Runaway temperature

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Old Scribe
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Runaway temperature

Post by Old Scribe »

Hello guys! I've been away for a bit, but have passed through a time or two. I simply had a few changes in my life's routine and took on two small jobs that weren't small. I was retired there for a bit.

Anyway I decided to cast some .38 special wad cutters in a new mold I hadn't tried.
After heating up my Lee bottom pour, bullet mold, and checking the temperature I wanted to use, I cast about 75 bullets when I notice the temperature was starting to increase. I turned it down to where I wanted it and resumed casting.

Long story shortened, the temp would not hold and kept rising-turn it back down-kept rising. I've had no trouble with this pot over the 15 plus years save an occasional dripping spout. Could the rheostat be bad?

Good to be back!!
Steve
"Well here's another nice mess you've gotten me into." Oliver Hardy
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Re: Runaway temperature

Post by larryw »

Howdy Old Scribe, good to see 'ya again.
Yea, that would be my guess, pretty simple setup,
nothing else in there ????
I was just think this morning about firing up my pot
& restocking my wadcutters. I love my little Ideal
2 banger, 148gr button nose.
A day late & A dollar short? Story of my life +guns
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Re: Runaway temperature

Post by AlaskanGuy »

checkout that rheostat... like Larry says.. aint much to em, but I have never heard of this before. heard of them not heating up or dropping temps.. not increasing.. anything is possible.
Any technology, not understood, can seem like magic....
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Re: Runaway temperature

Post by horseman »

Sounds kinda normal to me. Been a few years since I had a Lee pot but I seem to remember I'd turn it up all the way to get to temp. (using a Lyman Thermometer) then I would spend the rest of the pot full turning it down a bit, but only to a point (maybe around three towards the end ?) but if I added alloy or sprues back in as I was going along I may possibly have to turn it back up :D . However, not seeing how your pot is acting this is merely an account of how the one I had reacted. I did have a rheostat go bad in my first Lee 4-20 pot but it wouldn't heat. Pretty simple system. You'll get if figured out and back to working. ;)
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Re: Runaway temperature

Post by Old Scribe »

Thanks Guys! I ordered and received very quickly a new rheostat and installed it. Now we're cooking 140 gr SWC's and back in business.
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Re: Runaway temperature

Post by Old Scribe »

:t Thanks to Titan for the fast service too!
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Re: Runaway temperature

Post by larryw »

Old Scribe wrote:Thanks Guys! I ordered and received very quickly a new rheostat and installed it. Now we're cooking 140 gr SWC's and back in business.
Yea buddy,,, Now your cooking with gas??? Er,, Uh,, I mean electricity???
I know, I know??? Shut up Larry ...
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