Pouring pan or Lee's Plastic Pot....

[tpd321]

I am pretty good and steady using a pouring pan but was curious about the Lee's Plastic pot. Any input would be appreciated. TD :

[james bradshaw]

I havent used a lee's pouring pot, but I do have a sta-warm 2-1/2 gallon pot. I have heard that the Lee's pot doesn't keep the set temp very well too many spikes in temperature. So I baught a Sta-Warm pot and it holds the temp very well, No trouble burning the plastic! However it has been a big problem trying to figure out how to keep the salt mixed, while pouring. This pot is too big in diameter to get a mixing blade, That will keep the salt from settling around the edge of the pot. Not much help to you on the Lee's pot, but I thaught I would share some of what Ive been working on.

James

[alsworms]

Temperature control is a MAJOR issue with the Lee pots, and unfortunately...........each individual pot varies in temperature.

Also, it's next to impossible to pour a bait with large flakes because they will clog the spout. Sometimes even the medium sized glitter will clog. Being a fan of larger flakes, the pots just weren't working for me at all.

I have heard lots of good things about the Sta-Warm pots, but they're WAY too expensive for my taste.

Just my 2 cents.......

Chris

[BigZ]

I would stick to the microwave and pyrex instead of the lee pots. Like Al said, temp control is a huge issue with those things. less chance of burning the plastic with a pyrex. If anyone here has ever burnt up plastic in a Lee Pot, they know how much of a (insert choice swear word) it is. You can dump your hot plastic from the pyrex into pouring pans and keep it on the burner so you can pour more baits or more colors of baits continuosly, this is what I do when pouring multi color or veins...but you still have to watch the temps!

[sotoole]

Hi.,

I'm a newbie here... just did my first pour last night. I used the micro and the pyrex., used about 9 oz of plastic to get about 2 dozen "good" baits... I was pretty happy with that being the first time and all. As far as the temperature goes., I know everyone mentions the magical number of 350 degrees, but I'll tell ya.. it was a hard thing to actually test. By the time you get that thermometer in there., the temperature cools a bunch. I just tried to go more by the texture of the plastic. A kind of loose corn syrup I guess. Does everyone have the same trouble I do/did with the stuff cooling so quickly, (3 - 4 baits tops per heating) then you get a bunch of plastic coating the pyrex which ya need to either wait to cool and drag it down into the middle of the pyrex to reheat (or) deal with it once you nuke the remaining batter at the bottom once it gets too cool to pour.... this sound familiar to anyone? I sure hope so... lol. Any pointers? Thanks guys... sotoole

[millsryno]

Sounds like you are just in that learning curve to me. Nothing out of the ordinary for a new guy. Just keep practicing and you will get a good feel for it. You won't need that thermometer. Just remember, the plastic starts out a thin, white consistancy....then it goes through a chemical change and really gets thick...then it becomes a clear thinner consistancy.

You should be heating in stages and mixing in between. If you are timing it right, you should see when the plastic goes through this chemical change. Once you are through the chemical change you want to heat it just enough to pour fluidly. Reheats should be 10-15 second bursts.

[sotoole]

Ryan..

Thanks a bunch. Very helpful... I could/can see the changes and I didn't always stir between stages... also., my reheat bursts were closer to 30-45 seconds (may have scorched the last pour a bit). Thanks again...

Shawn