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View Full Version : ever leave a pot on for a week?



bdecker9
10-31-2014, 08:09 PM
i just discovered my lee 4-20 was on for at least a week:oops:
had some ash on top of the melt. was set at "4" luckily not higher as it woulda burnt itself out. long story how it happened but figured i'd share. thought it was a gonner but stirred it and was just sitting ready to cast lol. got real lucky!

decker

Baja_Traveler
10-31-2014, 08:13 PM
Thank god no - with the cost of electricity here in Southern California, I'd probably go bankrupt if I did that...

bangerjim
10-31-2014, 08:16 PM
At 4 or even at the minimum, the pot is NOT off. I use that setting to melt some lower temp alloys.

But is IS on!

banger

NavyVet1959
10-31-2014, 09:01 PM
I've left it on the lowest setting for a few days once by accident. Luckily, that is not warm enough to melt lead, otherwise I would have had a big solidified lead mess on my table from drips. :)

It was definitely warmer than you should touch with bare hands. :(

HATCH
10-31-2014, 09:05 PM
I have pid controllers on all my pots. I have accidentally hit the on button once and melted some of my TV remote. It was on top of the pot

GP100man
10-31-2014, 09:15 PM
Yep , just plain forgot to turn it off or unplug the dang thing . Burnt out the thermostatic switch or had wild swings in temp . no fires !!! & the temp controller was $8 with 11 shippin. won`t say from who , but it was the only 1 in stock at my moment of brain flactulation!!

pworley1
10-31-2014, 09:19 PM
In my reloading and casting shop, I have the outlets that that I use for pots wired with the lights. When I turn off the lights I turn off the pots.

dragon813gt
10-31-2014, 09:55 PM
Nope, pot is unplugged from the PID and put away after every use.

bdecker9
10-31-2014, 11:32 PM
Yeah mine is outside and out of mind. Yeah figure it's 3 bucks a day electricity bill wise. Just really glad didnt burn my house down.

Beagle333
10-31-2014, 11:40 PM
Mine is also unplugged and put away after it cools from each use. Impossible to leave on.

country gent
10-31-2014, 11:47 PM
Would have possibly been worse if pot had been empty or low as the steel pot would have taken all the heat. (ever see the welder heat coffee in a paper cup with the tourch?)

Rod B
11-01-2014, 06:25 PM
Mine is also unplugged and put away after it cools from each use. Impossible to leave on.

I do the same with mine.:smile:

nemesisenforcer
11-01-2014, 06:29 PM
Left mine of for 20-60 minutes unattended once on one of the higher settings. Lead was nice and red, but still cast just fine.