Inexpensive casting thermometer?

[fatelk]

I've been looking around for a stem thermometer that will work in a casting pot, that doesn't cost more than the melting pot itself. I haven't been able to find anything that looks very promising. Anyone have any ideas?

[kenyerian]

http://www.rotometals.com/product-p/lead_thermometer.htm Roto metals has one for 37.00.

[kenyerian]

http://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/item.asp?sku=00036MTH1000 never used this one but it is only 32.17

[RickinTN]

http://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/item.asp?sku=00036MTH1000 never used this one but it is only 32.17

I've had two of those. One was the one I purchased and the other a replacement from the factory because the first one came loose and wasn't accurate. The replacement isn't accurate either. Midsouth are great folks to deal with, and I do regularly, but don't waste your money on this one. I have an RCBS as well, and I'm pleased with it. Believe me, a thermometer is not a place to "skimp".
Good Luck,
Rick

[jmort]

This

http://www.amazon.com/Tel-Tru-LT225R-Replacement-Thermometer-degrees/dp/B0055777EU/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=27UO44IFJYUFC&coliid=I3IC3M6K4UXVM3

[sackot]

So, I was using a Tel-Tru and casting 224s at a comfortable 720F with a Lee pot (though there were often brief excursions over 800 when the pot got low). Then I bought a very cheap Chinese PID + K Thermocouple, and found I had to wind it up to "460C" (860F) to get the pot to 720F. Oh well, works quite well for what I paid. One day recently I got suspicious and checked both in boiling water. The PID was spot-on, the Tel-Tru way out. Eek! Assuming the same applies at the higher temperature, that means I was running my alloy ridiculously hot to keep the little mould up to temp. I've twisted my Tel-Tru round to get 212 to 212, but not done any casting sessions since. I think I will trust the PID. Note, I'm a relative newbie at casting, with more experience I assume it's possible to know what's right and not rely on correct absolute measurements from a thermometer.

[jmort]

"Tel-Tru way out"

What is "way out?" 50 degrees? 10 degrees. Just interested, as I want to believe in my Tel-Tru.

[sackot]

"Tel-Tru way out"

What is "way out?" 50 degrees? 10 degrees. Just interested, as I want to believe in my Tel-Tru.

Didn't write it down, but IIRC my guesstimate (it's just off the bottom of the scale) was 180 when held patiently in water at a rolling boil. I may now have messed it up completely using brute force to twist it, and was meaning to check what it reads when just melting pure lead, which I don't need to do again for a while.

As you see from my numbers in the last post, _if_ I believe the thermocouple, the discrepancy was much worse at casting temps, under-reading by 100. From what little I know, as the thermocouple was right at 212 it will probably also be right at 700, whereas I can well believe that mechanical thermometers might have a proportional error not just an offset. Another little detail which supports that, making my story still more complicated: I use another thermocouple (electronic BBQ thermometer) for mould temperature. I dipped that in the lead, then pulled it out quickly when I saw I was melting the non-armoured lead. In the short time I had, it was much closer to the PID reading than the Tel-Tru reading.

[aspangler]

http://www.rotometals.com/product-p/lead_thermometer.htm Roto metals has one for 37.00.
I have one of these. haven't tried it yet but have had good reports from others.

[Smoke4320]

bought one from Midsouth lasted 6 days .. never again .. got one from Rotometals and its off 50 degrees at 600.. indicates 600... pid confirmed lead at 650..2 different pots and 2 different PIDS

[Hardcast416taylor]

A place I got mine from about 6 years back is closed now unfortunately. Mine is a 6" faced stem type with a 6" stem and reads 0-1000 degrees, it was a boiler gauge.Robert