BlackBear Posted March 11, 2020 Report Share Posted March 11, 2020 I've been pouring lead baits for about a year now & I've become pretty comfortable with the process. Far from a master, but I'm not unhappy with where I'm at. But my lead pot, that sucker is frustrating me. I first started with a Lee bottom pour pot, but gave up on that due to constant clogging. I switched to a 5703 Lee Precision Melter & ladle pouring & I'm happy with that method. My question is...how do I keep the pot from getting rusty/crusty on the inside? The inner walls are covered with rust crumbs & my lead (after being hot for a bit) often gets a rust colored crunchy film layer on top. I do flux & it helps a bit , but the contaminants on the inner walls of the pot just keep dirtying the lead back up. I am using what I believe to be clean soft lead, I buy it from Lure Parts Online. I don't often have issues with incomplete pouring, but I am looking for ways to keep my furnace & lead cleaner. I don't want to rebuild/replace my furnace every 6-12 months. Any tips would be greatly appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jig Man Posted March 11, 2020 Report Share Posted March 11, 2020 The only way I know is to keep it full of lead. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlackBear Posted March 11, 2020 Author Report Share Posted March 11, 2020 7 minutes ago, Jig Man said: The only way I know is to keep it full of lead. Thanks, I have heard that one before. I should have added this in my original post...being that it is already rusted up, how can I clean it up so that it does not keep mucking up clean lead? Keeping it full going forward I can do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jig Man Posted March 11, 2020 Report Share Posted March 11, 2020 When I had a Lee pot I would get the lead hot then empty it. I cleaned it out then took steel wool and cleaned it as much as possible. Then I sprayed it with a good layer of WD40. I let is soak for a while then wiped it down, fired it back up, put lead in it and started over. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlackBear Posted March 11, 2020 Author Report Share Posted March 11, 2020 2 minutes ago, Jig Man said: When I had a Lee pot I would get the lead hot then empty it. I cleaned it out then took steel wool and cleaned it as much as possible. Then I sprayed it with a good layer of WD40. I let is soak for a while then wiped it down, fired it back up, put lead in it and started over. Sounds good I will give that a shot, thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mbirdsley Posted March 13, 2020 Report Share Posted March 13, 2020 I’ve had the lee ladle for almost 8 years now. Only way you can prevent rust as was stated above is to leave led in it. To get rid of the rust I usually just turn it on get it hot and than take the spoon that use for slag removable and just scrape it out into the bottom. Than I just empty it into my metal Coffe can of wheel weight clips and slag. You could scrape it cold also. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...