Best melting pot available

[catmasher]

what is the BEST available melting pot right now, my RCBS went t###s up and I need a new one that will last until I die...
catmasher

[ku4hx]

what is the BEST available melting pot right now, my RCBS went t###s up and I need a new one that will last until I die...
catmasher

If money is no object, get one of these: http://www.magmaengineering.com/products/cast-master/

I got a less expensive pair but then I'm 66 on my next birthday so "rest of my life" likely has a different meaning for the two of us. I own two Lyman pots, 10 and 20 pound capacities, and both have worked well for me. The 10# I bought circa 1970 and it still works just fine.

RCBS seems like a good buy too, shop around for the best deal.

[dbarnhart]

I was under the impression that among the mid-proced pots the RCBS was pretty good. Is yours not repairable?

(Of course, this is coming from a relatively new caster who is perfectly happy with his Lee Dripmaster)

[Dale53]

Catmasher;
Did you call RCBS? My understanding is that those electric pots are guaranteed for life. If they are not, they are certainly repairable. Give RCBS a call - it only costs a phone call...

I have two RCBS pots and frankly, they are the best of the 22 lbs. pots out there. They are not cheap, but I have had one for nearly thirty years and the other came from an estate sale. They have done tens of thousands of bullets and still going strong.

Dale53

[runfiverun]

the one ku4x shows is similar to the one i use the one's i use is on the left.
i can recall one time i had one of the two dribble in the last 20 years.
you could buy the whole mastercaster set up for slightly more than just the pot alone when i bought mine.
the temp dial indicator on the side is adjustable and fairly accurate also.

[1Shirt]

Don't like the word BEST! It is what ever works for you that you probably will think is best. I like RCBS, have a lee as well, and wore out an OLD lyman. They were all good.
1Shirt!:coffeecom

[Beau Cassidy]

I can't fathom another pot being any better than the Magma 40 lb'er I have in the garage.

[beagle]

RCBS has repaired two Pro-Melts for me so far. Just box it up and ship it back to Customer Service UPS with a letter stating what is wrong. So far, I haven't been charged...even for return shipping.

Worst case is that UPS will lose it and reimburse you.

IMO and experience, you can't beat a Pro-Melt but they are pricey./beagle

[Old Caster]

When it comes to bottom pour pots, the RCBS is excellent at keeping the temperature consistant. A Waage will keep the temp even more accurate but is ladle pour only. If I am not mistaken, I think a Magma is not set up so that it is possible to pressure pour and with some moulds I want that option. -- Bill --

[BOOM BOOM]

HI,
I have a Lyman 10lb. pot I bought about 1969. It has helped me make 10's of 1,000's of boolits. I average about 3,000+ rounds fired a year. The pot still works fine. But it does not have the guarantee that a RCBS on does.
So if it gave up the gost I do not Know if Lyman would fix it.:Fire::Fire:

[Grandpas50AE]

I wore out a Lyman many years ago when I was casting in very large quantities, the verticle supports began to curve forward and it was no longer holding up. That was about 25 years ago, and it was replaced with a RCBS Pro-Melt. The RCBS has cast many thousands of boolits since then and is still going strong. Like others have said, contact RCBS, you may be pleasantly surprised at their customer service level.

[Shiloh]

+1 for the Magma if you're flush. I don't see me having one.
I use a LEE PRO 4-20. Not without its issues, but it works. If I do my part, it casts great boolits.

Shiloh

[JohnFM]

At almost 70 and after 50 years of reloading I'm looking into beginning to cast.
Probably start with just one bullet/boolit for a .357 which I use a lot of.
So, how are the Lee pots? A worthwhile buy or is it worth it to save and spring for a higher dollar one?

[dromia]

I've stuck with the RCBS because it is an excellent pot and I'm very happy with them. I've never had the need for a 40lber, but if I did then I'd go for the Magma.

I have two RCBS's and if/when one breaks I'd happily replace it with another if it couldn't be fixed.

Would never buy another Lee pot, I'd sooner dip with a cast Iron pot over the gas ring than wrestle with another Lee.

[Figment]

Had two Lyman pots for years , both finally burned out , Cost too much to repair . Am now using two Lee pots ( no bottom pour ) for about eight years with no problem . Melt about three hundred pounds of lead a year .

[tommygirlMT]

+1 --- for the big bad Magma pot

--- Hey you did say BEST --- although it can be a (insert derogative term for female canine) to change the orifice plates on the bottom --- but they are still a beter set-up then the non-changable pore orifice on the bottom of almost all the other pots

[Old Caster]

JohnFM, I feel like the RCBS pot is remarkably better than a Lee pot based on the fact that the RCBS will keep the temperature more consistant than the Lee. As the Lee ages, you will have to turn the dial to a different spot to get the same temperature and eventually replace the thermostat. The stat is simple to change and not very expensive whereas the RCBS has a stellar guarantee and probably won't break in the first place. The difference is the initial cost which is considerably higher for the RCBS so you will have to decide just how much you are going to use the pot and base your decision on that. I used a Lee for a time after my original Ideal died and for me temperature wasn't consistant enough and I was already on my second stat. For someone who moulds just a few thousand bullets a year and isn't competitive enough to want the best, the Lee would be fine. -- Bill --

[fredj338]

If I could justify it, the Magma would probably be it. Just the 40# cap is nice & my MasterCaster has always perfromed well.

[Bret4207]

I bought a 12 cup stainless measuring cup for $15.00 and an $8.00 hotplate. It holds over 40 lbs and I'm set for life.

[Jammer Six]

I'm not sure, but isn't someone supposed to jump in here and swear that the Lee ten pounder is the best there is?

[Dan Cash]

I'm not sure, but isn't someone supposed to jump in here and swear that the Lee ten pounder is the best there is?

Probably. I had a 20 drip-o-matic that I ended up giving to some fellow from this forum. I hope it helped him out but fear it made him mad as I have never heard from him again.
Dan

[mirage2521]

At almost 70 and after 50 years of reloading I'm looking into beginning to cast.
Probably start with just one bullet/boolit for a .357 which I use a lot of.
So, how are the Lee pots? A worthwhile buy or is it worth it to save and spring for a higher dollar one?

Newbie here but my little Lee was a bargan and it make lead hot and pours from the bottom as advertised without leaking. It may not be the last pot I ever own but it seems to be serving me well as the first one.

[GT27]

Any Lee Pot!:dung_hits_fan::not listening:

[Huntducks]

I have been casting for 35+ years and all I ever owned is a lee pot i'm not a lee fan and you will see very few lee things on my bench, I started out with a 10lb it never quit and dripped a little big deal, I bought out another caster and he had a like new 10lb pot so I had 2 going at one time I decided to sell both on ebay last year and get a 20lb it has worked great for almost a year now no drip.

I thought about buying a RCBS but $350 vs $60 I don't think so as I can buy a bunch of lee 20lb pots and at my age this lee should last me forever which won't be another another 35years.

[tgator]

Seems to me that anything that melts lead can be called the best. It is up to the operator to cast boolits, the pot won't do it for ya.

Tim

[fcvan]

Too funny! I started casting with my dad's lyman pot in the 70s and now have two Lee 10 pounders. The last time i did a big smelt I used a propane stove, a stainless gravy ladle, and a metal coffee can. That made quick work of 200 lbs of lead and wheel weights. That coffee can held 80 lbs. Frank

[Sasquatch-1]

Too funny! I started casting with my dad's lyman pot in the 70s and now have two Lee 10 pounders. The last time i did a big smelt I used a propane stove, a stainless gravy ladle, and a metal coffee can. That made quick work of 200 lbs of lead and wheel weights. That coffee can held 80 lbs. Frank

When I first started casting I used a metal can on the stove and a ladle. The can eventually started leaking around the seams. So when I bought my little Lee 10lb bottom pour I was right at home with the drip. :grin:

BTW, I have been using that little pot for 30+ years and payed about $30.00 when I bought it. Granted I don't cast more then about 20 lbs at a sitting and probably haven't cast more then 500lbs over the life of the pot, but I am happy.

YES IT LEAKS!

It's a shame someone can't make a leaking pot smilie for us Lee users.:Bright idea:

[captaint]

Well, I have had an RCBS for 20 years now, and I'm keeping it... enjoy Mike

[Rockchucker]

Ask 10 different people and you'll get 10 different answers, But I do like my Pro Melt, it's a keeper.

[trixter]

what is the BEST available melting pot right now, my RCBS went t###s up and I need a new one that will last until I die...
catmasher

Have you talked with RCBS about repairing the pot? Might be an option. They repaired one for me No Charge.

[chboats]

after 25 years and many thousands of pounds of lead my RCBS gave up. It cost me $90 for a full rebuild. When I got it back, the only thing that was original was the housing and the stand.

I'll stick with RCBS

Carl

[EDK]

I'm not sure, but isn't someone supposed to jump in here and swear that the Lee ten pounder is the best there is?

20 pounder, if you please. I got a lot of VAQUEROS and MARLINS to feed.

For someone who ladle casts ONLY, the LEE MAGNUM MELTER is my idea of the best for the money. IF it shoots craps, I'll buy another one AND either give it to someone OR see how far I can throw it. I have had a SAECO and a LYMAN 20 pounder and now the LEE...for under $60, guess which one is a BEST BUY. Some of the LEE products leave a little to be desired, but the MAGNUM MELTER is high on my BUY list.

:redneck::cbpour::guntootsmiley:

[RKJ]

I've got a LEE pro (it has the little shelf for the mould that's the only difference I've noted) it leaks but works very good. I'd like to have an RCBS but don't want to spend that much $$$ at this time. Whenever that LEE breaks down I might have to bite the boolit :) but I'd more like ly buy another LEE.

[fredj338]

I have both 10# & 20# Lee. They NEVER drip. I figured out NEVER emptying the pot or smelting in them was the best way to keep things from dripping. Eliminate those two things, I doubt your will drip much either.