Lyman Casting Thermometer

[K-Rod]

Ok I did do a search on this and all I found didnt seem to anwser the problems I'm having. I just today picked up one of these Lyman casting Thermometers from Cabelas and Im really questioning if this thing is working properly. I have the Pro-melt 120v. I set the dial to roughly 700 degress, let the light go out and take a reading with the thermometer in the middle of the pot. Not touching the bottom or sides. Within 30sec, the thermometer says temp is 1000 degrees. When the temp was rising, it wasnt very smooth. The needle more skipped along. I wiped it off and set it off to the side to cool off. I looked at it a half hour later and the thing says its 270 degrees sitting on my bench.

Now I am for sure returning it due to the fact Im sure its messed up but Im wondering if other members here have had similar issues with this themometer? It is stamped "China" so maybe I should look for a different brand but Ive never had issues with Lyman products and I figured paying $45 it should be some what higher quality.

[Beagle333]

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?264779-Lyman-Lead-Thermometer

Another unhappy customer.....

[K-Rod]

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?264779-Lyman-Lead-Thermometer

Another unhappy customer.....

Thanks Beagle. I feel I just wasted a post ;)

This is doing the same exact thing. I'll take it back tomorrow and not worry about exchanging it.

[RogerDat]

If anything they should read super high when cold due to swinging back past the low temp to the top of the high temp. But swing right around as soon as heat is applied. Boiling water at full boil showing close to 212 is best common check I can think of to test. Lot of folks like the tel-tru from Amazon, less expensive and US made as I recall.

[John Boy]

Te-Tru thermometers are like a Timex ... they give accurate readings for years! Just to keep mine honest - it gets dunked in boiling water every couple of years or so

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0055777EU/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=27UO44IFJYUFC&coliid=I3IC3M6K4UXVM3

[Boolit_Head]

Ditto, I picked up a Tel-True cheaper than the others direct from the company's website.

[62chevy]

Maybe I got a lucky one but my Lyman works just fine. Tested it in boiling water and it read about 210.

[triggerhappy243]

i had read several years ago that lymans thermometers were crapppp. oh well.

[10x]

I invested in a $7 digital thermometer with a K thermocouple from Alipress a couple of years ago.
It shows that pure lead will go solid at 620F and that water will boil at 208F (standard at our altitude.)
Way better than any bi metal thermometer

[triggerhappy243]

10x, where did you find that?

[10x]

http://www.aliexpress.com/wholesale?initiative_id=SB_20150117143709&site=glo&shipCountry=tc&SearchText=digital+thermometer+k&page=2

This is the search for the correct series of K thermocouples

And the link if you want to go PID with a K thermocouple

http://www.aliexpress.com/wholesale?catId=0&initiative_id=SB_20150117144059&SearchText=+k+Thermocouple

[Side by Side]

I purchased a electronic thermometer from e bay, works great

[10x]

I purchased a electronic thermometer from e bay, works great

This forum has changed the way I cast bullets. I made the move to PID a couple of years ago, have discovered that preheating molds gives good bullets - sometimes from the first cast,
and discovered the K thermocouple and digital thermometers.
I now am building a unit to control the heat of a fish tank with a PID....
Next project is a PID controlled lube sizer heater.
And maybe a PID controlled attic exhaust fan.

[fragman]

accidently stepped on mine yesterday. Pretty sure it aint accurate now :-(

[fred2892]

I had 2 Lyman thermometers. The second one came along after I convinced myself the first one was under reading at molding temps. They both read pretty much the same, but I just couldn't trust them. Along came a pid so I could actually check the Lyman's. Sure enough they were both spot on at lower temps, but at anything above 300, one was at least 50 under reading and the other over 100 under. Just junk.

[AKholicBubba]

I just grabbed up a used Lyman over off eBay, actually just arrived today. It's reading 1000°f right out the box. It's really cold here, in the 20s so maybe that's it? And I been hearing lots about these Tel-tru ones after I ordered the Lyman figures. But I guess a good casting session will decide if this thermometer works like it should

[lightman]

There have been lots of complaints about the Lyman thermometer. My older RCBS reads very close to what the readout on my PID reads. I was surprised, and pleased!