Work through the pain

[Moonie]

So I started up my pot and my hot plate to start casting some 350gr HP NOE 452 boolits and some of my new 335gr Accurate mold for my .375 H&H. Well my hotplate, that had served many faithful years, died a smokey death... It has been many years since I had to cast without a hotplate, especially for hollow point molds. I had forgotten how good I had it, my reject rate was MUCH higher than I'm used to. Time to look for another one this weekend, any recommendations?

[Artful]

I got mine at 2nd had store - still working fine.

[Bzcraig]

One that works? Sorry, couldn't resist......:-)

[huntnman]

I bought mine five or six years ago at Wallgreens drug $9.99. Its a small single unit, has seen a lot abuse/use.

[Mk42gunner]

Just goes to prove the old story that electrical and electronic items really work off of captured smoke. You let the smoke out and they don't work anymore.

Just kidding, I know they really have miniature chipmunks running on a wheel.

Robert

[RogerDat]

Solid top of meta is nice for molds, runs around $20 at local big dept. stores. Some of the older ones your knob adjusts the current to adjust the temp. Newer ones the knob adjust a thermostat that will cycle on and off to maintain a temp. My preference for melting is those older style, hot lead I think tends to "fool" the thermostats somewhat. For molds the sold iron tops are what I like. For the two I have like $30 invested.

[Greg S]

RogerDat: +1.

[lightman]

I just bought one at Walmart for just under $10. They usually stock about 3 models and I bought the cheapest one.

[Moonie]

Just goes to prove the old story that electrical and electronic items really work off of captured smoke. You let the smoke out and they don't work anymore.

Just kidding, I know they really have miniature chipmunks running on a wheel.

Robert
I do computers for a living and have used "you let the magic smoke out" many times lol.

[Moonie]

I don't remember where I got the one that just burned out, it was not a solid top model. I always wished it was, planning on the new one to be solid top. I did use a circular saw blade on it for years but misplaced it when we moved so I've missed having it for the last 7 months.

[runfiverun]

I just bought the 10$ one at walmart a few years back.
I never tried using it for pre-heating a mold, but I have made about 50 lbs of lube on it and lunch a time or two.
I mostly use it to anneal 30 caliber jackets for swaging anymore.

I expect it to die any day.