I haven't done much at all today. The little ice that we got yesterday was gone last evening, and it's been in the 40's here today, although a bit windy. It looks to be 47 here now.
I shipped a tiny order for some tying materials early this morning, but otherwise, didn't even go out into the shop.
I don't recall the last time I had used my bottom pour, it's a 20 lb Lee and I've had it some years and bought it used. It stays on my bench, so i can use it if I need to do so and is currently about 3/4 full of lead. Other than clean it occasionally, I have not ever had to do any repairs on it, to get it to melt.
I have 3 of the Palmer Hot Pot 2, and still have the the first version I started with, which was sold by Hilts at the time. The wires in it fell apart from heat and I could probably rewire it and use it, but have two of the 2nd version that I have used, and a new in the box spare. Those are what I use most. I had fixed the wiring in the first version a few times before replacing it.
I had some dripping problems with the Lee, and have since fixed that, by brazing a washer onto the rod, so it seals better in the bottom of the pot. I had posted here about that awhile back. But they do tend to leak as they age. Kind of like us as we age!
I have a small order of some Crappie jigs to make, but the guys not in a hurry for them, and a small fly order, which again is no hurry. They're both for warmer weather ahead.
I don't have many problems with what I use, and plan to continue using them as long as I'm able and they work.
A young guy in a jig pouring group on Facebook the other day was asking about some of the other brands, claimed he wanted more production. He had not been pouring long and said he had a 10 lb Lee, and had not had any problems with it. I told him that all a bigger size pot will provide is more molten lead at a time, that it won't pour the hand held molds any faster. Also mentioned that the molds & pots are intended for hobby use and not high production commercial use, even though many of us do operate businesses using them.
I will often pour two molds at a time, but don't see that the bottom pour and more capacity really improves that a lot for some of the molds that I have. I can pour more than I can sell regardless of the mold and what it pours.
I told that fellow that if he really needed high production, that he should look into spin casting, a lot of the molds for it, and a high capacity commercial melter that might handle 50 or more lbs of lead at a time, but also that it would cost him. So far, there was no reply to my comments.
