Lee melting pot

[Graysmoke]

So I've got myself one of these lee pro pot 4's and am finding myself asking a few questions,
first of all when the lead heats up and the dispense lever is lifted is it supposed to drip like it does?
I expected more of a continuous steam of molten lead...

I couldn't seem to get a good cast either with a 454 ball mould, just big gaps and cavities, I suspect my mould was too cold...
Should you fill the pot up with lead to the top each time it's used? I put about 5 pounds of lead in. Finally I was running it on about number 7 on the dial, is the surface of the lead (the grey bluey stuff) supposed to glow red when it's hot, it looked like small bits were smouldering in it too.

Any info would be great thanks
Tom

[Hares Ear]

So I've got myself one of these lee pro pot 4's and am finding myself asking a few questions,
first of all when the lead heats up and the dispense lever is lifted is it supposed to drip like it does?
I expected more of a continuous steam of molten lead...

It should be a steady stream. It sounds like the spout is blocked. You will find that you need an 'L' shaped bit of wire that is a nice fit in the spout hole, and keep poking it up from the bottom to keep it clear.

I couldn't seem to get a good cast either with a 454 ball mould, just big gaps and cavities, I suspect my mould was too cold...

It was too cold, you need to pre-heat it.

Should you fill the pot up with lead to the top each time it's used? I put about 5 pounds of lead in.

I usually fill the crucible up, and cast until it's all used up. But there is no need to fill it if you don't want to cast so many slugs

Finally I was running it on about number 7 on the dial, is the surface of the lead (the grey bluey stuff) supposed to glow red when it's hot, it looked like small bits were smouldering in it too.

I think you may have had the lead a little too hot. Also there was some slag smouldering in the lead. this is probably what blocked the spout. Chuck a little bit of beeswax onto the molten lead, stir it with your ladle, then skim the muck off the top. You will find that when your mould heats up with casting, you can turn the heat of the furnace down slightly.

[loiner1965]

Don't add wrinkled bullets or lead spures back in as it will cool the lead down
Put to one side and add later etc

[steve medlock]

Think mine is the production pot which may be different. I had to drill the spout out to a larger size to get a decent lead flow as discussed on 'cast boolits' (cringe).

Steve.

[Zero58]

Hi mines new to same troubles you are having dripping is coursed by slag getting into nozzle so flux melt as said by other post but to actualy stop it dripping is to rock filler neck bar side to side you have a slot at top of bar use a large screw driver don't bang bar in just rock side to side till it stops dripping I do 454 balls pouring at between temp 6-7 so 6.5 is about right yes my lead looks red hot to I wish you well don't for get to get mould hot and make sure you have smoked it

[tacfoley]

Pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeease put some punctuation in there somewhere for us pedants.

tac with bleeding eyeballs