Well, I just couldn't stop myself when I've seen an used MC for sale and I bought it. The machine works like a charm. I fiddled a bit with adjustments, changing molds etc and it's easy breazy. I'm really happy with the machine overall.
After working few hours with it I observed something weird and I'm not sure what to make of it.
When I started the machine and put the thermostat at 600F the temperature I took with a thermometer showed around 800F. 800F for me means danger so I lower it to 500F where the thermometer showed 700F. Now even if I put the thermostat knob at 450F and I still had reading close to 700F.
Then I stopped casting and spent a bit playing with the thermometer and the thermostat knob.
If I dip the thermometer just a bit (not deep in the alloy) the temperature reading on the thermometer and thermostat is right on the money. 700F or 500F if the thermometer is dipped just a bit then the readings are the same.
Now if I dip the thermometer deep in the alloy the temperature let's say from 450F goes almost to 700F. In a way I get the idea that on the bottom the temperature is higher but the MC is a bottom pour so when I push the lever the alloy will come out from the bottom, so at that huge temperature and not what the thermostat knob shows. Which one should I believe? The thermostat knob or the thermometer.
Can anyone enlighten me as I'm kinda baffled and I have no idea what to do next casting session.
The bullets look good for a brand spanking new mold who's not "broken in" yet but the alloy in the pot looks very fluid, like water and I'm not sure that's normal.
Any suggestion highly appreciated.
Thanx, Nick