New casting pots with built-in PID controllers

[texasmac]

Some of you may have seen my article titled, Casting with a PID Controller, that was recently published in The Single Shot Exchange Magazine and also posted on my website. It was submitted a few months ago and is already outdated since both RCBS and Lyman have recently introduced new casting furnaces with PID controllers built in. The RCBS ProMelt 2, RCBS Easy Melt and the Lyman Mag 25 feature easy to program and use PID feature. All hold 25 lbs of alloy. The RCBS ProMelt 2 and Lyman Mag 25 are bottom pour designs but can also be used for ladle dipping. The RCBS Easy Melt model for ladle dipping only is an especially good buy. MidwayUSA is offering a limited time sale for $109.99 & shipping is free. The regular Midway price is $129.99 and RCBS lists the unit for $149.95.

It seems the casting equipment suppliers are finally starting to wake up to the use of digital technology. No doubt there will be more offerings to come. I bet Lee won't be left in the dust for long and Waage will have to upgrade their pot to stay competitive.

Wayne

[rfd]

thanx for the heads up!

no free shipping but there is a $25 RCBS rebate.

[country gent]

I wish when they make a ladle pot they would increase the dia of the pot and make it shallower for the same capacity. Its easier to ladle out of and you can get more of the lead before having to melt more. My current pot for casting is a cut of propane tank probably 13-14" in dia and only 4" deep. With the domed bottom I can ladle down to 3-4 lbs of lead remaining from the 120 lbs it holds.

[texasmac]

Although I have a RCBS furnace which is controlled with a separate PID, I ordered an Easy Melt from MidwayUSA yesterday & it’s on backorder. So I probably won’t qualify for the $25 rebate but it’s still a good deal without it.

Below is some feedback on the RCBS Easy Melt I just received from a guy that recently bought one. He also has a Waage pot controlled with a separate PID.

Wayne
=================================
I ordered and received a RCBS Easy Melt from Midway. I set it up next to my Waage w/PID controller to make a comparison. The Easy Melt has a built in PID. My observations:
Price RCBS $109.99 + $11.49 shipping and additional $25.00 rebate from RCBS (must purchase by 3/31/18) – advantage Easy Melt
RCBS holds more alloy and no thermocouple in the pot which is required with a separate PID. – advantage Easy Melt
RCBS held the temperature more constant than the Waage while casting 20 bullets each. – advantage Easy Melt
RCBS made in China. – advantage Waage
For the price, I couldn’t pass this up as a second pot. After using the Easy Melt today, my Waage w/PID is my second pot. I was pleasantly surprised by the Easy Melt’s performance, considering the low price. I think having the PID as an integral part of the unit is giving it better temperature stability.
I just hope the Easy Melt holds up……………………..

[Bigslug]

I just hope the Easy Melt holds up……………………..

That is the $64,000 question right now - is putting a potentially delicate electronic instrument right next door to a pot of molten metal it's potentially supposed to maintain at up to 900F REALLY a good idea?

Dead PID = continue operating with functional pot, granted, under compromised conditions.

Dead Pot = transfer the PID flag.

Dead PID-integrated pot = things may get awkward. . .

Hopefully my current Pro Melt and PID combo holds up long enough for this to become a mature, crash-tested technology.

[texasmac]

That is the $64,000 question right now - is putting a potentially delicate electronic instrument right next door to a pot of molten metal it's potentially supposed to maintain at up to 900F REALLY a good idea?

Yup, I share you concern but due to the price for the Easy Melt I'm willing to take a chance. But, as pictured below, I do have a PID with my Pro Melt as you do in case the Easy Melt melts.

Wayne

[fgd135]

I got one of those Easy Melt units before MW was backordered. I've not had a chance to use it yet. Very good price with the rebate. and certainly an upgrade from my very old Lee magnum melter without a PID.

[Old-Win]

I normally cast in my garage with a propane burner and 25# pot but with the prolonged winter here and a match in a little over 2 weeks, I bought the RCBS PID pot and used it for the 1st time today. I set the temp at 775 (my normal casting temp) and loaded the pot with 25 pds of new 20-1 lead. When the controller read 775 degrees I thought I was ready to start casting but the lead looked barely melted so I stuck my Tru Tel thermometer in the pot and it read only 600 degrees. I reset the pot to 800 and waited another 15 minutes. By then, the controller read 800 but the lead was at 700 degrees. I then readjusted the control to 825 degrees and waited some more. Lapsed time was approaching 45 minutes. Finally, the lead was now at 715 degrees (to low for my normal temp) and I started casting. It took about 25 bullets to get the mold up to temperature and finally cast about 115 40 cal bullets but they just didn’t look as filled out as I normally get using the turkey cooker. When the pot was about half empty, I read the melt temp again and it had reached 725 degrees. A 100 degree difference than what I had set the temperature at.
I’m curious to hear how others have done with theirs. Does mine have a bad PID or is this common? Thanks

[country gent]

A lot of the controllers guys build need to be calibrated to read correctly could this be the issue with your new pot?

[texasmac]

Old-Win,

I bought the Easy Melt & used it twice so far. Based on how it worked for me I recommend it. I suggest you call RCBS and discuss it with them. You may have a bad controller or the internal thermocouple may have a problem. I know it's a pain but you have the 2-yr warranty & may have to return it to the factory for replacement.

Wayne

[HangFireW8]

Don't trust the PID thermometer or the analog... but especially not the analog.

[fgd135]

I used my new RCBS Easymelt yesterday--it took a very long time to come up to casting temp, but I attribute that to having to melt some 5lb ingots instead of remelting an existing batch in the pot. Once the ingots were melted, the pot, set at 750 degrees, held the temp within 10 degrees of the reading of my high-temp analog dial thermometer. The controller was very easy to adjust and set.
Btw, I cast up about 200 bullets for my Parker Hale Volunteer (Lyman 457121 475 gr.), Snider (Xring .592" 530 gr) and Martini Henry (.459" Xring 500 gr PP), all in pure lead.
It will be interesting to use again and see if the unit heats up a bit faster now there's a cooled melt in the pot.