How to Disable the bottom pour on a LEE 10#?

[Rompin Ruger]

Howdy,

Happy with my RCBS Bottom Pour Pro Melt, but have an unused 10# bottom pour that, as everyone experiences, leaks- drips and the screw the guide rod doesn't help.

I just getting into pouring soft lead balls for my flinter and would like to find a way to permanently disable the bottom pour spout feature....

Anyone done this?

[runfiverun]

self tapping screw.

[Rompin Ruger]

self tapping screw.

As in dry wall... ?

[Springfield]

As in sheet metal.

[Rompin Ruger]

aH... pardon. We used to drill them into sheet metal, so I wasn't sure.. any bets on size to go buy? Thanks! This area is somewhat of a jaunt to find anything and only place is Lowes and there you have to buy like 50 of any size to get stuff!

[Beagle333]

I did it, almost immediately after getting my drippy 10# pot. Used a stainless screw up from the bottom through the spout. Been ladling my ML balls from that pot happily for 4-5 years now.

[Rompin Ruger]

I did it, almost immediately after getting my drippy 10# pot. Used a stainless screw up from the bottom through the spout. Been ladling my ML balls from that pot happily for 4-5 years now.

Super... now to figure out what size and where to get a good screw (ing)

[runfiverun]

a regular hardware store.
ACE should have single screws in the back corner on the left hand side.
a size 10 should do it.
a regular screw with a Phillips head [pan head screw] would do the job too.

[bruce drake]

I used a drywall screw a decade ago on my 10lb LEE drip-o-matic and its been a perfect dipping pot ever since.

[William Yanda]

I used a drywall screw a decade ago on my 10lb LEE drip-o-matic and its been a perfect dipping pot ever since.

Drywall with course (wood stud) threads or fine (metal stud) threads?

[bruce drake]

Its been so long, I may have to check when I get home from work on what screw thread pitch was used.

[Rompin Ruger]

Drywall with course (wood stud) threads or fine (metal stud) threads?

Goodquestion,William.

Back when we used them for EVERYTHING (including building a box along the sides of my pick up bed, we just used drywall screws, but... (after the But comes the truth) back then, all I saw were the fine threads.... NOW, all I've been able to lay hands on were the coarse threads...

They say "confession" is good for the soul, so ok...I'll confess. I wondered what the diff was, now William taught me... wood studs or those alum studs... Wonderful what you can come here and learn!

Thanks R5r, I"ll check for that size pan head..Gracias!

[Rompin Ruger]

Gents,

Dug out the old Lee 10# bottom pour a bit ago...thankfully, I'd cleaned out all the lead last use and I disassembled the lift apparatus and the plunger... the "drain hole/nozzle" still had a wee bit of lead in it so I got a small bit and pin vise to drill it out but couldn't get it all...so being empty, I plugged it in.

Once the hole opened up, I pulled the plug and found that a 5/64 bit goes up that angled hole rather snugly.

Now to find a good pan head screw of that size... I'll google 5/64th and find what size screw it is and not be surprised if it's number 10 like RFR said!

I sure hope ya'll mean to screw it in from the bottom as now way in that small cylinder 10# pot I could get in there to screw from the inside!

[Beagle333]

I screwed mine in from the bottom (meaning, going up into the pot, with the head on the outside).

[Rompin Ruger]

I have the base off to do just that, Beagle... looks like the size bit means I need a 4 or 6 size sheet metal screw...

[skeettx]

YES, from the bottom, do not mess up the rod seat in case you want to go back the other direction
Mike

[Rompin Ruger]

Thanks, Mike...good point, but I can assure you that I will not convert back...that thing is the pits for a bottom pour...so it's going to get used till it dies, then be disposed of.

[Tom W.]

It's my 20 pound pot that I had to retire. It's way newer than my 10 lb pot. I think I'll see if I can order a plunger and spout from Lee to try and fix it.

[Rompin Ruger]

It's my 20 pound pot that I had to retire. It's way newer than my 10 lb pot. I think I'll see if I can order a plunger and spout from Lee to try and fix it.

Sounds like that nut arrangement on the 20# allows the orifice to be changed out... Good luck!

[Tom W.]

Just looked at the Lee website.I believe I'd be better served to send the pot back. The ten pound pot empties too fast with a six cavity mold, and even with a two cavity when I find my rythym.