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Anvil
03-28-2008, 08:48 PM
So I bought a Lymann lead thermometer and I'm watching the degrees rise and I go inside while it's heating up. I come outside and the thermometer has sunk into the lead.

There's your damn thermometer! A metal rod! When it sinks in the lead you know it's ready! Just drill a hole in the lid, Insert a metal rod and when the lead is ready to skim the rod will have lowered itself into the lead. Damn what the thermometer reading says!


This took less than a minute with a dewalt cordless drill.
http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k154/bhpmarkiii/hole.jpg

The lead is still cold. The thermometer reading is unimportant now.
http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k154/bhpmarkiii/thermometerup.jpg


The thermometer has sunk into the lead and it's ready to skim. The thermometer reading is still unimportant.
http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k154/bhpmarkiii/thermometerdown.jpg


I suppose Lymann wouldn't make as much money selling metal rods with LYMANN stamped on the side.
ANeat
03-28-2008, 08:55 PM
Mine drops down before its ready, Gets slushy around 550 or 600. About 650 I pull the lid and start skimming. The main thing with the thermometer is to keep it from getting to hot and possibly melting any Zinc.

Ya also know when NOT to touch it:yikes:
Brass Nazi
03-28-2008, 08:55 PM
You have perfected the "lead thermometer." Now all you have to do is perfect the vaunted "brass magnet.":patriot:
jawjaboy
03-28-2008, 08:56 PM
Purdy as a picture Anvil! Thank ye. :thumbsup:
layusn1
03-28-2008, 09:01 PM
I need to get me one of those. Wouldn't have thought about drilling a hole in the lid of da pot though...thanks for the tip/pics...cool.
Anvil
03-28-2008, 09:20 PM
I need to get me one of those. Wouldn't have thought about drilling a hole in the lid of da pot though...thanks for the tip/pics...cool.

I ripped the idea from another GP'er. Don't recall who gets the credit but it's not me!



Ya also know when NOT to touch it:yikes:

Sure Adam, lets go with that... http://www.glockpost.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1012
layusn1
03-28-2008, 09:24 PM
Well, you did add it to the published database of knowledge for posterities sake so you get props for that...unless the database crashes... :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:
yammerschooner
03-28-2008, 09:27 PM
I am going to break out the cordless drill and a long nail the next time I make it to the shop. Thanks!
Steel Talon
03-28-2008, 11:03 PM
Great day there buddy..

Oh !! On a side note what ever you do when the lead gets to temp. DO NOT touch that thermometer..
ST~:coolgleamA:



















:supergrin:
dbotos
03-28-2008, 11:48 PM
Mine just lives in the Lee 4-20 pot and is nicely cemented in solid lead between casting sessions. Never bothered to use it when casting ingots.
jawjaboy
03-30-2008, 08:11 AM
Probe retainer can be used for smelting as well. Quick connect pedestal to a stouter base, spin on another length of pipe...Shazzaam! :driving:

http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g194/jawjaboy/IM000616.jpg
Anvil
03-30-2008, 07:23 PM
Very nice Jawja! Thats CRB for sure!
Glooooock
05-11-2008, 10:09 AM
I just used a thermometer for the first time in 30 yrs. My little 10 lb Lee pot was running 875 -900 at 3/4 of max ( yes the regulator works ) . Thats a stable temp / full pot / 20 minute heat soak.

Hard to tell what it drops to as I am continually adding and fluxing .:confused:
Anvil
05-11-2008, 01:39 PM
Glooooock, I think the drop temps are "known" by how the bullets look... Frosty means a bit hot. Dull means just right and shiney means you used the FreakShow speed casting technique.
craig110
05-11-2008, 07:48 PM
I just used a thermometer for the first time in 30 yrs. My little 10 lb Lee pot was running 875 -900 at 3/4 of max ( yes the regulator works ) . Thats a stable temp / full pot / 20 minute heat soak.

Hard to tell what it drops to as I am continually adding and fluxing .:confused:

Yikes, that is a high temp! I usually cast when the pot is around 725-750. I've heard that anything over 800 is dangerous (I mean even more dangerous than "just" dealing with molten metal) due to the lead starting to vaporize. At 875-900 I sure hope you have excellent ventilation.
Glooooock
05-11-2008, 09:56 PM
Yikes, that is a high temp! I usually cast when the pot is around 725-750. I've heard that anything over 800 is dangerous (I mean even more dangerous than "just" dealing with molten metal) due to the lead starting to vaporize. At 875-900 I sure hope you have excellent ventilation.

I keep it outside , cast a few hundred and reload the pot ,while I hide inside as it heats up . The alloy I used made frosty bullets at any temp , since I never had whiskers on the bullets / the spur cooled fairly fast . I figured I was 800ish . :yikes:
Glooooock
05-12-2008, 09:07 AM
Glooooock, I think the drop temps are "known" by how the bullets look... Frosty means a bit hot. Dull means just right and shiney means you used the FreakShow speed casting technique.

Before with straight lead , adding antimony and tin they came out like chrome ( too much tin ) . The hardness was 50% of WW . I cant duplicate the shine with WWs .

I cooled it down to get shiny bullets but got round corners and creases . Now with the temp. check I can float at 750 and get a sharp cornered bullet , without burning off all the alloy at higher temps.