CRB Jedis...show me the way....

[layusn1]

Does the lead thermometer have to be a Lyman or is there a cheaper route that is just as good and won't melt?

[jawjaboy]

True CRB's use $300 ones Lenny.

http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g194/jawjaboy/IM000362.jpg


That was given to them. :yesnod:

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[AdamN]

A thermometer isnt a real necessity. It can help at times but if you get your pot set to a good spot there usually good to go.

Your stuff's going out tomorrow ;)

[layusn1]

I'm kinda thinking it might help find that spot a lot quicker and save a lot of frustration up front.

[Fatdaddy]

Just use your finger.:yikes:

[MakeMineaP99]

Then you might Cohutt it.

[Oreo]

Are you asking for casting or for smelting? I would think (but not saying from experience) that casting would be much more sensitive. For the tiny little bit of smelting I've done I didn't find a thermometer necessary. For instance, pure lead melts at a slightly higher temp then WW. So, you've got a reasonable amount of working time between when a pot of WW turns liquid & when it's hot enough to melt pure (stick-on WW) and even more time before it get's unreasonably hot (ie. close to lead's boiling point.) Not to mention that even 25lb of lead will retain heat & stay liquid long enough for you to pour a number of ingots. So, I'm thinking smelting is much less precise work & can be easily done without a thermometer.

[MakeMineaP99]

You're on to something.

[AdamN]

Ive used my thermometer to smelt with, mainly because I have a lid for my lead pot. I put the lid on, (I have a hole drilled in it) Stick in the thermometer, then I know when its ready (about 600 or 650 for WW) and dont have to smell it as much, dont loose as much heat.

Another handy way without a thermometer someone else thought of(smelting) was to drill a hole and just insert a long metal rod (about a foot or so)

The solid WW will suport it but when they melt it will fall down into the pot farther, so when you see the rod drop down you know the stuff is melted.

If I have a pot im going to be casting out of I fill it with lead and calibrate the "knob" with the thermometer. If it goes 0-9 like a Lee pot Ill right down where the critical temps fall. 650, 700, 750, 800 are about all you need.

After that you know where to set it