siebler_custom_baits Posted February 8, 2004 Report Share Posted February 8, 2004 My lead gets liquidy in my production piot thingy then it gets hard again in like 5 minutes. Is this maybe because there isnt enough lead in the pot? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gr8flyz Posted February 8, 2004 Report Share Posted February 8, 2004 Depending on what you're using, if it has one, check to make sure your thermostat is working, or is set high enough to keep the lead molten. Lead melts at around 622 degrees F. Also you could have a bad electrical connection, one that is only sometimes making contact. I had that problem once, the pot would heat up initially, when I started pouring would lose heat & the lead would harden. There was a loose connection at the heating element. What type of melter are you using? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
siebler_custom_baits Posted February 8, 2004 Author Report Share Posted February 8, 2004 Lee ( Prcusion, Production, Precision?) All i know is it has the pour spout and it is a smaller one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WidowMaker Posted February 8, 2004 Report Share Posted February 8, 2004 I had this problem once. It wasnt anything to do with the pot but instead was power fluctuations before the current even reached the pot. I had set up shop in an older building which had aluminum wiring. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richoc Posted February 8, 2004 Report Share Posted February 8, 2004 The heating coils are up high in that pot, if the lead is less than a third full it will not heat correctly . Best to keep that model pot full. The dripping sucks as you heat up though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
siebler_custom_baits Posted February 8, 2004 Author Report Share Posted February 8, 2004 That is what i thought. I only had the pot like a 1/4 full. I will have to go get a ton of lead and try again. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WidowMaker Posted February 8, 2004 Report Share Posted February 8, 2004 Keeping the pot as full as possible while pouring will make the lead pour faster. This means the less opportunity for the lead to cool down before it enters the mold cavity. With a full pot you will have better consistency of pours and will experience fewer numbers of "short" pours. The less lead you have in the pot means the more work the pot has to perform to keep it hot. The more work performed the shorter the life of the pot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
siebler_custom_baits Posted February 8, 2004 Author Report Share Posted February 8, 2004 thanks guys. i am going to go to the tire shop today or tommorow hopefully, to get a ton of lead.( not a ton literally) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boomer Posted February 12, 2004 Report Share Posted February 12, 2004 You might want to check the metal you're using. Some wheel weights have a lot zinc, which doesn't mely but forms a crusty honey comb mass. The lead will pour off and you're left with the junk. Try a lead alloy of known composition (bar solder if you have to0 and see whatresults you get. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deadlystreamer Posted February 12, 2004 Report Share Posted February 12, 2004 Sometimes my "potter" pot will drip as the lead gets hot. I let it drip into a little pile then put it back in the pot. I use needle nose plyers with a paper clip straightened out and slide it up in the pot from the bottom and it'll get rid of what is causing it to leak. Just be very careful doing something like that. When my lead is hot I keep the pot full and never have any problems with it. When I turn it off or unplug it I make sure the pot is as full as it can be. I'll lift all the crap off the top before it sets up. It'll take probably 30 minutes to melt it again for the next job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slipperywalleye Posted February 21, 2004 Report Share Posted February 21, 2004 thanks guys. i am going to go to the tire shop today or tommorow hopefully, to get a ton of lead.( not a ton literally) hey there just thought id let ya know that i get my lead from a sporting goods shop i buy the lead weights you use to hold down your duck decoys and such there nice big peices and are cheap.Hpoe that helps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
siebler_custom_baits Posted February 21, 2004 Author Report Share Posted February 21, 2004 yea, little hard to find in cali though. Thanks antways Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
