Jaxon2 Posted March 15, 2015 Report Share Posted March 15, 2015 Looking to purchase a lead melting pot and was looking for some feedback. I'm wanting to melt lead to make jig heads and some jigging spoons and just replace my tackle as necessary! Trying to decide between the hot pot 2 or lee production pot 10lb. Any suggestions or recommendations? I think the bottom pour would be nice for large quantities but the hot pot 2 might work just as good for what I need.. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cadman Posted March 15, 2015 Report Share Posted March 15, 2015 If it were me, I would get the Lee IV bottom pour pot over a hot pot. The bottom pour is 100 times safer than a hot pot. Now there is a current thread running about some problems one of our members has had with his. You should read that and make your own choice. Even with the problems listed, I would still get a Lee IV pot hands down. It is still the easiest pot to use on the market at a really good price point. I've had one for 15 years and it still works. I've had another one for 6 and that still works. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kasilofchrisn Posted March 16, 2015 Report Share Posted March 16, 2015 I like the bottom pour for jigs as well. Anything under 3 ounces anyway. The only reason I would consider the hotpot is if you are casting jigs or sinkers larger than three ounces on a regular basis. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff Hahn Posted March 16, 2015 Report Share Posted March 16, 2015 I have had a Hot Pot and Hot Pot 2 for as long as I have been pouring jigs...like 40 years. A bottom pour unit would be nice to have, but my old Hot Pot 2 works fine and is a whole lot cheaper to buy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kasilofchrisn Posted March 16, 2015 Report Share Posted March 16, 2015 Looking at Barlows the Hot pot is $38.95 + shipping. The lee 10# bottom pour pot is $56.95 + shipping. $18 isn't that big of a difference and for what you get it's worth the price of the bottom pour pot. If I couldn't afford the extra $18 then this hobby likely isn't for you. You can't even buy one new old for the difference in price. To each his own though as I own a hot pot(not used yet) A lee 10# bottom pour pot and 3 cast iron pots that go on my turkey fryer burner. A 20# pot a 50# pot for my saltwater jigs and sinkers and a dutch oven that holds 196# of scrap for making ingots. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smalljaw Posted March 16, 2015 Report Share Posted March 16, 2015 I had a hot pot 2 and it worked well as a back up but here is the problem, learning to pour is one step, learning to do it trying to hold that amount of weight while dumping molten lead in a small gate just makes it that much harder. I have a compromise, instead of the hot pot 2, grab a LEE precision furnace, it holds only 4lbs of lead like the hot pot 2, but with this you are going to buy the small wood handle ladle. Yes, obvious disadvantage that you have to buy a ladle but it is still cheaper than a bottom pour and pouring lead into small gates quickly is easier when holding 2 ounces of lead versus 4lbs. and it is much safer and it has a thermostat you can control so if you have lead problems you can bump the heat up a bit . The other thing is that it sits on a good base unlike the hot pot 2 and the little aluminum stand, when you turn on the furnace you can sit your mold on top of it while it heats up and your mold will be hot by the time the lead melts, it is a win-win. http://www.barlowstackle.com/Lee-4-Lb-Lead-Melting-PotBR110-Volt-Model-P349C62.aspx http://www.barlowstackle.com/Small-Lead-Ladle-P354C62.aspx 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaxon2 Posted March 16, 2015 Author Report Share Posted March 16, 2015 Thanks everyone for their input much appreciated! I'm leaning towards the bottom pour spout.. Sounds easier and a little safer! One more question and I'm sure its in the owners manual but when a person is done pouring lead do you just drain the excess lead into a Ingot? Anything else as far as pot maintenance and cleanup so it's ready for next pouring session? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cadman Posted March 16, 2015 Report Share Posted March 16, 2015 Thanks everyone for their input much appreciated! I'm leaning towards the bottom pour spout.. Sounds easier and a little safer! One more question and I'm sure its in the owners manual but when a person is done pouring lead do you just drain the excess lead into a Ingot? Anything else as far as pot maintenance and cleanup so it's ready for next pouring session? You will get a lot of responses to this question as well. I have been pouring over 10 years, and I always leave a full pot of lead when I'm done. about a 1/2" below the top. To me this eliminates rust along the walls of the inside tub. I pour year round and leave my pot in the garage all year long four seasons. The top of the pot will get a little surface rust but that is about it. I've had pots run this way for 15 years never an issue. I only clean it if and when it physically does not pour. Usually by that time the pot doesn't heat and needs repair. You will get a lot of replies on pot maintenance. Read a lot on this forum and make your own decisions. Everyone is not you or me and you are the one that has to deal with the way you handle things. Good Luck and let us know how it goes. Finally lead to me is a factor as well. Couple of guys here myself included buy lead from Roto-Metals, I have not had any problems with their lead. You can use whatever you want, but learn the basics really well first, and you won't have many issues Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yo Al Posted March 17, 2015 Report Share Posted March 17, 2015 I leave my pots full and if I won't be using them for a while I wipe the top rim with a little oil. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Acuna Posted March 18, 2015 Report Share Posted March 18, 2015 I am the one who is having issues with the bottom pour Lee pot and even I would say it is safer and easier than using the hot pot and ladle. I tried to use the ladle and hot pot and it was just too hard to get good pours for me. With the bottom pour pot it was almost automatic (when it would work correctly). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaxon2 Posted March 18, 2015 Author Report Share Posted March 18, 2015 Appreciate all the replies! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BLT Posted March 21, 2015 Report Share Posted March 21, 2015 I like the bottom pour for jigs as well. Anything under 3 ounces anyway. The only reason I would consider the hotpot is if you are casting jigs or sinkers larger than three ounces on a regular basis. Now I don't pour the monster jigs you do lol, only up to 8oz. I use an RCBS bottom feed for all sizes I do up to the 8oz. SOme times I consider just using my cast iron pot because I run out of melted lead to fast. I can't even think about how fast you empty a 40-50# pot doing the jigs you make lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kasilofchrisn Posted March 22, 2015 Report Share Posted March 22, 2015 I was just thinking 50lbs of lead sounded like a lot, until I recalled his big jig is more than a pound and a half. Exactly right Bob! Just a couple of weeks ago I made some 5# cod sinkers for a customer. Thats right 5 pound sinkers. What for you ask? Well he is fishing 1,200+ feet in the saltwater for blackcod (sablefish). They are a species of fish that live deep and are mainly caught commercially. I hear they taste absolutley delicious. We also use that size sinker on our really heavy tide days. I avoid fishing weights that heavy but sometimes people don't have a choice and must fish certain days such as our charter boat fleet. when you can have 30+feet of tidal movement in one tide change you need bigger weights than normal. Thats where a big pot and ladle really shine. For smaller stuff the bottom pour pot is just the ticket. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mbirdsley Posted March 23, 2015 Report Share Posted March 23, 2015 Lee hot pot 2. I have one and love it. But, I just make stuff for myself. its simple to use and its basically maintance free. I can cast 3oz egg sinkers to 1/34 steel head jigs with it. Also use it for melting down scrap lead. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
