Lee's Big production pot

[Joe S.]

Does anyone know exactly how these work. Right now I'm using a burner and tin cups, which I like but I need to speed up my time. Do the production pots have a mixer on them, what I'm looking to do is have something just to cook the plastic (larger amounts than 1 cup at a time) and then just release the cooked plastic into a cup and add my colors and stuff to it then pour, I don't neccessarily want to pour from the production pot itself, would it work like that just heating the plastic till it's ready to pour and be able to keep it at a set temp to not burn the plastic? not sure if it mechhanically stirs or do you physically need to stir?

Thanks for any help

[docirv]

I stopped using my production pots after just a few times. They clog when you add salt and glitter. The tempertature control is way too inexact. I even went so far as to set up a drill press with a large spade bit to keep it mixing all the time, but it was still not worth the aggravation. I use the microwave and pyrex measuring cups for pouring. Reheating the plastic in the microwave after a few pours takes just about half a minute or so depending on how much plastic you are heating and the power of your microwave.

[BigZ]

The lee pots work best when you heat the plastic in the microwave and then use them to keep your mix hot. They don't work well with salt or large glitter because the spout clogs. The thermostats are tempermental as hell as well. Personally I like them for doing a lot of single color baits or 2 color baits that run in a simpler mold, reapers, etc. I don't think a lot of people like the larger lee pot. search the forum using "lee pot" as your search term and you will find a lot of opinions on this issue have been voiced previously. . . [/i]

[Joe S.]

Thanks for the responses after searching I decide to just get another burner, and I bought a big aluminum candle wax melting pot, I only have enough molds to fill 4 cups worth of plastic at one time at the moment and it worked great, Once it turned clear in the big pot I lowered the temp and poured my half tin cups and mixed my desired colors while the clear plastic just sat hot and didn't burn. worked out really well.

[JD]

I have had very good luck pouring salt and glitter baits with the large Lee pot. With it, I can pour 70-75 5-inch senkos in about 60-80 minutes. And that is with using the pot exclusively (no microawave to pre-heat).

JD

[millsryno]

JD,

How are you keeping the salt suspended? Are you manually sturring it? How many sticks do you pour before you have to stir it? Are you flouring the salt in it?

Thanks,

Ryan

[JD]

Ryan,

I stir the mix fairly regularly. I pour about 3-4 senkos before I need a re-stir. I do not flour the salt. I get slightly clearer baits this way. I use Alberger fine flake salt and try not to overheat the plastic. By not overheating the plastic, the salt suspends better. This method works well for senkos, but not that great for creature baits where I found you have to slightly overheat the plastic in order to pour into tight crevices such as the paddles of a brush hog or beaver. The large Lee Pot has the larger spout so I have never had a problem with clogging. Whenever the plastic at the spout solidifies, it just takes a few pumps of the lever to get it flowing again.

JD