Hi fellow casters,
Whitesmoke from Australia here. It has been a while since I was here last.
I moved this from the This Old Pot sticky-wrong place -OOOpps!
I have taken into my head to fabricate a bottom pour pot. I can see the time saving of a bottom pour pot where I can dispense with the dipper against the advantage of sliding a mold underneath and pulling a lever.The clean lead will be good as well.
I have reviewed the pearls of wisdom contained in this thread, but still seek yet more information. Information on the best material for the seat and the valve to best resist against the inevitable corrosion is what I seek.
I am hoping to use stainless steel and it looks from what I have found that 316L might be suitable for low temperatures typically found in a pure lead ball procedure though there is some corrosion at higher temperatures.
The valve seat is of concern as being that it is not readily removed ( being welded in the the pot base )
The valve face and stem is no problem, I think, and can be made of say some 1/4" or 5/16" round bar which can be made easily removable and able to be placed in my lathe chuck.
The pot itself is a cut down 4.5 kilo( 10 lbs to you blokes) LPG gas cylinder which will straddle a three ring gas burner. The pot will incorporate a shelf to hold my .535" round ball moulds.
I don't wish to cast until it gets cooler as it is 95 degrees here at the moment. When it gets cooler towards May I shall cast my years supply which is about 2000 balls.
If any one has had success with a stainless valve and seat, I would certainly appreciate hearing about it.
Any other thoughts or advice on this which you can offer particularly regarding the valve /seat alternate material shall be appreciated.
Thanks in advance
Whitesmoke