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Thread: hot plate recommendations

  1. #21
    Boolit Master


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    Quote Originally Posted by justindad View Post
    Do you need to add a metal plate on top of the hot plate with the solid surface?
    If you do, it will function to retain heat.
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  2. #22
    Boolit Grand Master

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    Quote Originally Posted by Drew P View Post
    I’m curious why some like the coil kind instead of the solid kind.
    I guess the best way to explain it is in my case its "old school" mentality. No doubt, the solid surface hot plates work just fine. My open coil one was about $11-12 at Walmart.

  3. #23
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    I also use a solid top hotplate with an old circular saw blade on top for mold preheating or when resting to keep mold at temp.
    It makes getting the mold up to casting temp much faster
    I just turn on the lead pot and the hot plate at the same time. takes about 30 minutes for the lead to come up to 725. Mold it plenty hot by then and I start casting
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  4. #24
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    You should not need any solid metal anything on a flat surface plate.

    The reason for the saw blade on open coils is to distribute the heat evenly to the mold (like a flat top does). It is possible to warp or distort a mold if it is on top of red-hot coils. I have never seen it..............just read about it, but why take the chances???????????????

  5. #25
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    the saw blade adds more surface area. I can easily heat 2 molds if needed and no drawbacks from having the blade on top
    [SIZE=4][B]Selling Hi Quality Powdercoating Powder

    I carry a Nuke50 because cleaning up the mess is Silly !!

    http://www.bing.com/search?q=nuke50&...7ADE&FORM=QBLH

    I am not crazy my mom had me tested

    Theres a fine line between genius and crazy .. I'm that line
    and depending on the day I might just step over that line !!!

  6. #26
    Boolit Buddy
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    I might cast about 5 Lee size lead ingots from range scrap in about 5 hours using my Lee pot. Can I expect the same with a 1500 watt hotplate?

  7. #27
    Boolit Buddy
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    I just bought a good buy on Amazon: 1500 watt hotplate for $18.99! It's about 1/3 off.

    https://www.amazon.com/STECOKER-Elec...%2C192&sr=8-21

  8. #28
    Boolit Grand Master
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    Quote Originally Posted by BJung View Post
    I might cast about 5 Lee size lead ingots from range scrap in about 5 hours using my Lee pot. Can I expect the same with a 1500 watt hotplate?
    You can expect a MUCH SLOWER output with an electric hotplate than that! Get a turkey fryer for re-melting!!!!!!!!

    I cast "Lee" ingot mold ingots at the rate of 4 every 5 minutes or less with my propane plumber's furnace. Depends ONLY on the cooling rate of the molds, which I sit on a soaking wet cloth towel for cooling. I have 5 Lee molds, 4 SAECO molds, and 5 RCBS molds to pour into. Call me a "casting fool" I guess! I love commercial molds. I do not waste time with round muffin tins or cookware molds (such as corn ear molds) I see people use on here! Or "things" made from welded angle iron. 1± pound commercial trapezoidal ingots work for me .

  9. #29
    Boolit Buddy

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    Bought this one in December, 4.5 out of 5, and 24,589 ratings, I chose the cast flat plate but coiled and double burner versions also available. Cheaper than driving to town and scrounging around at Goodwill.

    https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...0?ie=UTF8&th=1

  10. #30
    Boolit Buddy
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    Is there an advantage of the coil vs flat plate hot plate? Has anyone compared?

  11. #31
    Boolit Buddy
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    I agree. When I plan to process large amounts of lead, I'll consider the turkey fryer.

  12. #32
    Boolit Master

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    Quote Originally Posted by PhilC View Post
    Bought this one in December, 4.5 out of 5, and 24,589 ratings, I chose the cast flat plate but coiled and double burner versions also available. Cheaper than driving to town and scrounging around at Goodwill.

    https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...0?ie=UTF8&th=1
    10 times more expensive than the double burner plate that I got at the Bigfoot Flea Market.
    Spell check doesn't work in Chrome, so if something is spelled wrong, it's just a typo that I missed.

  13. #33
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    Quote Originally Posted by BJung View Post
    Is there an advantage of the coil vs flat plate hot plate? Has anyone compared?
    Flat tops give intimate contact with the mold surface and transfer heat at a much better/faster rate.

    And, as I said above, I have read of mold damage from molds sitting on glowing red coils. I would not risk it!

    Flat-tops are not as common as those cheap coil thingies. Watch around.

  14. #34
    Boolit Buddy

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    Quote Originally Posted by ulav8r View Post
    10 times more expensive than the double burner plate that I got at the Bigfoot Flea Market.
    Hard to find bargains like that when there aren't any flea markets, fuel alone hoping to find one would easily be double, or more, what I paid to have mine delivered to my front door.

  15. #35
    Boolit Grand Master
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    Like I said in post #16 above, I paid a lot for my high output digital controlled flat top lab grade hotplate. You would be VERY lucky to find one like it at a junk store or yard sale. But............................you never know! If you live close to a University or science lab facility.....who knows!

    Better pay up front rather than waste expensive fuel driving to hades an back searching for one. Or use a saw blade!
    banger

  16. #36
    Boolit Buddy
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    I spent 6 months stopping by a Goodwill on my way home to find a hotplate. No luck. So, I bought a new one online

  17. #37
    Boolit Master 6622729's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by BJung View Post
    How useful are hot plates to you? Which would you choose and which to avoid?

    I am looking for one that can be used to melt range scrap with than use my lead pot.
    Any $20 hot plate from eBay or Amazon will be fine for preheating molds. I’d avoid any $8 hot plate you run across. That would put you way below the cost/value vs quality curve. Lol. You will likely want a propane burner setup for melting range scrap.

  18. #38
    Boolit Mold
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    As far as open coil vs flat goes they are basically the same. The flat has a cool in or under it.
    I vote flat hot plate as there is no need for a flat piece of metal added for uniform temps and clean up would be easier if needed.

  19. #39
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    One of the best additions to my casting.

    Highly recommended.
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  20. #40
    Boolit Man Skooterr's Avatar
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    I ran across this hotplate about 2 months ago, it followed me home. So old it has cloth covered electrics, but it is nearly brand new in original box. Cast iron top plate.
    2000 Watts. came with a 4 inch cast iron lead pot.
    Haven't used it yet, but did plug it in to warm it up.
    Seemed to work just fine.
    .

    .

    .
    Last edited by Skooterr; 05-24-2022 at 08:51 PM.

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Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
PSP Pointed Soft Point Spz Spitzer Point SBT Spitzer Boat Tail
LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
GC Gas Check