For as long as RCBS has been making them I've been using a Pro-Melt furnace. Love it. Still, there are clearly things that could be improved. So what I'd like to discuss is what changes I'd like to see and what features I'd like to keep to make this as close to an Ideal casting furnace as possible.
First for the pluses.
* I REALLY like the mould guide rod. I've got maybe two dozen different brands of moulds and that guide rod works
perfectly with all of them. That feature can not be improved.
* I also really love the fact that RCBS will repair their units. No other furnace maker that I'm aware of does that.
Then there are the things I'd like to see changed.
* the on switch lights up when the heating element is actually on. I would far prefer a small light on the front of
the unit where it would be far easier to see.
* the screws that hold the nozzle shut-off pin in place and hold the handle in place are WAY to short. If those
screws back out then the handle and shut-off pin literally float in hot alloy and the furnace empties with no
way of stopping the flow. Longer screws would significantly reduce this problem. I'd also like a nut on the
end of those screws to limit the chance that the screws can back out.
* get rid of the mould guide collars. they serve no useful purpose.
* I'd also like for the area that contains the actual alloy to be easily removed so if you want to switch alloy you
would not have to drain the furnace. Instead you could just pull out the "container" holding the alloy.
* I'd like to see some absolutely positive way to stop alloy from going through the nozzle at the bottom of the
furnace so if the furnace does start to uncontrollably drain that that can be stopped.
* I'd like the actual heating elements to go up higher around the "container" that holds the alloy. As it is, if the
furnace is full and empty, when that heating element comes on it heats only the alloy at the very bottom
of the furnace. That leaves a solid plug of alloy above the reach of the heating elements. That plug will
eventually be melted IF the expanding alloy does not push up on that plug thereby raising the shut-off
pin and causing the liquid to go out the nozzle. If that happens there is no way for the heating element
to melt that plug. If you ever have that happen you know it is a real problem. A practical way to avoid
this is to always make sure the furnace is half empty when you turn it off but I'd prefer for the heating
elements to come up higher in the furnace.
And finally I'd like:
* digital readouts of not only furnace temperature but also the furnace temperature setting as Lyman has just
introduced on their new model.
ANY OTHER SUGGESTIONS?