Here's the thermostat on my Lyman 61 melter

[Tippet]

I'm sure this s a replacement part because it looks nothng like the pics I've seen of other Lyman 61 thermostats.

Sorry for the out-of fouc shot of the text on the side, it reads:

American Thermostat Corp. South Cairo NY
Model B-200 1600W 115-236V AC only

Seems like a pretty beefy unit for this little melter. I don't think that many come with 1600W thermostats.

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n226/tayloroid/cast%20boolits/P1010001-1.jpg
http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n226/tayloroid/cast%20boolits/P1010002-1.jpg

[44man]

Where did you get it? When I called Lyman for a new one and gave her the model number, she laughed! Said they had none to fit, it was too old. Seems to me it is a 61, I have to look.

[Tippet]

that's funny, I called Lyman asking about replacing the insulative strip behind the thermostat, before I realized it was a replaced part. She explained it was a 1961 unit, no parts available.

The part was already installed when I got the melter.

[Tippet]

You can get them here: http://orders.ppe.com/odr/rbpperetail.htm?p-part=B-200

I just spoke with the manager, he said it's in stock at $21

[hammerhead357]

When I looked at the thermostat I thought it looked familiar. So out to the reloading room I go. Sure enough I have one just like it except that mine has screws where the rivits are in the picuture above (just to the right of the adjustment stem).
Mine were used as replacements on old SAECO pots that I haven't had in over 20 years. I don't have a clue as to where mine came from.
Yes they are overrated for the lyman or saeco pots considering that they have heating elements rated at maybe 600 to 800 watts....Wes

[Tippet]

Those are screw holes in mine too, not rivets. I just had it apart, I had to tap new holes into the melter because taking the thing apart I broke off the old mounting screws.

[Tippet]

BTW this part can get alloy in this old melter up over 900°

[44man]

Great, I will get one.

[IcerUSA]

Thanks for the link , looks like it would work on the old pot I have , just need to fimd an element that will work in it now . It's an old Hilts pot with about an ID of 4 1/2 to 5" dia at the base on the inside of the pot .

Keith

[scrapcan]

Icer,

here is a good write up on replacement of the element in a Saeco which should be similar to your pot.

http://pages.suddenlink.net/abittner/

[Tippet]

You guys are awesome!

[hammerhead357]

44man PM me with your snailmail addy and I will send you mine for nothing. I don't know if it still works but you are welcome to it to try out and use if it works....Wes

[oneokie]

Thanks for the link , looks like it would work on the old pot I have , just need to fimd an element that will work in it now . It's an old Hilts pot with about an ID of 4 1/2 to 5" dia at the base on the inside of the pot .

Keith

You might want to contact these folks about a replacement element:

L-H Branding Irons

800-437-8068

www.lhbrandingirons.com
Ask for Mark.

They can custom shape the heating element, if you send them the old element. The elements have spade terminals. An element 42" long is rated at 1800 watts.

[Bret4207]

Okay guys, found this older thread. The PDF says this thermostat is good to 550F. Tippet says it'll go much higher. Can anyone else verify? If so, I'm getting 2 ASAP!

[Tippet]

These days I'm using a lee pro 420. I had trouble with the thermistat and gave up. I gave the old melter to bulltipper and he fixed it- lead somehow deposited itself within the thermostat, shorting it out, keeping it from going above a low melt temp. He is still using it today. PM the man and he should be able to verify how hot that thing will crank for him.

[Bret4207]

I think I'll be ordering 2 soon. Thanks!

[Tippet]

WAIT! Aren't you going to verify it first?

[Bret4207]

Your word is good enough for me, I just hadn't noticed you posting in some time, was wondering if anyone had one that they'd tried. Sorry if I offended you, it was unintentional. Instead of "verify" I should have asked if anyone had experienced any problems.

Okay?

[Tippet]

No you didn't offend me. I thought it was funny, actually it reminds me of myself when I first started hunting around for a way to fix the thing. I encourage you to send bulltipper a pm. He's all over that melter like a cheap suit.

The guy I got the melter from bought it new in the early '60's. Once the original thermostat gave up the ghost, he replaced it with that unit specifically so it would heat up beyond the original spec.

Keep in mind though, you don't need the lead to get that hot. I get my best results by using the lowest temp possible that still pours well.

[Bret4207]

Good. I was just concerned about the 550 limit the company describes. As long as they get to 700 or so I'm good. What I'm doing is piggy backing 2 SAECOs, on above the other, Even gonna run a dedicated line for them.

[scrapcan]

fishhawk,

When you get it installed let us know how it goes.

[Echo]

Good. I was just concerned about the 550 limit the company describes.

My guess is that the 550* relates to the ambient temperature around the control, and not the temperature of the pot.

I am fairly sure these are controls, not thermostats. A control works on the duty cycle, turning the power on and off depending on the setting, leaving it on longer when turned up, and not so long when turned down. Our electric blanket works the same way. There is no feedback that a thermostat would need.

(A thermostat measures the temp of the controlled substance - antifreeze in the radiator, for instance - and adjusts something - amount of fluid flow in the case of the radiator - to effect the control. Doesn't happen with our pots, with the possible exception of the RCBS pot - I have heard that it uses an actual thermostatic control.)

[PWS]

This site is the BEST!!! I've been running my old Model 61 without a temperature control for about 25 years now. Found it in the junkpile of an old gunshop and got it for a song. Gonna finally fix it!

If you're looking for ANYTHING to do with cast boolits, this is the place!

[miner49r]

This is great! :goodpost:
As you can imagine, the temps on my furnace were all over the map. A B200 thermostat arrived from PPE today. I wasted no time getting it installed. It came with a new knob but the shaft is shorter than the OEM. I wound up sanding the bottom of the old one down to the brass insert to fit. Plugged it in and dropped 4 ingots into the well.

Well... The lead did melt but the high temperature was only 700deg. Removed the cover, slid the stop collar off the shaft, and reinstalled the collar 4 splines counter clockwise. Works like a charm.

Thanks guys. The pot was my fathers and I'm glad (with your help) I was able to repair it. :guntootsmiley: