think I'm gonna buy a thermometer

[Ithaca1911]

can anyone suggest my best compromise between price and quality? I don't have a lot of money, but need something that'll work, and last. any ideas?

sorry if this is a double post, but there's a heck of a lot of pages here, don't wanna read for a year before I get rolling on some boolits.

[ept000]

Well I'm about as cheap as the come, so I use a turkey frying thermometer from Wal Mart. They are around five or six bucks. They only go to about 550 so you will most likely be off the scale. To me it doesn't matter what the exact temp is, as long as it's consistant. When I cast the needle goes all the way around past zero to the 50 degree mark. That seems to be my sweet spot. As for lasting, I have been using the same one for about a year now and it's as good as new. Is it the right way? Maybe not. Does it work for cheap? You bet.

[Ithaca1911]

the thought had crossed my mind, however, my big thing is attempting to melt my lead wheelweights, while ensuring that any zinc that slips in there isn't melting. it'd be easier if I could look at a thermometer, instead of trying to guess when i'm "there"

I don't have a lot of experience, and don't have 20 years and thousands of dollars in mistakes to be able to "feel" where it's supposed to be. :-( wish I did.

[454PB]

I cast for 35 years before I owned one. I bought the RCBS, simply because their warranty/customer service is so good.

[Ithaca1911]

54 bucks plus shipping. ouch.

anything cheaper? I'm just a poor boy.

[sqlbullet]

I use a lyman I got from Midway for $35. Shipped with a bunch of other stuff at the same time. Works fine.

[Ithaca1911]

that's the cheapest I've been able to find, (the lyman), think I'm gonna start searching all the auctions for mis tagged stuff.

[mold maker]

If the unit will stand the heat and exact temp. isn't the quest, you can mark it your self.
Next time you melt, take note of the position of where your known metal is fully melted. A sharpie mark here, and one at the temp you cast at will suffice.



Well I'm about as cheap as the come, so I use a turkey frying thermometer from Wal Mart. They are around five or six bucks. They only go to about 550 so you will most likely be off the scale. To me it doesn't matter what the exact temp is, as long as it's consistant. When I cast the needle goes all the way around past zero to the 50 degree mark. That seems to be my sweet spot. As for lasting, I have been using the same one for about a year now and it's as good as new. Is it the right way? Maybe not. Does it work for cheap? You bet.

[mikenbarb]

I use a infared one and I float a piece of thin steel on the top to get the proper reading. It works great but some are expensive and the best thing is I also use it for reading temps wherever I need to around the house and garage.:redneck:

[HeavyMetal]

I've got the Lyman and have had it for years. It works great!

Nice to get a deal on something but remember your time is worth something! Look for something long enough and you've paid to much for it!

I have yet to be successful with the IR unit I have but several suggestions have surfaced since the last time I tried it out, Check Harbor Freight out as a possible source as well.

[JeffinNZ]

I bought this unit locally. It was about USD20.00.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v505/JeffinNZ/Shooting%20stuff/IMG_0031-1.jpg

Works great.

[buck1]

Try ebone itm # 360129960693
Should work fine and cheep too....Buck

[jmar254]

http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_21003____SearchResults

Is there any reason why this one wouldn't work?

[Ithaca1911]

thank you all, I got the one off "ebone" thanx buck.

tomorrow I've gotta "smelt" my first major project, 700 lbs of wheelweights. off to bed, don't wanna fall asleep in my lead pot. :-)

[pstew]

Jeff in NZ, you better get that dog registration in. lol

[04heritage]

Thanks buck1 for the sire address.

[hpdrifter]

I have bought 2(two) lyman thermometers and both cratered with in the first use.

I wouldn't recommend one to my worst enemy.