleasantly curved handle that feels right. A new power cord and I fired it up and it works great with no drip. My little lee pot and dipper will still get some action......maybe, but I do like this bottom pour. Being financially challenged most of my life has forced me to learn to fix it or not have it. It would have been shame for a fine old pot to rust away for lack of a little TLC. Hope I don't sound like I'm gloating or anything.

cord- $9.00
bottom pour parts- 45 minutes lathe time and scapbinium metal
saving a lyman from the trash-priceless

[labradigger1]

Is that a mould master 61 or xx? Cant tell by the pic. I have 3 61's and one xx. Great pots with no drips. I need an element for the xx.
Lab

[petroid]

Nice find and great work resurrecting it!

[Le Loup Solitaire]

Lyman pots were made by the same firm that made Saecos and they were all good solidly built pots that worked well. They are easy to fix if something goes wrong. Glad to see that you salvaged the one you have shown. A suggestion for cutting down on the/any exterior rust would be to spray the outside blued parts with Rustoleum BBQ stove black(high heat formula); it looks good and is easily touched up if necessary. Can be found in most hardware stores/auto parts stores/Depot/Lowes or Walmart. LLS

[fryboy]

ummmm..."scapbinium metal" - that's a much much better choice than "unobtanium" !!! and thanks fer the grin :P

[Vinne]

Gloat away...you did good. Looks like it is in great shape. I like to see old equipment saved from a premature end.

[WILCO]

Nice find and great work resurrecting it!

+1!!!!!!!!!

[BKB]

Is that a mould master 61 or xx? Cant tell by the pic. I have 3 61's and one xx. Great pots with no drips. I need an element for the xx.
Lab

From my little bit of searching on the web, I believe that it is a 61. If it was ever stamped on the pot it is long gone now. That stove black sounds good, but looking too good might make it feel out place in my shop.

[VHoward]

Absolutely nothing wrong with saving a good piece of equipment from an early grave. Looks good.

[el34]

Big congratulations and kudos for the accomplishment. It's always a special kind of satisfaction from doing something like you did.

[35 shooter]

Nine dollars plus time involved = new lyman pot....outstanding!

[dikman]

Well done! I would have done the same thing if I'd found it. (I'm a great believer in recycling things, if possible).

What's the phrase - "an oldie but a goodie"?

[richhodg66]

I use that same model of pot and it works great. I don't have the lathe skills to do what you did, but I sure would have grabbed that and figured out how to fix it too. Good job.

[CastingFool]

Good for you! I get great enjoyment of being able to fix, repair and reuse something that someone else has discarded, too, so I appreciate what you have done.

[odinohi]

You did very well. Congrats

[Hardcast416taylor]

My gun club had 2 of these pots for members to use for quite a few years. I heard that after I left the club within a year both pots disappeared never to be returned.Robert

[sixshot]

I have an old Lyman pot that needs a need heating element. Somewhere on here a few years back someone posted about where to get a replacement element. I've already replaced it once but for some reason it didn't last too long.

Dick

[TenTea]

Fine job OP!

Saeco makes good stuff.