hot plate recommendations

[BJung]

How useful are hot plates to you? Which would you choose and which to avoid?

I am looking for one that can be used to melt range scrap with than use my lead pot.

[Gofaaast]

Hot plates are typically just used to pre heat moulds. Unless you introduced additional heat from a propane torch to get things melting on the top it would take awhile if ever to melt. I recommend using a propane burner.

[lightman]

I use a hot plate to prewarm my molds. I like the open coil type and I put a piece of 1/8th thick plate over the coils. The cheap ones from Walmart seem to work fine. I would not expect one to work well at melting lead. Although they will there are better methods.

[BJung]

I have new MP molds and am concerned that they will be more finicky than my Lee molds. In the past, I'd just insert a corner of my mold into the molten lead and also use my propane torch to speed things up. If this is adequate, I could wait on buying a hot plate.

[Drew P]

I have new MP molds and am concerned that they will be more finicky than my Lee molds. In the past, I'd just insert a corner of my mold into the molten lead and also use my propane torch to speed things up. If this is adequate, I could wait on buying a hot plate.
That is still adequate but I like a hot plate. I’m curious why some like the coil kind instead of the solid kind. I have a mini one, I think it’s only 500w. Works great, and you van preheat ingots too which helps a lot.

[Randy Bohannon]

I use the coil type hot plate with a metal 2 gang electrical box and a blank cover. Knock out two of the openings, cut the web of metal that joins them to make a opening for the mould handles. Nice even pre heating the mould, acts like a oven. I start the heating when I start the pot and two come together at the same time and get good bullets right from the start.

[Sasquatch-1]

Get a turkey frier with the red regulator. You'll be happier.

[Hossfly]

I never thought about using a hot plate with this hobby. Had one for years out in the storage shop, picked out of an old horse trailer that had a living quarter. Got into boolit casting, read on here about using them for mold and ingot heating for adding to the pot.

Now use it for a lot of different things, like melting and mixing boolit lube, pre heating molds to 400’. It will melt ingot lead to point of liquid, so you have to watch that.

They really don’t cost that much for what they do, if I didn’t know how valuable an appliance it was, I prolly wouldn’t buy one, but knowing now, would buy one. Use it a lot, and at .10 cents a KWH doesn’t cost much to run.

Have an old piece of 1/2” aluminum plate on top of coils to distribute head so never had any kind of warping of a mold etc. have read about using old saw blade to do the same thing. But thats just what I had.

[Froogal]

I have that I bought at the local hardware/general store. Paid around $20 if I remember right. An 8" cast iron skillet set on top does an excellent job of melting range scrap, and can easily be picked up for pouring the lead into ingot molds.

[Rich/WIS]

Use mine for pre-heating molds and ingots. Mine was Oster from Walmart, solid surface type and was about $20 IIRC. Worth every penny for what it is used for. Not sure the Wattage but amp draw is low, can plugh it and the Lee 4-20 pot into the same 20 Amp outlet and not trip the breaker.

[BJung]

Is there an advantage of the 1000w vs. 1500w hot plates?

[Walks]

I used one for years. Found one in My Grandmothers stuff when she passed, it was a whole lot better then the one I had from a garage sale. I set up My own reloading/casting stuff when I got out of the service. Still got the cast iron diffuser plate that came with the junk H.P.
had to get a new one 5-6yrs back, maybe 20 bucks w/tax. 45yrs later and into my 3rd H.P., Hope this one lasts as long as My Grandma's did. It's a 1500W and will melt lead ingot left on top to pre-warm.

[BJung]

I tend to add scrap lead into my lead pot, walk away to do gardening for my mother, and return ever so often to clean out the debri, add more scrap lead, remove the debri, and finally pour the molten lead into an ingot mold. Will the 1500w hot plate and small cast iron skillet be able to melt scrap lead?

[Froogal]

I tend to add scrap lead into my lead pot, walk away to do gardening for my mother, and return ever so often to clean out the debri, add more scrap lead, remove the debri, and finally pour the molten lead into an ingot mold. Will the 1500w hot plate and small cast iron skillet be able to melt scrap lead?
Yes!! The 1500 watt hotplate and an 8 inch cast iron skillet WILL melt scrap lead. That is what I use.

[Dragonheart]

A hot plate is a useful tool to heat a mold, provided it has a cover to hold the heat in and uniformly heat the mold. Otherwise, uneven heating can warp a mold.

As far as melting range scrap I wouldn't even consider a hot plate. A pound of alloy only makes a little over 50 9mm bullets and about half that of 45. It would take forever to end up with a 100 pounds of clean ingots.

[bangerjim]

Most hotplates you will find out there will not get hot enough to melt a pot of lead, unless you want to wait for HOURS!.....and hours.

I use my lab grade (digitally controlled flat top) for only preheating my molds to full casting temp.....not just warming them! I get perfect drops from the 1st pour.

Also use the plate to pre-heat your feed ingots to just under liquidous temp of your specific alloy to save cycle time when refreshing your casting pot.

Same with powder coating ovens.....you get what you pay for. Some use cheap junk store bare element hot plates with no temp control and an old saw blade on top of the coils to prevent mold warpage and damage. My lab grade hotplate sold for over $250.00.

But do NOT try most of them for melting lead, as the heat density is just not there!!!!!! Some may have found just the right combo of "stuff" to make it work for their scrap re-melting and casting needs, but my plumber's furnace will easily melt 80-90# of scrap in about 10 minutes! Runs on propane. Sounds like a jet engine when I run it on high. Does an excellent job for me. Or use a turkey fryer as many on here do. Just not NOT electric.

Good luck choosing what works for you.

[gunther]

Used a second hand hot plate to melt wheelweights and cast using a single cavity 358477 mold, and ladle when I started casting in the late 1960's. Still have the flat bottomed Lyman 10 pound pot and the aluminum pie plate "skirt" I made for it. The hotplate still works.
Found an electric plumber's pot at a yard sale much later, and that's my smelter now. There's also a Lee 20 pound pot on the bench.

[georgerkahn]

My two hotplates are most useful -- one, with a 3" thick aluminum disc upon it, and an inverted metal flower pot with a "door hole" cut in it to preheat and keep moulds warm; the second for general "whatever" from keeping coffee warm, on... (image attached)299228
My brand of choice (garage sale) is the old General Electric branded one with a flat solid top and a knobbed off-hi temperature controller. I think I paid a couple-three dollars and was ecstatic for a week or so. It turned out the bi-metallic "switch" had been sparked off to no longer function. My solution? Put a few wraps of copper wire around the switch to keep it "100% on", and then plug unit into a $5.00 lamp dimmer (Home Depot or Lowe's). This one I keep for casting, and marked the "perfect" spot for dial with a Sharpie. Been working GREAT for better than fifteen years!
I question melting range scrap for a couple of reasons: First, the lead/scrap is quite heavy -- many hot plates are not designed for much weight -- if you go this route, BE CAREFUL!!! Second, to achieve the requisite temp surely would be rather slow... A small propane heater/cookstove might be a lot quicker? And third, one thing I'd really wish to avoid is the (toxic) fumes from heating lead/range scrap. I only do this outdoors, on a breezy day, and am most serious in always staying up-wind.

[bangerjim]

Good point about the weight! I never thought about that. Most El-CHEEPO plates are not built t support 80# of lead! PLUS the CI pot!

Better off today starting out by just getting a turkey fryer and do it right.

[justindad]

Use mine for pre-heating molds and ingots. Mine was Oster from Walmart, solid surface type and was about $20 IIRC. Worth every penny for what it is used for. Not sure the Wattage but amp draw is low, can plugh it and the Lee 4-20 pot into the same 20 Amp outlet and not trip the breaker.

Do you need to add a metal plate on top of the hot plate with the solid surface?

[William Yanda]

Do you need to add a metal plate on top of the hot plate with the solid surface?

If you do, it will function to retain heat.

[lightman]

I’m curious why some like the coil kind instead of the solid kind.

I guess the best way to explain it is in my case its "old school" mentality. No doubt, the solid surface hot plates work just fine. My open coil one was about $11-12 at Walmart.

[Smoke4320]

I also use a solid top hotplate with an old circular saw blade on top for mold preheating or when resting to keep mold at temp.
It makes getting the mold up to casting temp much faster
I just turn on the lead pot and the hot plate at the same time. takes about 30 minutes for the lead to come up to 725. Mold it plenty hot by then and I start casting

[bangerjim]

You should not need any solid metal anything on a flat surface plate.

The reason for the saw blade on open coils is to distribute the heat evenly to the mold (like a flat top does). It is possible to warp or distort a mold if it is on top of red-hot coils. I have never seen it..............just read about it, but why take the chances???????????????

[Smoke4320]

the saw blade adds more surface area. I can easily heat 2 molds if needed and no drawbacks from having the blade on top

[BJung]

I might cast about 5 Lee size lead ingots from range scrap in about 5 hours using my Lee pot. Can I expect the same with a 1500 watt hotplate?

[BJung]

I just bought a good buy on Amazon: 1500 watt hotplate for $18.99! It's about 1/3 off.

https://www.amazon.com/STECOKER-Electric-Burner-Temperature-Control/dp/B09H25JQJH/ref=sr_1_21?crid=23CSA1G33I3R6&keywords=hot+plate+1500w&qid=1650503472&sprefix=hot+plate+1500w%2Caps%2C192&sr=8-21

[bangerjim]

I might cast about 5 Lee size lead ingots from range scrap in about 5 hours using my Lee pot. Can I expect the same with a 1500 watt hotplate?

You can expect a MUCH SLOWER output with an electric hotplate than that! Get a turkey fryer for re-melting!!!!!!!!

I cast "Lee" ingot mold ingots at the rate of 4 every 5 minutes or less with my propane plumber's furnace. Depends ONLY on the cooling rate of the molds, which I sit on a soaking wet cloth towel for cooling. I have 5 Lee molds, 4 SAECO molds, and 5 RCBS molds to pour into. Call me a "casting fool" I guess! I love commercial molds. I do not waste time with round muffin tins or cookware molds (such as corn ear molds) I see people use on here! Or "things" made from welded angle iron. 1± pound commercial trapezoidal ingots work for me :drinks: .

[PhilC]

Bought this one in December, 4.5 out of 5, and 24,589 ratings, I chose the cast flat plate but coiled and double burner versions also available. Cheaper than driving to town and scrounging around at Goodwill.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00C8C5I7I/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1

[BJung]

Is there an advantage of the coil vs flat plate hot plate? Has anyone compared?

[BJung]

I agree. When I plan to process large amounts of lead, I'll consider the turkey fryer.

[ulav8r]

Bought this one in December, 4.5 out of 5, and 24,589 ratings, I chose the cast flat plate but coiled and double burner versions also available. Cheaper than driving to town and scrounging around at Goodwill.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00C8C5I7I/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1

10 times more expensive than the double burner plate that I got at the Bigfoot Flea Market.

[bangerjim]

Is there an advantage of the coil vs flat plate hot plate? Has anyone compared?

Flat tops give intimate contact with the mold surface and transfer heat at a much better/faster rate.

And, as I said above, I have read of mold damage from molds sitting on glowing red coils. I would not risk it!

Flat-tops are not as common as those cheap coil thingies. Watch around.

[PhilC]

10 times more expensive than the double burner plate that I got at the Bigfoot Flea Market.
Hard to find bargains like that when there aren't any flea markets, fuel alone hoping to find one would easily be double, or more, what I paid to have mine delivered to my front door. ;)

[bangerjim]

Like I said in post #16 above, I paid a lot for my high output digital controlled flat top lab grade hotplate. You would be VERY lucky to find one like it at a junk store or yard sale. But............................you never know! If you live close to a University or science lab facility.....who knows!

Better pay up front rather than waste expensive fuel driving to hades an back searching for one. Or use a saw blade! [smilie=s:
banger

[BJung]

I spent 6 months stopping by a Goodwill on my way home to find a hotplate. No luck. So, I bought a new one online

[6622729]

How useful are hot plates to you? Which would you choose and which to avoid?

I am looking for one that can be used to melt range scrap with than use my lead pot.

Any $20 hot plate from eBay or Amazon will be fine for preheating molds. I’d avoid any $8 hot plate you run across. That would put you way below the cost/value vs quality curve. Lol. You will likely want a propane burner setup for melting range scrap.

[triggerhappynme]

As far as open coil vs flat goes they are basically the same. The flat has a cool in or under it.
I vote flat hot plate as there is no need for a flat piece of metal added for uniform temps and clean up would be easier if needed.

[cwlongshot]

One of the best additions to my casting.

Highly recommended.

[Skooterr]

I ran across this hotplate about 2 months ago, it followed me home. So old it has cloth covered electrics, but it is nearly brand new in original box. Cast iron top plate.
2000 Watts. came with a 4 inch cast iron lead pot.
Haven't used it yet, but did plug it in to warm it up.
Seemed to work just fine.
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https://i.imgur.com/tLyTV5e.jpg
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https://i.imgur.com/egNsQ2Y.jpg
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https://i.imgur.com/fDDg3WU.jpg

[Land Owner]

Garage sales are good for finding the $2.00, "throw away", Mr. Coffee, or equivalent, makers with busted or missing coffee pots. Hack saw the plastic reservoir off. The remaining "hot plate" is 600w (some are 1000w), decent heat (idk temp), and certainly cheap for pre-heating a mold - but the coffee maker plate will NOT melt lead or lead alloy.

I pre-heat. Before casting set the mold bottom in the liquid alloy for 2-3 minutes. Turn the mold over and do half the time for the spru plate. Then cast. Works for me.

[Dragonheart]

[QUOTE=Land Owner;
I pre-heat. Before casting set the mold bottom in the liquid alloy for 2-3 minutes. Turn the mold over and do half the time for the sprue plate. Then cast. Works for me.[/QUOTE]

I agree, sometimes the old ways are better and for good reasons that new generations failed to learn, until casting results go south and they are trying to figure out why that new mold that started life by casting so well now has excessive block separation lines.

Dipping worked well for me until I started running two & three molds at a time. Then I gave in and purchased a hot plate, but taking temperature readings on the mold blocks and I could see uneven heating, which warps metal. Quality cast iron used in the old H&G molds is not usually a problem, but brass molds can be, which I have a number of.

On my next outing, I found what I believed to be a pretty good solution at a garage sale. I found this SS pot in a $2 for a box of goods. So I made it into an open door oven that will hold up to 3 molds and heats much more evenly.
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