Any tips on draining my pot, changing the lead without clogging it?

[AbitNutz]

I need to change the lead completely in an RCBS ProMelt and a Lyman Mag25. One pot is contaminated and the other is a complete mystery mix. I just want to start from scratch with a known allow of known good lead. I got the pots on a deal and I don't want to make it a "He chose poorly" story.

The issue is obviously that draining a pot is a great way to clog the spout...causing an absolute nightmare. I saw this happen once. Does anyone here have experience and good advice on doing a changeover?

[HATCH]

You could just pour it out

[jsizemore]

When the lead temp hits 700°F, I unplug the pot, pick it up by the support rods and pour it out the top. When it stops pouring, I bang the pot rim on the table to get the stuff out of the spout. Don't bang the operating mechanism on the table. The lead is HOT. Don't do this barefooted or with flip flops. Or shorts.

[Winger Ed.]

As said: Get it hot, pick it up and pour it out.

Save a green bean can or something to use for a mold. It'll make a great large, economy size fishing sinker.

[porthos]

a large ladle, until it gets too low; then bottom pour

[Mk42gunner]

I'm in the "Dip out what you can, then carefully pick it up and dump it" camp.

Robert

[AbitNutz]

Thanks, guys. I took all your advice and it went well. I know it sounds stupid but I never thought about tipping up and pouring it out. A pot tipping over has always been associated with a disaster in my mind.

I ladled them down till I got tired of dipping, unplugged them, grabbed the support rods, and poured them into the wife's sacrificial cupcake pans.

I emptied 1 RCBS old ProMelt, 1 RCBS new ProMelt W/PID, 1 Lyman MAG-25, and a very sad looking 10lb Lee pot. I was able to lightly wire brush the crud off the inside of the pots. Shockingly, all the pots looked great. The RCBS pots are stainless steel. I don't know what the Lyman is. It's a black-coated metal that actually seemed to hold up better in terms of crud sticking to it. It was almost like a Teflon.

Now, all I have to do mix a different alloy in each one. I'll use the Lead Alloy Calculator spreadsheet that was so kindly posted here. Then use my shiny new lead hardness tester on all of the different stockpiles of lead I have. I will then play Betty Crocker.

[Teddy (punchie)]

bent straight paperclip to unclog the bottom pour or any other wire they can be feed up if they are they right diameter. You may get a drip to an unstoppable flow, stir enough and the junk will flow to the top.