New casting pots with built-in PID controllers

[TexasMac]

Some of you may have seen my article titled, Casting with a PID Controller, that was recently published in The Single Shot Exchange Magazine and also posted on my website. It was submitted a few months ago and is already outdated since both RCBS and Lyman have recently introduced new casting furnaces with PID controllers built in. The RCBS ProMelt 2, RCBS Easy Melt and the Lyman Mag 25 feature easy to program and use PID feature. All hold 25 lbs of alloy. The RCBS ProMelt 2 and Lyman Mag 25 are bottom pour designs but can also be used for ladle dipping. The RCBS Easy Melt model for ladle dipping only is an especially good buy. MidwayUSA is offering a limited time sale for $109.99 & shipping is free. The regular Midway price is $129.99 and RCBS lists the unit for $149.95.

It seems the casting equipment suppliers are finally starting to wake up to the use of digital technology. No doubt there will be more offerings to come. I bet Lee won't be left in the dust for long and Waage will have to upgrade their pot to stay competitive.

Wayne

[rdnck]

Electric pots, whether pid or thermostatically controlled, do not and cannot hold temperature as consistently as a propane or other gas fired heat source for melting your bullet alloy. By their very design, electric pots rely on fluctuations in temperature to cause their temperature regulating apparatus to function and turn on and off. Gas, on the other hand , is adjusted and set, and there is no change in the energy coming from the heat source. You set it and forget it.

My casting set up uses a cast iron pot--good heat sink--that holds about 80 pounds, sitting over a propane burner. In other words, a cast iron Dutch oven and a fish cooker, both from Walmart. I cast 76 bullets yesterday, and 73 were within two tenths of a grain. I DID NOT get results like this when I used an electric pot. Can you say Lyman Mag 20, Lee Pro Melt, and Waage? The Lyman and Lee quit working, and I gave the Waage to a neighbor kid so he could cast round balls for his muzzleloader. I have been using the cast iron pot and fish cooker for over 15 years with no maintenance issues or problems. Works for me. Shoot straight, rdnck.

[TexasMac]

Electric pots, whether pid or thermostatically controlled, do not and cannot hold temperature as consistently as a propane or other gas fired heat source for melting your bullet alloy. By their very design, electric pots rely on fluctuations in temperature to cause their temperature regulating apparatus to function and turn on and off. Gas, on the other hand , is adjusted and set, and there is no change in the energy coming from the heat source. You set it and forget it.

My casting set up uses a cast iron pot--good heat sink--that holds about 80 pounds, sitting over a propane burner. In other words, a cast iron Dutch oven and a fish cooker, both from Walmart. I cast 76 bullets yesterday, and 73 were within two tenths of a grain. I DID NOT get results like this when I used an electric pot. Can you say Lyman Mag 20, Lee Pro Melt, and Waage? The Lyman and Lee quit working, and I gave the Waage to a neighbor kid so he could cast round balls for his muzzleloader. I have been using the cast iron pot and fish cooker for over 15 years with no maintenance issues or problems. Works for me. Shoot straight, rdnck.

rdnck,
It's obvious you don't know how a PID controller works to hold the alloy at a constant temp.

[rdnck]

It is equally obvious that you have never used a fish cooker and a cast iron pot as well. Shoot straight, rdnck.

[Kevin Alexander]

It is equally obvious that you have never used a fish cooker and a cast iron pot as well. Shoot straight, rdnck.

I cook fish in my fish cooker?

[Don McDowell]

I never put much stock in the PID on the lead pot thing, until I got the new Lyman mag 25, now I'm a believer, and am seriously considering that solid bottom RCBS pot to go along with the lyman.

[TexasMac]

It is equally obvious that you have never used a fish cooker and a cast iron pot as well. Shoot straight, rdnck.

rdnck,

I am hurt by your suggestion. .

Actually I started out casting with a large cast iron pot heated by a propane fish cooker heater. I then progressed to a 25lb RCBS furnace, which was an improvement in controlling the pot temperature. I eventually added a PID to the RCBS furnace which was a significant improvement. I'll never go back to casting without a PID.

Wayne

[Hiwall55]

Cast bullets with my new Rcbs Easy melt with the PID ladle pour the last two days and Man It works great. The thermometer was off about 50 degrees but after I adjusted the temp to match my thermometer it cast perfect bullets.
As for the fish cooker I use mine to cook fish and smelt lead.

[Hanz]

I have to buy one of these. I was casting for the first time in 8-9 years and I was not having good luck. It took me a while to get a rhythm going but even then I was going from too cold to frosty bullets.

[Lumpy Grits]

Hanz-What do you use for a thermometer?
Gary