New Furnace

[2A-Jay]

Ordered a Lee 20# Bottom Pour Furnace tonight from Midway. It is on Back Order until mid May though. $76.90 is a good price to me (means Free Shipping)

[Rich/WIS]

Bought one about 5-6 years ago and despite a lot of the complaining one hears about Lee have been more than satisfied.

[Conditor22]

the lee 4-20 is a great little furnace for the money.

A couple of "rules" I follow to save from having problems:

1) NEVER smelt in the 4-20 and make sure any lead/alloy you put in it is 100% fluxed/clean
2) Don't lift too hard on the handle trying to increase the lead flow [it's a neanderthal move, doesn't increase flow and works the screws loose that the handle slides on]
3) A PID is a great addition-- just set the temperature and forget it. The numbers on the Lee thermostat basically just show increments. due to the thermostat type and location, the temperature the numbers give will vary greatly by surrounding air temperature changes and any breeze.

[Mal Paso]

Lee is a decent pot for the money. Instead of a thermostat it uses an "Infinite Control" just like an electric range or hot plate. The temperature of the pot only slightly affects the buzzer like device so you need to adjust the dial (lower) as the pot level goes down. Get a Tel Tru thermometer.

Because the temperature control is not as good as any of the other pots Lee owners have lead the way in PID Control. It's like adding cruse control.

[Wheelguns 1961]

I have been happy with mine. I added a pid and a noe mold guide.

[cupajoe]

The lower screw that the handle slides on kept unscrewing and got to where it wouldn't hold so I cut a piece of flat leather lace about an inch long, stuck it into the hole leaving about a quarter inch stick out to hold onto, ran the screw back in and trimmed the tag end off right before the screw bottomed out, then finished running the screw in. Seems to be holding just fine. Easier than taking the whole thing apart and moving parts around.

[44magLeo]

I have had my Lee pot apart. Where the screws thread up into the side pieces there is groove they thread into.
When I had mine apart I noticed these grooves had spread open enough so the screws could not get a grip.
I squeezed the groove closed a bit. Now the screws stay tight.
Leo

[2A-Jay]

Thanks for all the advice. Still waiting for it to clear Back Order from Midway. I will probably be looking into a PID. I plan on using the pot for my .50 cal conical Boolits. I will still use my 10# furnace for my .490 round ball casting.

[Garyshome]

I use a pro 4 20 and a production pot 4 both when casting cuts down on lag time when casting using lee 6 cavity molds.

[2A-Jay]

Can anyone provide me with a decent link to where I might start looking for PID(s) I need to work one into my budget. TIA

[FLINTNFIRE]

Right here on castboolits , Hatch , should be a thread in swapping and selling , I bought one some time ago .

[georgerkahn]

Congrats on your purchase! A buddy calls me a "snob" with my RCBS ProMelt and Lyman MouldMasters -- as he semi-commercially casts and sells GORGEOUS fish sinkers cast with his two Lee's, often in many-hour runs with nary a problem!
I wish you similar luck with yours!
geo

[Wheelguns 1961]

I will second Hatch’s pids. That is what I use and really like it.