Lee Production Pot Iv Incomplete Pour

[Steve Ramos]

I just purchased this pot and I began pouring some jig heads. Previously I was heating the lead on a cap stove in a pot used for melting butter which had a little spout on the side which poured great. This process filled the mold complete as long as I got the temp right and heated my mold and hooks. So I begin to use the Lee pot and start getting incomplete jigs. I have the heat setting all the way up. I pre-heat the mold, hooks, and insert. The only thing I can figure is there is debris catching in the pour spout which is slowing the stream. I noticed a few times that the stream would slow and be a little erratic rather than smooth. I am using lead from Lurecraft, which I believe is an alloy not "pure" lead. I did not flux the lead and I did not skim any off the top. I did turn the screw at the top of the plunger on every pour but that didn't help. Remember this is a brand new pot that I just used to pour 20-25 jigs.

I am thinking about returning the pot. But before I do I am wondering if the flux part is the source of the problem. Are these pot that temperamental?

[Fatman]

Steve

Getting used to a bottom pour from a hand pour is kinda weird. I don't know for sure what type of lead Lurecraft has, but I would flux it no matter what. Use a dowel wood rod to stir your lead. I pour some of my molds down to 1/32nd with tire weight lead and don't have any problems. Get an old jig and a tin pie plate use heavy gloves. Gut the barb off the jig and bend it in an L shape and with the pan underneath pull the pour rod and push the shank of the hook up the spout and see if it's just a clog.

When pouring I never have my pot on more than 6. When pouring, tip the mold down so the stream of lead goes in an angle. No pouring method is 100% and I get a few rejects now and then.

Just keep practicing and you'll get it down without a problem.

Fatman

[cadman]

I have (3) Lee IV pots one being 9 years old. I will say tht getting used to them is the key. I ha e never had any really ajor issues other than one pot the element burned out. So here are some tips.

#1 You shouldn't have to keep your pot any hotter than #7 on the dial, even in the dead of winter.

#2 Try angling your mold front to back, back to front, left to right and right to left when you pour.

#3 Also try to stick your mold with the sprue hole right into the spout. This acts as an injector and many times works better than just lead pouring in the sprue hole.

#4 When you pour regularly your mold should be no farther than an inch give or take from the spout. If its lower than that your lead will cool too fast and may leave holes in your pours.

#5 Definitely flux your lead.

#6 I have never had any issues with any lead. Some is harder and that pours well also.

Try some of these tips to see if it helps and post back with your results.

[Steve Ramos]

Thanks for the tips. I will try to pour some this week and I will report back.

I have (3) Lee IV pots one being 9 years old. I will say tht getting used to them is the key. I ha e never had any really ajor issues other than one pot the element burned out. So here are some tips.

#1 You shouldn't have to keep your pot any hotter than #7 on the dial, even in the dead of winter.

#2 Try angling your mold front to back, back to front, left to right and right to left when you pour.

#3 Also try to stick your mold with the sprue hole right into the spout. This acts as an injector and many times works better than just lead pouring in the sprue hole.

#4 When you pour regularly your mold should be no farther than an inch give or take from the spout. If its lower than that your lead will cool too fast and may leave holes in your pours.

#5 Definitely flux your lead.

#6 I have never had any issues with any lead. Some is harder and that pours well also.

Try some of these tips to see if it helps and post back with your results.

[Steve Ramos]

I tried some jigs this morning. First off, I don't have any flux. I have ordered some but it won't be here til next week. I stuck a thin nail through the spout opening when the pot was hot and cleared away some debris. This seemed to help. This first jig in the mold comes out good. The second is still a little short. I really think debris is clogging the spout opening. I suspect that the flux will help with this?

Thanks to all for the help.

Thanks for the tips. I will try to pour some this week and I will report back.

[cadman]

First off, I don't have any flux. I have ordered some but it won't be here til next week.

Thanks to all for the help.

Steve,

You don't have to buy anything special to flux your lead. If you have a wax candle, whether stick, votive, X-mas or any wax candle that will do just fine. Just cut off about 1/2 a dime size chunk and place it in your pot on top. Carefully take a match or wooden kitchen match and place it into the pot. You will see a flame start up. When this happens, be ready with an old spoon or butter knife and mix the lead slowly as the fire burns out. When it burns out, you will see a lot of black crusty crud on top. Spoon that off and put in a small can, where you can keep that until you fill it up as you do this daily.

You will be fine this way. After you do this start pouring.

Edited June 25, 2011 by cadman

[Steve Ramos]

I have been pouring for about 30 minutes and the spout is clogged again. Is this likely related to the fact that I haven't fluxed the lead?

I tried some jigs this morning. First off, I don't have any flux. I have ordered some but it won't be here til next week. I stuck a thin nail through the spout opening when the pot was hot and cleared away some debris. This seemed to help. This first jig in the mold comes out good. The second is still a little short. I really think debris is clogging the spout opening. I suspect that the flux will help with this?

Thanks to all for the help.

[Fatman]

Steve

As Cad said you don't have to have special stuff for flux. Get some old candles and break a piece off and put it in the pot, sometimes you have to light it sometimes it does it on it's own. Stir it really good, after you do this do it again.

If the pot keeps clogging up I'd pour the lead out and really clean the pot, and look at getting some different lead. I've never had a problem like you describe. My first Lee IV I bought in 1984 and it's beat but still produces jigs like crazy, and my new one has hardly been used and it's over 10 years old.

I'd pull your order sheet and call Lurecraft and tell them about the problem with the lead. As the pot is new you should not be having problems like this.

I have been pouring for about 30 minutes and the spout is clogged again. Is this likely related to the fact that I haven't fluxed the lead?

[Steve Ramos]

I tried the candle wax and it definitely helped. I have had the pot for 3 days and poured maybe a hundred jigs. I have cleaned the pot three times already and still have lots of crud. I have lots of rust colored debris build up on the sides of the pot?

I seem to be getting good fill on my 1oz jig slot but not the 3/4 and 1/2 - not sure why. The pour stream is definitely better. I thought maybe the base hole pin was the problem so I filed some down to provide some clearance and that seemed to help but still inconsistent - maybe this is to be expected but I didn't have this problem when pouring by hand.

Steve

As Cad said you don't have to have special stuff for flux. Get some old candles and break a piece off and put it in the pot, sometimes you have to light it sometimes it does it on it's own. Stir it really good, after you do this do it again.

If the pot keeps clogging up I'd pour the lead out and really clean the pot, and look at getting some different lead. I've never had a problem like you describe. My first Lee IV I bought in 1984 and it's beat but still produces jigs like crazy, and my new one has hardly been used and it's over 10 years old.

I'd pull your order sheet and call Lurecraft and tell them about the problem with the lead. As the pot is new you should not be having problems like this.

[Steve Ramos]

By the way - I am using the Do-IT PTJ -3 (1/2 - 1oz)

I tried the candle wax and it definitely helped. I have had the pot for 3 days and poured maybe a hundred jigs. I have cleaned the pot three times already and still have lots of crud. I have lots of rust colored debris build up on the sides of the pot?

I seem to be getting good fill on my 1oz jig slot but not the 3/4 and 1/2 - not sure why. The pour stream is definitely better. I thought maybe the base hole pin was the problem so I filed some down to provide some clearance and that seemed to help but still inconsistent - maybe this is to be expected but I didn't have this problem when pouring by hand.

[sdsaw]

Are you using any kind of mold release in the cavities? (mold release spray or candle soot)

I've been brushing on a small amount of talc (baby powder) into the cavities that are short pouring and it really helps

Give the talc a try

[Steve Ramos]

I cleaned the pot out again last night. I fluxed the lead with candle wax, skimmed, and added some of the candle soot to the mold. I am still getting short pours. The spout keeps getting clogged up. I think I am going to have to try some different lead or this pot is going back. I really appreciate the comments so far I have learned a lot. Feel free to keep commenting maybe I am overlooking something along the way.

Are you using any kind of mold release in the cavities? (mold release spray or candle soot)

I've been brushing on a small amount of talc (baby powder) into the cavities that are short pouring and it really helps

Give the talc a try

[BLT]

How full are you keeping the pot? I pour up to 5 oz. jigs, and if I let the lead get to low, I get bad pours. Seems like the extra weight of keeping the pot fuller helps for me. I really don't think that is your issue, but.......

I also have issues when the mold gets to hot.

[smalljaw]

I'd do what Fatman said, call lure craft and tell them they have a serious problem with the lead. The reason I say this is because fluxing your lead and having the pot clog right after means there is an extrodinary amount of slag or dross being produced, it may be zinc contamination or something else but it isn't right. Use that lead for ladle pouring and go to a plumbing supply store and get plumbers lead, it has always worked for me.

[atijigs]

I'd do what Fatman said, call lure craft and tell them they have a serious problem with the lead. The reason I say this is because fluxing your lead and having the pot clog right after means there is an extrodinary amount of slag or dross being produced, it may be zinc contamination or something else but it isn't right. Use that lead for ladle pouring and go to a plumbing supply store and get plumbers lead, it has always worked for me.

The pot is not the problem. You have dirty lead. I clean all my lead before it goes in the pot. Clean the lead and pour into ingots. It will make your life easier. Pure or plumbers lead still needs to be cleaned before you use it.

[Steve Ramos]

I did get some cleaner lead and the pour stream is very good.

However, I am getting some short pours on the 3/8 and 3/4 oz jigs only. Seems that 2 in 10 are good. Not really sure what the problem is - could it be a bad mold? The hooks and mold are good and hot and I got the pour stream down pretty good. The mold I am using is the Do-it PTJ-3 Poison Tail in the 1/8-3/8 and 1/2-1oz sizes. I am using the recommended hooks and sizes per the manuf. recommendations. I have tried playing with the base hole pin to see if that was the problem. Seems to help a little when I file it down but not sure.

The pot is not the problem. You have dirty lead. I clean all my lead before it goes in the pot. Clean the lead and pour into ingots. It will make your life easier. Pure or plumbers lead still needs to be cleaned before you use it.

[Steve Ramos]

I picked up some cleaner lead. I bought some flux material from Barlows and a Mold Release from Barlows. This combination of factors really helped. I was able to pour 20 jigs in a very short time. Thanks to all for the help. Now I have to conquer power painting

I did get some cleaner lead and the pour stream is very good.

However, I am getting some short pours on the 3/8 and 3/4 oz jigs only. Seems that 2 in 10 are good. Not really sure what the problem is - could it be a bad mold? The hooks and mold are good and hot and I got the pour stream down pretty good. The mold I am using is the Do-it PTJ-3 Poison Tail in the 1/8-3/8 and 1/2-1oz sizes. I am using the recommended hooks and sizes per the manuf. recommendations. I have tried playing with the base hole pin to see if that was the problem. Seems to help a little when I file it down but not sure.

[RAWJigs]

I know this thread is about a month or so old, I have those Poison Tail molds also. I had the problem with the incomplete pour, so I pulled out another mold and I could pour that. I had to put a corner of a business card and close the mold to give the lead more air flow. Don't know if you have everything solved, but that helped me.

[cadman]

I know this thread is about a month or so old, I have those Poison Tail molds also. I had the problem with the incomplete pour, so I pulled out another mold and I could pour that. I had to put a corner of a business card and close the mold to give the lead more air flow. Don't know if you have everything solved, but that helped me.

RawJigs,

I have gapped many molds many times when all else fails. I use high temp tape, and it does the job. Only thing I found is that if you gap it too much you will have incomplete pours again, because the lead will cool too fast. However it does work when done correctly. Also if you place the tape or business card in front of the cavity or in back of the cavity, that will make a difference as well. In front of the cavity towards the handles will gap less, in back of the cavity towards the hinge will gap more. You can play around with location, to the point that you will gap it perfectly without getting any flash, and it will pour all day long.

Edited September 5, 2011 by cadman

[Clint M]

Hey on your powder paint. Buy two cheap toaster ovens. Preheat your jigs to 190 degrees for twenty minutes. Then dip em and put em in the other oven for curing. Normally around 400 degrees for twenty minutes. It bakes em so hard you cant beat the finish off with a hammer.