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Thread: Lyman Casting Thermometer

  1. #1
    Boolit Man K-Rod's Avatar
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    Lyman Casting Thermometer

    Ok I did do a search on this and all I found didnt seem to anwser the problems I'm having. I just today picked up one of these Lyman casting Thermometers from Cabelas and Im really questioning if this thing is working properly. I have the Pro-melt 120v. I set the dial to roughly 700 degress, let the light go out and take a reading with the thermometer in the middle of the pot. Not touching the bottom or sides. Within 30sec, the thermometer says temp is 1000 degrees. When the temp was rising, it wasnt very smooth. The needle more skipped along. I wiped it off and set it off to the side to cool off. I looked at it a half hour later and the thing says its 270 degrees sitting on my bench.

    Now I am for sure returning it due to the fact Im sure its messed up but Im wondering if other members here have had similar issues with this themometer? It is stamped "China" so maybe I should look for a different brand but Ive never had issues with Lyman products and I figured paying $45 it should be some what higher quality.

  2. #2
    Boolit Grand Master

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    KE4GWE - - - - - - Colt 1860, it just feels right.

  3. #3
    Boolit Man K-Rod's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Beagle333 View Post
    Thanks Beagle. I feel I just wasted a post

    This is doing the same exact thing. I'll take it back tomorrow and not worry about exchanging it.

  4. #4
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    RogerDat's Avatar
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    If anything they should read super high when cold due to swinging back past the low temp to the top of the high temp. But swing right around as soon as heat is applied. Boiling water at full boil showing close to 212 is best common check I can think of to test. Lot of folks like the tel-tru from Amazon, less expensive and US made as I recall.
    Scrap.... because all the really pithy and emphatic four letter words were taken and we had to describe this source of casting material somehow so we added an "S" to what non casters and wives call what we collect.

    Kind of hard to claim to love America while one is hating half the Americans that disagree with you. One nation indivisible requires work.

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  5. #5
    Boolit Grand Master In Remembrance
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    Te-Tru thermometers are like a Timex ... they give accurate readings for years! Just to keep mine honest - it gets dunked in boiling water every couple of years or so

    http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0055777EU/...I3IC3M6K4UXVM3
    Regards
    John

  6. #6
    Boolit Master Boolit_Head's Avatar
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    Ditto, I picked up a Tel-True cheaper than the others direct from the company's website.

  7. #7
    Boolit Master


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    Maybe I got a lucky one but my Lyman works just fine. Tested it in boiling water and it read about 210.
    Lead bullets Matter

    There are three kinds of men: The ones that learn by reading. The few who learn by observation. The rest of them have to pee on the electric fence and find out for themselves. - Will Rodgers

  8. #8
    Boolit Master
    triggerhappy243's Avatar
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    i had read several years ago that lymans thermometers were crapppp. oh well.

  9. #9
    Boolit Master

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    I invested in a $7 digital thermometer with a K thermocouple from Alipress a couple of years ago.
    It shows that pure lead will go solid at 620F and that water will boil at 208F (standard at our altitude.)
    Way better than any bi metal thermometer
    Go now and pour yourself a hot one...

  10. #10
    Boolit Master
    triggerhappy243's Avatar
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    10x, where did you find that?

  11. #11
    Boolit Master

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    http://www.aliexpress.com/wholesale?...meter+k&page=2

    This is the search for the correct series of K thermocouples

    And the link if you want to go PID with a K thermocouple

    http://www.aliexpress.com/wholesale?...k+Thermocouple
    Last edited by 10x; 01-17-2015 at 06:42 PM.
    Go now and pour yourself a hot one...

  12. #12
    Boolit Bub
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    I purchased a electronic thermometer from e bay, works great

  13. #13
    Boolit Master

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    Quote Originally Posted by Side by Side View Post
    I purchased a electronic thermometer from e bay, works great
    This forum has changed the way I cast bullets. I made the move to PID a couple of years ago, have discovered that preheating molds gives good bullets - sometimes from the first cast,
    and discovered the K thermocouple and digital thermometers.
    I now am building a unit to control the heat of a fish tank with a PID....
    Next project is a PID controlled lube sizer heater.
    And maybe a PID controlled attic exhaust fan.
    Go now and pour yourself a hot one...

  14. #14
    Boolit Bub
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    accidently stepped on mine yesterday. Pretty sure it aint accurate now

  15. #15
    Boolit Buddy fred2892's Avatar
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    I had 2 Lyman thermometers. The second one came along after I convinced myself the first one was under reading at molding temps. They both read pretty much the same, but I just couldn't trust them. Along came a pid so I could actually check the Lyman's. Sure enough they were both spot on at lower temps, but at anything above 300, one was at least 50 under reading and the other over 100 under. Just junk.

  16. #16
    Boolit Bub AKholicBubba's Avatar
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    I just grabbed up a used Lyman over off eBay, actually just arrived today. It's reading 1000°f right out the box. It's really cold here, in the 20s so maybe that's it? And I been hearing lots about these Tel-tru ones after I ordered the Lyman figures. But I guess a good casting session will decide if this thermometer works like it should

  17. #17
    Boolit Grand Master

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    There have been lots of complaints about the Lyman thermometer. My older RCBS reads very close to what the readout on my PID reads. I was surprised, and pleased!

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