A diamond in the rough?

[jr545]

Came across this old saeco pot.
Heats up great just needs some TLC.
It's my first pot, I've been ladle casting off an old coleman stove....always wanted one but I've been doing in the old fashioned way for so long I'm not sure I'll like it.
Going to shine it up and post the after pictures.

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v492/AR-JR/?action=view&current=oldSAECO.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v492/AR-JR/oldSAECO.jpg

[dubber123]

Yours is a lot less "rough" than the one I bought, but for the grand sum of $15 I can't complain. I really like mine, and keep it loaded with 50/50 WW-Pb so I don't have to keep draining my other pot. I bet you like it. If you don't, I know where you can send it...

[Shiloh]

What a fossil!!

Good for you. Just clean it up and make sure it runs well. Don't "Restore" it.
I'd love to have something like that!!

Shiloh

[LAH]

That's the pot I began with in '73.................Creeker



Dry Creek Bullet Works
Dry Creek Firewood

[STP22]

I started with the very same pot. Sadly, it stopped working a few years ago, and sits in the spare room in pieces.

It`s far easier to begin with one of those early 10lb pots than the Lee "dripo-matic" because you have plenty of roomm to stir and flux.

I`d also say that after a few sessions with the Saeco pot, you will not miss the Coleman.

[jr545]

What a fossil!!

Good for you. Just clean it up and make sure it runs well. Don't "Restore" it.
I'd love to have something like that!!

Shiloh

Not sure I understand the "restore" aspect.
I took some steel wool to the rusty steel arm and bracket as well as the bolts where they needed it. Touched them up with some cold blue and then scrubbed the base plate and oiled everything up.
Pot had some crud in it(looked like some one used marvelux or some such). Got it soaking with some white vinegar, we'll she how she cleans up.

I don't really "restore" the old tools I buy but I do sometimes give them a good cleaning and a coat of paint so they don't look like do-do ****ting on the bench and to protect them from the elements.
Maybe it's my OCD?

[Le Loup Solitaire]

You've got one of the best pots ever made. Since you mention an arm that means that you have the 10# bottom pour. Saeco also made a 20 pounder for ladle casting. If anything ever goes wrong there are past threads on this forum for repairs and parts sources that you can punch up thru searches. I've had both versions for over three decades and they're still going strong. Blueing is original, but I decided to protect the metal by spraying with BBQ/stove black as its easier to touch up. Go easy on the soak time with the vinegar as it has acetic acid in it and too much soaking will see the cast iron attacked and even eaten thru. After casting is done and things cool down a rub with an oily rag of the inside of the pot (that has no lead in it) and any other blued metal parts as that will keep the rust away. Enjoy your pot as it is a fine machine and a classic. LLS

[machinisttx]

I have the exact same pot. Works pretty well, but the thermostat sucks(age).

[jr545]

Cleaned up pretty well.
I'll melt a little lead this weekend and try it out.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v492/AR-JR/OldSaeco2.jpg

[cheese1566]

Good job on the clean up!!!

Looks great and don't be afraid to use it. Have fun, that is what it is all about.

[IllinoisCoyoteHunter]

DANG! Looks Great! I am jealous... Now pour ya some, boy! :drinks:

[Bret4207]

Looks lots nicer than my SAECO pot. I'm a ladle man, but the old SAECO has me BPing a bit. Heads and shoulders above any Lee ever made.

[John Guedry]

That thing is beautiful! Good job!

[scrapcan]

Very nice pot. I have the lyman mould master and is the same pot with a different name. It is by far the best pot I have had. I wish mine looked as good as yours.

[jameslovesjammie]

That is a thing of beauty! It looks brand new.

[LAH]

You did very, very good..........Creeker

[gray wolf]

great job-- looks good--enjoy it

I love to see the way we get nuts about our stufffff--I am the same way and I will never change. It's a thing we have --my wife say's it's a reloading jean/gean.
something to do with synapsersomethin electrical in the brain fire in--I told her as long as it got the word fire-in attached to it- Hey- how bad can that be.

[Echo]

There are those of us who swear by that old SAECO.

[jr545]

Pot works well and comes up to temp pretty quick.

This new fangled contraption is going to take some getting used to.....

[thebigmac]

YOU OLD GUYS WITH YOUR ANCIENT SAECO AND LYMAN LEAD POTS NEED TO DO WHAT I DID.
(Plastic Process Equipt. Inc--8303 Corporate Park Dr.---Macedonia, Oh. 44056). IS THE PLACE TO CONTACT FOR A REPLACEMENT THERMOSTAT. I JUST COMPLETED REPLACEING MINE, AND WITH A LITTLE MINOR ENGINEERING(?) MADE IT FIT. WORKS GREAT, JUST LIKE HAVING MY OLD POT BACK. YOU WANT MODEL B-200. WORTH A TRY. $23.00 PLUS UPS/// Mac

[a.squibload]

Before: yuck.
After: Wow!

I've seen references to "drip-omatic", is that just the Lee, or do others develop
that problem too? Suppose they could be disassembled and the valve ground
like an exhaust valve in a car? Or is it worth the trouble?

A freind had a bottom-pour that dripped, don't remember the brand but it was a
PIA for sure, wet lead is hot.

[Shooter6br]

A spring on the handle of the Lee helps alott I use a spring which hooks on the base and handle of the Lee

[Shooter6br]

Spring in place

[rockrat]

Bought my Saeco in 71, still working just as good as it did when I bought it.

[WHITETAIL]

Great job, and good pics.[smilie=p: