robertbank
11-15-2006, 04:16 PM
Range Report
RCBS Pr-Melt Electric Lead Furance
Well it arrived last week by mail. After some negotiations with “she who knows best” I was able to open the box before Christmas and set up my new casting machine.
So let’s start with the Instruction manual. Having no mechanically ability at all this is usually the part I ignore. I mean it just isn’t a manly thing to do, right? Well at the urging of my better half, who has watched me in action for the past 36 years, I decided to turn pride aside and actually read the set up instructions. Good thing I did!
Well the first page deals with all the legal disclaimers and for those who have never cast before some valuable information. Since I have never had the urge to eat while casting and given the kids am long gone, most the first page made sense and generally follows my usual casting practices.
Installation instructions are clear and easy to follow. The nozzle shut off pin tip comes encased in a rubber covering you remove BEFORE attempting to install. OK I sometimes skim read.
The "To Use" section MUST be read. You have to set the machine to allow the pilot light to come on at it’s lowest setting – it is marked and wait for 15 minutes. After that you add lead until you have about 1.5” of molten lead. (Note the metric police obviously aren’t casters or they would be all over this like a dirty shirt.) At that point you can crank the machine up and add lead. Furnace holds 22 lbs of lead of which about 20 lbs. is useable as you should not reduce lead levels below the 1.5” mark.
Well I got by that all right, now for the casting. I have used a Lee 10# Production Pot up until now and there were some interesting variables to deal with in making the transition. First the spout is just a tad further back in the RCBS melter and I found it takes sometime to get used to the pour using four cavity molds as the angle from a sitting position changes making it slightly more difficult to see when you have filled the mold. No a major issue but one I ran into right off. The other thing I found is the arm you rest the mold on is a godsend. It is much easier to control the casting using it as opposed to the unsupported Lee set up. The flow adjustment screw works but getting the right amount of flow seems to me to be an art form as opposed to a science. I know I’ll figure it out in time. Oh and the good news the machine does not LEAK or drip, yet.
Well I have cast over 500 bullets to date and my only gripe is the finish on the furnace. Lead sticks to it like glue. RCBS, paint your equipment green but don’t stipple paint your furnaces. I’m not into pretty here. Suspect few are.
I had to set my machine up in the garage as my outside outlets won’t take the draw – outlets have the built in safety thingy to prevent yours truly from electrocuting himself, a distinct possibility given my aforementioned mechanical ability. Following a tip from one of our members I built a stand for my Production pot, reversed the pot on the stand and bolted it down. I keep about five lbs. of lead stacked at the back to ensure the weight of a full pot won’t cause the top pot from tipping over on my lap. Not at all likely but you never know. Might be worth my while to buy a angle bracket and screw the stand down. Think I will do that before I cast again.
Man does it work slick. If I just owned a Pro-Melter I would buy a Production Pot just for this purpose. As I cast I add sprue to the Production Pot. When I get down to about half full I, after fluxing the top pot, pour the contents into the Pro-Melter, flux the bottom pot and carry on. By doing so the casting process is virtually continuous. What a difference between my casting with the 10# pot and using the 20# Pro-Melter and on top of that using the 10# Pot as a pre-heater my casting times have been cut significantly or put another way my production rate has climbed.
Was it worth it? Yes, for me it was. There just is no comparing my set up before to what it is now. I am not saying this is a must have but it certainly is nice to have.
I have included pictures of my set up. If you look closely you will note my inept mechanical ability is not surpassed by my carpentry skills but I do make a good cup of coffee.
For the Canadians on the forum total bill from Graf & Sons was:
$268.39 US @ 1.12 $300.60 Pro-Melt Furnace
$ 34.80 US @ 1.12 $ 38.98 Postage
$ 39.65 Cdn $ 39.65 GST & PST
$ 5.00 Cdn $ 5.00 Canada Post Customs Clearance
Total $384.23 Cdn.*
*For my American friends, “You don’t have to be crazy to live up here but it helps”.
Take Care
Bob
RCBS Pr-Melt Electric Lead Furance
Well it arrived last week by mail. After some negotiations with “she who knows best” I was able to open the box before Christmas and set up my new casting machine.
So let’s start with the Instruction manual. Having no mechanically ability at all this is usually the part I ignore. I mean it just isn’t a manly thing to do, right? Well at the urging of my better half, who has watched me in action for the past 36 years, I decided to turn pride aside and actually read the set up instructions. Good thing I did!
Well the first page deals with all the legal disclaimers and for those who have never cast before some valuable information. Since I have never had the urge to eat while casting and given the kids am long gone, most the first page made sense and generally follows my usual casting practices.
Installation instructions are clear and easy to follow. The nozzle shut off pin tip comes encased in a rubber covering you remove BEFORE attempting to install. OK I sometimes skim read.
The "To Use" section MUST be read. You have to set the machine to allow the pilot light to come on at it’s lowest setting – it is marked and wait for 15 minutes. After that you add lead until you have about 1.5” of molten lead. (Note the metric police obviously aren’t casters or they would be all over this like a dirty shirt.) At that point you can crank the machine up and add lead. Furnace holds 22 lbs of lead of which about 20 lbs. is useable as you should not reduce lead levels below the 1.5” mark.
Well I got by that all right, now for the casting. I have used a Lee 10# Production Pot up until now and there were some interesting variables to deal with in making the transition. First the spout is just a tad further back in the RCBS melter and I found it takes sometime to get used to the pour using four cavity molds as the angle from a sitting position changes making it slightly more difficult to see when you have filled the mold. No a major issue but one I ran into right off. The other thing I found is the arm you rest the mold on is a godsend. It is much easier to control the casting using it as opposed to the unsupported Lee set up. The flow adjustment screw works but getting the right amount of flow seems to me to be an art form as opposed to a science. I know I’ll figure it out in time. Oh and the good news the machine does not LEAK or drip, yet.
Well I have cast over 500 bullets to date and my only gripe is the finish on the furnace. Lead sticks to it like glue. RCBS, paint your equipment green but don’t stipple paint your furnaces. I’m not into pretty here. Suspect few are.
I had to set my machine up in the garage as my outside outlets won’t take the draw – outlets have the built in safety thingy to prevent yours truly from electrocuting himself, a distinct possibility given my aforementioned mechanical ability. Following a tip from one of our members I built a stand for my Production pot, reversed the pot on the stand and bolted it down. I keep about five lbs. of lead stacked at the back to ensure the weight of a full pot won’t cause the top pot from tipping over on my lap. Not at all likely but you never know. Might be worth my while to buy a angle bracket and screw the stand down. Think I will do that before I cast again.
Man does it work slick. If I just owned a Pro-Melter I would buy a Production Pot just for this purpose. As I cast I add sprue to the Production Pot. When I get down to about half full I, after fluxing the top pot, pour the contents into the Pro-Melter, flux the bottom pot and carry on. By doing so the casting process is virtually continuous. What a difference between my casting with the 10# pot and using the 20# Pro-Melter and on top of that using the 10# Pot as a pre-heater my casting times have been cut significantly or put another way my production rate has climbed.
Was it worth it? Yes, for me it was. There just is no comparing my set up before to what it is now. I am not saying this is a must have but it certainly is nice to have.
I have included pictures of my set up. If you look closely you will note my inept mechanical ability is not surpassed by my carpentry skills but I do make a good cup of coffee.
For the Canadians on the forum total bill from Graf & Sons was:
$268.39 US @ 1.12 $300.60 Pro-Melt Furnace
$ 34.80 US @ 1.12 $ 38.98 Postage
$ 39.65 Cdn $ 39.65 GST & PST
$ 5.00 Cdn $ 5.00 Canada Post Customs Clearance
Total $384.23 Cdn.*
*For my American friends, “You don’t have to be crazy to live up here but it helps”.
Take Care
Bob