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Thread: What was I thinking........or was I?

  1. #1
    Boolit Buddy Joel Chavez's Avatar
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    What was I thinking........or was I?

    I’ve been playing with lead for about 15yrs now casting mainly 38/357, 45 and some 30cal boolits using a Lee 10lbs pot with a ladle. To say it was a slow process is an understatement lol. Last week Lee sent me the parts I was lacking to convert back my melting pot to bottom pour. Man, what was I thinking pouring with a ladle......or was I? This bottom pour business is awesome and has quickly spoiled me. My production rate has skyrocketed to the point that I’m having fun casting again. By the way, I plugged the spout from day one after buying the Lee pot and never did use it cuz I had read all the negative reviews it had about dipping. After receiving the new parts(Thanks Lee Precision) I lapped the valve rod to the spout and it dripped maybe twice in a 4hr casting session. So much for heeding bad reviews lol. What was I thinking........
    In Christ,

    JC

  2. #2
    Boolit Buddy
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    I have used a ladle but mostly a bottom pore. A time and a place for both. All bottom pore pots will become a Drip - O- Matic if you don't stay on top of it.

  3. #3
    Boolit Master Targa's Avatar
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    Yeh, people make a big deal of the dripping. I couldn’t care less about it, I just pick up the accumulated lead that dripped during a casting session and put it back in the pot.

  4. #4
    Boolit Buddy AlHunt's Avatar
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    I've always bottom poured but recently switched from pressure casting with the mold tight to the spout to the more free flowing method of holding the mold down about a half inch, riding on the mold guide. What a speed difference! Plus those full size sprues are fast and easy to drop back in the pot.

    Then I read a day or so ago that I'm even using the mold guide wrong! Evidently I'm supposed to adjust it to ride on the shelf AND against the side of the guide.

    Funny how old dogs learn new tricks, isn't it?

  5. #5
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    Winger Ed.'s Avatar
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    [QUOTE=Joel Chavez; So much for heeding bad reviews lol. What was I thinking........[/QUOTE]

    You were probably thinking everyone is smart enough to make a honest and valid review.

    I always go through the bad reviews on stuff. Some are good, and some are even funny.

    You do have to sort through a few written by people that don't know what they are doing,
    may not be smart enough to feed themselves, and/or the problem is not the fault of the equipment.

    I seen one star reviews given on products due to late deliveries, and even freight damage during transport.
    In school: We learn lessons, and are given tests.
    In life: We are given tests, and learn lessons.


    OK People. Enough of this idle chit-chat.
    This ain't your Grandma's sewing circle.
    EVERYONE!
    Back to your oars. The Captain wants to waterski.

  6. #6
    Boolit Master
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    I put a tablespoon under spout for the occasional drip. Would never go back to ladle casting.
    The only amendment the Democrats support is the 5th.

  7. #7
    Boolit Buddy Joel Chavez's Avatar
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    So after several hours of bottom pour casting(I’m loving it!) the Lee 10lbs’er only dripped 3 tiny drops. I guess lapping the valve rod was the secret all along lol. I casted well over 1k of 9mm freedom pills and about 150 SWC for the 686. I did have a few instances where the spout stopped pouring, but I figured out that my lead wasn’t up to proper temp. Once the pot was nice and hot it ran smooth and consistent. Man, what was I thinking........
    In Christ,

    JC

  8. #8
    Boolit Master
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    LOL like said above the ladel has its place to but the bottom pour is fast.Next you will want a bigger pot lol

  9. #9
    Boolit Buddy Joel Chavez's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Mitch View Post
    Next you will want a bigger pot lol
    Now that you mentioned it.......
    In Christ,

    JC

  10. #10
    Boolit Grand Master

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    Many of us started with a ladle and moved on to a bottom pour pot. Others have stayed with the ladle and swear by it. It would be great if a new caster was able to try both ways before purchasing equipment.

  11. #11
    Boolit Master nvbirdman's Avatar
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    If 100 people are using a piece of equipment and five of them have a problem you will hear five percent complaints and ninety-five percent silence.

  12. #12
    Boolit Master Garyshome's Avatar
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    ladle? Isn't that something you use with gravy?

  13. #13
    Boolit Master Garyshome's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Joel Chavez View Post
    So after several hours of bottom pour casting(I’m loving it!) the Lee 10lbs’er only dripped 3 tiny drops. I guess lapping the valve rod was the secret all along lol. I casted well over 1k of 9mm freedom pills and about 150 SWC for the 686. I did have a few instances where the spout stopped pouring, but I figured out that my lead wasn’t up to proper temp. Once the pot was nice and hot it ran smooth and consistent. Man, what was I thinking........
    No bragging!

  14. #14
    Boolit Master
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    Quote Originally Posted by nvbirdman View Post
    If 100 people are using a piece of equipment and five of them have a problem you will hear five percent complaints and ninety-five percent silence.
    That is a true statement.

  15. #15
    Boolit Buddy Joel Chavez's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Garyshome View Post
    ladle? Isn't that something you use with gravy?
    I’ll have a special one this coming Thanksgiving thanks to bottom pouring hehehe.
    In Christ,

    JC

  16. #16
    Boolit Master


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    I have not used a ladle since 1978 when I bought my first bottom pour furnace made by Lee. I spill more lead pouring than it ever leaked. An ingot mold under catches all that misses the mold.

  17. #17
    Boolit Master
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    Most of my spout problems went away when I quit draining the pot through the spout when I get down low if I am done casting I pick it up and pour the remainder into an ingot mold and any trash that was missed after fluxing and skimming does not go into the spout. I store mine empty most of the time .

  18. #18
    Boolit Buddy Joel Chavez's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by onelight View Post
    Most of my spout problems went away when I quit draining the pot through the spout when I get down low if I am done casting I pick it up and pour the remainder into an ingot mold and any trash that was missed after fluxing and skimming does not go into the spout. I store mine empty most of the time .
    I’m storing mine full at the moment, but if the occasional drip becomes problematic I’ll consider draining after every use. Thanks for the insight.
    In Christ,

    JC

  19. #19
    Boolit Master gpidaho's Avatar
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    I might be in the spot of believing the 5% but I don't drain my pot to empty anymore unless there was a contamination of some sort. I believe it may cause the heat elements to fail prematurely from over heating the elements. Gp

  20. #20
    Boolit Master
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    I used to store mine with lead in but a time or two when heating if back up it started running out of the spout and no way to stop it until it melted enough to move the lever .

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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