Just bought a LEE magnum melter

[WickedWillie]

Finally "bit the bullet" and bought a LEE Magnum Melter. Other than de-greasing the pot before the initial melt and leaving about 1/2 inch of lead in it between sessions...is there anything I need to know? I'll be using a Lyman ladle. Should I "pressure cast" by holding the spout firmly in the fill hole or should I "pour" the cast, holding the spout just above the fill hole? It's been a couple years since I've thrown any bullets so I'm not a complete neophyte, but I'm always willing to learn.
(I also have a LEE Production pot IV but the small sizing makes fluxing difficult. Have an old SAECO dip pot that the temperature control failed. Been trying to wire various things in line to control the heat with only minor success. Router speed control that I originally wanted to try is out of stock at the local Harbor Freight...hasn't been available for over a month.)

[HATCH]

I always leave mine full of lead

[jblee10]

I always pour cast and leave a small puddle. The weight of the column of lead in the pot can cause finning, etc. And pressure pouring has always left me with small pin holes in the bullet base and increases smearing on the sprue plate. And the weight changes as the level drops, and I find it easier to adjust the speed of my movement when pouring. I find it actually helps having a small puddle when I cut the sprue. I can see how long it takes to start hardening and adjust the temp and/or speed. On multiple cavity molds I will often (but not always) move from cavity to cavity with a single pour joining each sprue puddle together. I can't tell it makes any difference in the quality of the cast, but it makes it easier to reintroduce the sprues back into the pot.

[GhostHawk]

I also leave mine within an inch of the top. Love mine, made casting larger boolits a joy instead of always running out of lead.

[oley55]

I have one wrapped under the Christmas tree right now. While I wait to open the gift I purchased I have been modifying a spare pot to accept a thermocouple so I can control the temps with a PID.

[WickedWillie]

Just was delivered Thursday afternoon. (12/23) Probably won't fire it up for a few days...holiday and all, you know. Looking forward to throwing some boolits...haven't done that for more than a few years.

[Mk42gunner]

I bought a Magnum Melter about a year ago and use it with my RCBS ladle. If I had bought this first, I don't think I would have ever messed with the bottom pour pots.

I generally pour from a short distance from the sprue plate, and leave a bit of a puddle for the sprue to draw from. If I start getting incomplete fillout, a momentary touch of the spout to the filled hole gives just enough pressure to make the bases sharp.

Robert

[WickedWillie]

Good information, thank-you Robert.

[gwpercle]

I get my best boolits with the Magnum Melter , Lyman Ladle and pressure casting by turning the mould horizontal , holding the little spout tight to the hole then rotating vertical . The bottom pour pots gave me problems , had trouble finding the nozzel hole ...too much pressure ...missed the hole ...
I could cast a lot of imperfect boolits with a bottom pour but the Lyman Ladle and LMM let me cast many more perfect , well filled and sharp edged boolits .
Also you have the same amount of alloy in the dipper each time ...unlike the bottom pour ...they drop the level and pressure ...and the spout keeps clogging up ... I got to hate the bottom pour .
That 20 lb capacity is so Sweet !
Gary

[WickedWillie]

I imagine that there will be a "learning curve" to endure when starting to cast again. I started with ladle casting, made a lot of mistakes and then learned to take my time and pay more attention to technique. Friend gave me a Lee production pot and I seemed to do better with it...meaning mainly speed of production. It dripped occasionally but not enough to cause me concern. But the major failing of the little production pot was that it was difficult to flux, stir and remove dross. Got tired of using a larger pot to prep alloy and then transferring it to the Lee production pot. Hopefully, this larger ladle casting pot will live up to the reputation and I will be up to the task of good ladle casting. Time will tell.

[gwpercle]

I've been casting with the Lee magnum melter and longer Lyman ladle now for about 3 or 4 years, I wish I had it 40 years ago . I started with the pot that held 4 pounds of lead ... I didn't realize what a hinderance that was , the 10 pound capacity bottom pour was better... the 20 lb capacity ... that's the size I will recommend to every one ... I wasted so much time waiting for lead to melt ... the 20 lb. pot lets you cast until your hands and arms get tired ... much better size.
Gary

[Gibbs44]

This is on my list, I currently have the small 4 pounder. It does get empty pretty quick.

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[gwpercle]

This is on my list, I currently have the small 4 pounder. It does get empty pretty quick.

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You gonna LOVE that 20 pound capacity ... Trust Me ...
4 pound pots are miserable little things that try your very soul .

Let's Drink To the 20 Pound Pot
Gary

[imashooter2]

I melted a bit of pewter in that 4 pound Lee when I started selling ingots those many years ago. It was small even for that. I moved to the Lyman Big Dipper 10 pound, only because I thought the Lee 20 would be too deep to easily dip the last pound or so. Boolit casting I doubt it would ever get that low. I’m sure you will be happy with the upgrade.

[WickedWillie]

I probably won't use a PID. Takes all the "fun" out of casting.