Lead Pot Distillery...It's all about the Head!

[rbertalotto]

Snowing here AGAIN in Southeastern Massachusetts so I hit the shop and built something I've wanted to build for years. A Double Lead Pot "Distillery......
Pictures and verbiage are on my web site

http://www.rvbprecision.com



Hope you like it!

[jhrosier]

Looks like a handy rig, Roy.
Do you have problems with the Lee pots leaking?
I've been tempted to replace my ancient Lyman with a Lee but for the many complaints of leaks & drips.

Jack

[AJMD429]

Cool. I love projects like that...!

[rbertalotto]

Every once in a while you need to give the top of the stopper a couple turns with the screw driver to clear off any gunk on the seal between the stopper and spout.

One pot has a metal handle that puts a bunch of weight on the seal. The other one came with a wood handle that doesn't weigh as much.

The wood handle pot will drip maybe once or twice during a casting session. The metal handle pot rarely drips.

One of these days I'll make a heavy steel handle for the "dripper".....

[jhrosier]

I've thought more than once about making some sort of foot pedal contraption to control the flow of alloy.
It would free one hand and allow the use of a heavier weight or spring to keep the pot from dripping.

Jack

[Griff]

My Lyman holds 20lbs. But, even with that I wish I had a way to add pre-heated lead to keep production rate more consistent. Waitin' while the new ingots melt and the pot comes back up to temp is a waste of time. I do tend to do a little lubri-sizing, but it seems as tho' I never have the right die set up!

[hondo1892]

The drippy Lee pots are good for making drop shot. You can set it to drip with the screw and put a cup of water under the spout to catch and cool the drips. They are multi use lead pots.

[Bronco]

Kewl project!

But my molds from LBT have a sprue plate that allows the mold to be held 1" or 2" from the spout and puddle. The sprues are about the size of a quarter for each cavity. I think the head issue is resolved by them for me.

To preheat the ingots.. If permissible in the household.. place in oven at 375 or so. to get ahead of the initial heating. Use channel locks or what ever and carry them to the pot. Works for me!

John