New casting furnace?

[Eric Johanen]

Went to cast bullets yesterday and no heat! My Lyman 10 pound pot has finally given up the ghost! (40 years and tons of metal is pretty good service). I've been thinking about a replacement for some time and would like to hear from those who have the RCBS 20 # or the new Lyman 25# digital control pots. I have always been a bottom pourer and have no problems with weight control using this method and would like to stay with it rather than get into ladle pouring. Which of these two do you prefer? Fortunately, I still have a good supply of bullets so I have some time to make a decision. but I find casting therapeutic and want to get the jump on next season's supply. Any recommendations would be helpful.

[Don McDowell]

Can't help much, but I do like my 20# Lyman pot with the old style dial temp setting. It holds the temp right at 775 all the way thru. I don't use the bottom pour, but it is plenty large that ladle casting isn't a problem.

[Gunlaker]

Eric I have an RCBS 20# pot. I haven't been casting nearly as long as you, maybe 7 or 8 years, but it's the first pot I bought, and it still works well. I have used the bottom pour feature, but later switched to ladle. I like it, and it is better at holding a constant temperature than my Lee pots.

Chris.

[Lumpy Grits]

Can't help much, but I do like my 20# Lyman pot with the old style dial temp setting. It holds the temp right at 775 all the way thru. I don't use the bottom pour, but it is plenty large that ladle casting isn't a problem.

Run the same as Don does. It's KISS and cheap.
What Lyman wants for the digital can buy allot of lead.
Gary

[billydixon]

I bought the RCBS pro melt when they first came out. It holds I believe 22 lbs. I used it hardcore for 10 years and it wouldn't heat up anymore so I sent it back and RCBS sent me a brand new one no charge. I saw that they only give a 2 year warranty on them now. So I called them up about that and they said don't worry about that. It's a great furnace.

[Eric Johanen]

Thank's for the feedback so far. Have not made up my mind as to what replacement to purchase. Today I'm going to check my pot over. Continuity check on the cable and thermostat control. It may be a easy fix but probably not. We will just give it a once over and see if I can spot a obvious problem. I am leaning towards the RCBS for the capacity and the service they are know for.

[powderburner]

its like asking if you like a ford or chevy. they all work . its what you are most comfortable with ,
some do not like the electronic thermostat, my self I built one and like it a lot , it is not affixed to anything I just stick it in whatever pot I am using and it is very nice ,if you feel the electronic thermostat isnt for you ,even the Lee 20#er is a good pot,

[Mike]

I like my Lyman "Big Dipper" with the 10 pound pot well enough to say so. It's just about the right size in my opinion. If I run it dry of lead but want to make more bullets, I'll take a break while another pot full melts. So far I have never made that many bullets all at once. Shoot sharp, Mike

[powderburner]

Mike you need to get cast a little bit more than 10 pounds hat just ain't enough lead to cast enough bullets with

[Mike]

Mike you need to get cast a little bit more than 10 pounds hat just ain't enough lead to cast enough bullets with

Dean, Of course I need to cast more than 10 pounds, just not all at once. I simply take a coffee break in between pot fulls... Shoot sharp, Mike