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Thread: Lee 20 lb Pot humming

  1. #21
    Boolit Master
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    I have 2 both hum.i have a RCBS Pro Melt and it is quiteNever noticed the lees humming till I get the Promelt.Now I find myself cheching if the Promelt is on or not lol

  2. #22
    Boolit Master
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    Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm click. Hummmmmmmmmm click. Hummmmm click.

  3. #23
    Boolit Grand Master tazman's Avatar
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    I have owned and used several Lee pots over the decades. All of them hummed. Never gave it a thought. I just go ahead and use them.
    The only issue I had with them is when my basement flooded and the pots got under water for 4 days, there were some parts I needed to replace. Just drying them out wasn't good enough in all cases.

  4. #24
    Boolit Master Hannibal's Avatar
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    Anytime electrical current passes through a conductor, a magnetic field is generated. As these casting pots are powered by AC, or alternating current, the magnetic field will build in one polarity, collapse and build in the opposite polatity approximately 60 times per second, as that is the standard frequency of AC power. Combine this with the heating coil wrapping around the circular metal pot, and an audible noise is generated as the pot acts like a resonator.

    It gets more complicated and it's been many years since l studied electrical theory, but I believe this to be a pretty close explanation without rambling on for several paragraphs.

    Hope it helps. (?)

  5. #25
    Boolit Master
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    You're correct in what causes a 60 cycle hum/vibration in many things - same as I mentioned in loose laminate in a transformer.

    I was wondering if I had the only vibrating 20 lb pot, but guess not. Seems there are a lots of them that have this vibration. Maybe one day I'll get around to pulling the cover and see if a tad of space can be added somewhere to prevent the vibration, OR make the coil tight against the pot. There's got to be a reason some pots don't make this 60 cycle vibration sound.

  6. #26
    Boolit Master Hannibal's Avatar
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    The one I have hums, also. As you have mentioned, making the coil tight against the pot seems like a workable solution. I don't know this to be fact, but it seems reasonable.

  7. #27
    Boolit Grand Master bedbugbilly's Avatar
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    I have cast with a propane hotplate for 50 years but have given some serious thought to a Lee 20 pound pot. One would be handy when I don't want to go to effort to getting everything set up with the propane hot plate to cast. I'm glad I read this thread but I'm a little confused . . . .

    I checked Titan and while they sit the posts, I don't see any part numbers for the "style" of humming . .. . anyone know the part number for the pot that hums bluegrass? My luck is that I'd order one and get the "opera" model . . . .

  8. #28
    Boolit Buddy



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    I thought the hum was how you knew it was working! I use it to gauge if the unit is still trying to gain heat rapidly or just maintaining heat.
    "Yes or no will almost always suffice as the answer"

  9. #29
    Boolit Master



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    Quote Originally Posted by jsizemore View Post
    Vibration between the pot liner and the heating element wrapped around it.
    ^^^This........I usually tap mine gently with my mold mallet and the noise stops. I think it's because the outside sheet metal cover is a bit too close to the element. In any case, nothing to be excited about. Just hum along with it if you don't know the words........

  10. #30
    In Remembrance


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    If it gets to the point that you can identify the song it is humming, seek professional help. Or if it breaks out singing `Oklahoma`, then you have a money maker!Robert

  11. #31
    Boolit Grand Master

    gwpercle's Avatar
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    All three of mine have hummed , the little precision melter, the 10 lb. bottom pour and the 20 lb. magnum melter. Never paid it no mind and they are all still working and humming right along....I thought it was normal. As long as they are melting lead I won't try and " fix " them.
    Gary
    Certified Cajun
    Proud Member of The Basket of Deplorables
    " Let's Go Brandon !"

  12. #32
    Boolit Master
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    Interesting your 10 lb pot hums also - my 10 lb bottom pour is quiet as a mouse. I guess the 20 lb pot humming/vibrating bothers me because it sounds like a transformer with loose laminate core - and that's a signal to replace transformer. I can see where it does no harm with the pot.

    I might try whomping my pot some day to see how that affects it.

    Good thread - thanks to all for comments.
    Last edited by KenH; 07-10-2017 at 05:48 PM.

  13. #33
    Boolit Grand Master


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    Mine has hummed since I got it, but it can't carry a tune worth a darn!
    Charter Member #148

  14. #34
    Boolit Grand Master

    gwpercle's Avatar
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    They are sort of like wives....keep them long enough and after awhile....you don't hear a thing !
    Certified Cajun
    Proud Member of The Basket of Deplorables
    " Let's Go Brandon !"

  15. #35
    Boolit Buddy
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    My Lee pot has no noticeable hum, not a bottom pour, 20lb used out side thou!

  16. #36
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    Camptown race track five miles long Do Dah Do Dah .
    Good luck.Have fun.Be safe.
    Leo
    People never lie so much as after a hunt,during a war,or before an election.
    Otto von Bismarck

  17. #37
    Boolit Master
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    OK, I pulled the pot down today to do a good cleaning of the bottom spout and can see the heating coil is resting against the support rod that goes to bottom. I "pried" a bit to give some clearance, put it back together. Turned pot on and it's not humming much at all now - none when cold, but as pot heats up the humming increases, but still less than before.

    As other's have said, that's how you know it's heating

    Ken H>

  18. #38
    Boolit Master


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    Be happy you can hear a hum by anything I haven't in years, although I do hear a high pitch whine evey now and then but it goes away.

  19. #39
    Boolit Master
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    Whiter Shade of Pale by Procol Harum

    We skipped the light fandango
    Turned cartwheels 'cross the floor
    I was feeling kinda seasick
    But the crowd called out for more
    The room was humming harder
    As the ceiling flew away
    When we called out for another drink
    The waiter brought a tray


    And so it was that later
    As the miller told his tale
    That her face, at first just ghostly,
    Turned a whiter shade of pale
    She said, 'There is no reason
    And the truth is plain to see.'
    But I wandered through my playing cards
    And would not let her be
    One of sixteen vestal virgins
    Who were leaving for the coast
    And although my eyes were open
    They might have just as well've been closed


    And so it was that later
    As the miller told his tale
    That her face, at first just ghostly,
    Turned a whiter shade of pale


    Here is Procol Harum in concert in Denmark
    - it is an excellent video if you like classical renditions of oldies rock.
    With the lyrics you do not have to hum along
    Play it the next time you cast bullets to remember the old days....

    Last edited by EDG; 07-18-2017 at 11:09 PM.
    EDG

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Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
PSP Pointed Soft Point Spz Spitzer Point SBT Spitzer Boat Tail
LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
GC Gas Check