Casting thermometer

[Gundogblue]

I’ve just gotten back into casting after a 37 yr layoff . I just bought a Lee production pot that holds 10 lbs of lead, my question is, is a casting thermometer really necessary? I ask this because I read that 700 degrees is about right for casting, and with the heat control on the Lee furnace it goes from 1 to 10, it’s almost like guessing which temp setting is right. Any advice will be greatly appreciated.
Paul

[MT Gianni]

IME, the lee temp setting gives you one temp at full pot, +or- 100 F at half full and who knows what in between. Many cast without one. I like one for it's repeatability.

[Acidia609]

MT Gianni is correct. Also Temps vary between pots. What I do for me at first is crank the pot to 8 untill it melts throughly. Flux with saw dust then dial down to 5, Wait for it to cycle then go to town. 5 seems to be about 680-700 ish.

If you really get back into it and want better results I'd suggest building a PID controller. Cost is not very much more then a Thermometer and boolits become more uniform and easier to cast. Johnny Reloading Bench has a great build series here:
https://youtu.be/AgixJeF0vEU

Or if your computer savey you can build a self contained unit like I did using Arduino. Its a little more cheaper:
https://youtu.be/Mh-85vxrT3o

[trixter]

I started a Lee pot and then an RCBS, (which was borrowed) and then I bought a Lyman Mag 25. I had a manual Lyman casting thermometer and then the temp control on Mag 25 and then purchased the Lyman Digital Lead Casting Thermometer, which was only about 5° off from the Mag 25. The manual Lyman was way off, so I set it right in between the other two. Now I am pretty sure that my melting temps are very close to what I want. Having the ability to regulate the temp of what I am melting helps a lot to make accurate boolits.

[mdi]

I have one, somewhere. I got it for Christmas a few years ago and used it a few times. I wrote down the temps for specific molds and kept that data in my Casting Log. Soon I reverted to my methods used for 14 years prior to the thermometer and just watch what the bullets look like as they drop outta the mold...

[Boolseye]

My Lee 4-20 will go over 900º if I keep it set at 7. Maybe 1000.
My pot "idles" between 3-4 after getting up to temp and keeps the temp right where I like it, between 700 and 800º
I use my thermometer whenever I cast.

[lightman]

A thermometer is nice to have but its not strictly necessary. Its just one of those tools that can make life easier. If you decide to get one, look at the Tel-True.

[10x]

Build a PID. Set the temperature on the PID and never worry about alloy temperature again. More accurate than a bimetallic thermometer and the Sam price or less

[John Boy]

Gundog - to maintain a small Bell Curve of the bullets for a casting session, a thermometer is needed to maintain the pot melt at constant temperature
Spend the money & enjoy ... https://www.teltru.com/p-272-big-gre...degrees-f.aspx

[Boolseye]

I got mine from Rotometals back when I started casting. They were selling the same one that RCBS uses but with no markings. Have never had a problem with it in 7 years of steady use.

[country gent]

While not a real have to item the thermometer helps you to "know" for sure where your at and to replicate results with a given alloy and mould. Its a nice tool in the box for making things easier and trouble shoot when problems arise.

[slim1836]

I stopped using a thermometer once I built a PID. It compensates for the lead level drops and fill-ups so you know what the temp is at any time. Call me spoiled, but I will only use a thermometer if the PID quits, and only until I fix it.

Slim

[RED BEAR]

Lee pots heat up as lead levels fall so would recommend one I use an rcbs and seems to do a good job. My Lee pot will go a good bit over 1000 degrees .

[Gundogblue]

Thanks for the info, Midway has the Lyman digital on clearance right now for about $15.00 plus shipping. I just ordered one.
Paul

[Walter Laich]

As noted above it makes the production of lead bullets easier and for me that up's the enjoyment factor and as this is a hobby I want to maximize that happiness wherever I can

[Ed_Shot]

Gundog - to maintain a small Bell Curve of the bullets for a casting session, a thermometer is needed to maintain the pot melt at constant temperature
Spend the money & enjoy ... https://www.teltru.com/p-272-big-gre...degrees-f.aspx

+1 If you are not going to build a PID this teltru is the way to go.

[mdi]

Reading all the replies I'm impressed how complicated we can make a simple process. I believe buffalo hunters used a frying pan over a wood or buffalo chip fire and cast plenty of good bullets (they managed to wipe out millions of buffalo with them). I started casting with a Coleman stove and got plenty of good bullets for my 44 Magnums. Now we "need" electronic temperature controls for electric melting pots to keep temps withing a 10 degree spread, just to cast lead bullets...

[Mike W1]

And I prefer the modern automobiles to the Model T

[10x]

Reading all the replies I'm impressed how complicated we can make a simple process. I believe buffalo hunters used a frying pan over a wood or buffalo chip fire and cast plenty of good bullets (they managed to wipe out millions of buffalo with them). I started casting with a Coleman stove and got plenty of good bullets for my 44 Magnums. Now we "need" electronic temperature controls for electric melting pots to keep temps withing a 10 degree spread, just to cast lead bullets...

Minute of buffalo was needed back then. About the size of a wash tub.
Our current needs reflect our personal goals. Some of those goals are under an inch or less with bullets that are 0.220" in diameter and under 40 grains.

A Coleman stove has a great deal more control than casting over a fire of buffalo chips.

The whole purpose of a PID controlled electric casting pot is to make casting an almost perfect bullet less complicated.
Plug it in, get it up to temperature, and cast. No wondering if those wrinkles are oil in the mold, a cold mold, or a cool alloy.
I cast over a coal fired forge under a cast iron pot in the late 1960s with the need to turn the blower crank every fifteen to twenty seconds to keep alloy heat up. The quality of bullets was not as easy to achieve as today.

[dragon813gt]

Reading all the replies I'm impressed how complicated we can make a simple process. I believe buffalo hunters used a frying pan over a wood or buffalo chip fire and cast plenty of good bullets (they managed to wipe out millions of buffalo with them). I started casting with a Coleman stove and got plenty of good bullets for my 44 Magnums. Now we "need" electronic temperature controls for electric melting pots to keep temps withing a 10 degree spread, just to cast lead bullets...

10 degrees is a large spread and you will have significant weight variations. I try to keep it w/in two degrees. I'm one of the guys that actually cast w/ and w/out a PID and then plotted bell curves. The tighter control of the PID produced significantly less weight variation.

Do you need a thermometer? No you don't but it sure helps. Do you need a PID? Absolutely not but it helps you focus on every other aspect of casting. When you're not chasing temp you can focus solely on cadence which decreases weight variations. You don't need an electric pot but it sure is a lot easier then casting over an open fire.

I prefer to embrace technology because it almost always makes what I'm doing raiser. There are exceptions. I find digital refrigerant gauge to be annoying. I prefer my analog manifolds. But I've been using them less and less since getting a Bluetooth set of gauges. Connects to my iPhone and I can see everything at once. Technology can be a gift and a curse.