Casting with a PID Controller

[rdnck]

Newer gadgets and techniques are usually quicker and easier, but I don't believe they are always better. A case in point is the thermostatically equipped electric pot versus the propane heated fish cooker and cast iron pot. The reason I say this is that the thermostat cycles on and off to maintain an even temperature and the temperature of the melt has to drop several degrees to cause the thermostat to re engage the power. This means the melt is constantly changing temperature up and down with an electric pot.

A propane burner on a fish cooker is equipped with a regulator, and once adjusted, the regulator feeds a constant, consistent and unchanging amount of fuel to the flame as long as your propane supply doesn't run out. The temperature on a pot of lead melted by a fish cooker simply does not vary, unless the amount of lead in the pot gets excessively low. With a 65 pound capacity pot and a 300 gallon propane tank, I keep both my lead and fuel supply in order. I feel that the propane fired heat source gives the most consistent casting temperature, but the drawback is that in hot weather, casting can really get to be an exercise in endurance and character building. Shoot straight, rdnck.