Well, I have a fair amount of oxidation and such on the walls of my bottom pour pot and I need to clean out the spout as well.

What technique do most folks go by when dealing with these issues? Disassemble them all the way down and then use a wire brush to completely prep the surface?

Should I "coat" the walls with something like olive oil or such to prevent corrsion in the future?

Well, I have a fair amount of oxidation and such on the walls of my bottom pour pot and I need to clean out the spout as well.

What technique do most folks go by when dealing with these issues? Disassemble them all the way down and then use a wire brush to completely prep the surface?

Should I "coat" the walls with something like olive oil or such to prevent corrsion in the future?


Nothing you are going to coat it with isn't going to burn and add more crust. I just drain the pot, let it cool, take out the valve assembly, and hand wire brush the "buggers" off; never have tried for polished. Just want the worst of the crud to stop breaking free and flating to the top in scabs.

Keeping the pot full won't help..lead shrinks just enough to let mositure creep in.

Keeping the pot full won't help..lead shrinks just enough to let mositure creep in.After cleaning the pot until you're satisfied, try storing it indoors where it's dry after use.

Ditto to what ribbonstone said. After you're done using the pot, fill the pot to the top with lead and let it cool in the pot. The lead will seal off any oxygen onto the side of the pot. If you're not going to cast for a while, find a suitable military ammo can that will accomodate your pot and throw in a moisture absorber.

I occasionally use a a scraper and wire brush to clean mine, but I've seen recently that a lot of guys are filling their empty Lee pots half way with water, then plugging the unit in and bringing it to a boil by setting the thermostat at around #4. I haven't tried this, but they say it works great.

Being natural born lazy, I just use a hard wood dowel -- 3/8's X18 inches, with the pot full of lead, I just rub the sides, and scrape the bottom on an occasional basis. This breaks loose almost everything which floats to the surface, and is skimed off. By doing this I have never had to clean my pot, and as the dowel carbonizes it also help flux the melt. Sound too simple to work, just try it you'll be sold. DM

I am a new bullet caster with a Lee pot. It is less than a year old. I recall that the instruction said to use WD-40 or similar during storage. I did! Just now looked at it and found that it looks just as it did last fall when I used it last. It is stored in my reloading room/shop in the basement of my home. That is all I can offer at this time.
Cheezywan

I just cleaned mine by boiling water in it and it did an unbelievable job of it!

I had read this thread over on Cast Boolits... Cleaning Lee Pot (http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=6033&highlight=cleaning+lee+pot) so followed the advice from it. The boiling did a super job as stated in my last post of that thread.

Being natural born lazy, I just use a hard wood dowel -- 3/8's X18 inches, with the pot full of lead, I just rub the sides, and scrape the bottom on an occasional basis. DMOne of my shooting pards does the basically the same thing with wood paint stir sticks that he gets for free at his local paint store. He says they work great and the price is right.

One of my shooting pards does the basically the same thing with wood paint stir sticks that he gets for free at his local paint store. He says they work great and the price is right.

I just recently started using paint stirrers after using dowels or pieces of trim for years. Like your friend says, the price is right. Suggest to your friend that he should ask the help for the big ones they keep under the counter. Twice as thick, half again as wide and still free. ;)

Clean you lead pot??!!? :rolleyes: Hm what a concept! You guys got me feeling guilty now. :o I haven't drained mine in over 15 years. Just keep putting more lead in, skimming the crud and casting bullets. :D

RJ

As a new caster, I find myself torn between Ranch Dog and Recoil Junky? I have not yet found an issue with my Lee pot. Clean is good in my mind. I use only clean ingots in it though! :confused:
The "meat" of this thread lies there.
Cheezywan

Clean you lead pot??!!? :rolleyes: Hm what a concept! You guys got me feeling guilty now. :o I haven't drained mine in over 15 years. Just keep putting more lead in, skimming the crud and casting bullets. :D

RJ

Know several shooters like that. So longas you ae using the same alloy time after time, ignoring cleaning is proably just as acceptable (you'll skim a bit more, and run a bit higher risk of bullets with crud stuck in them).


IF you tend to change alloy...pure lead for muzzle loaders, rock hard for hi.vel. rifles...medium for standard handguns...then as long as you got to empty it befor filling it up agin, may as well scrape out the crust.

Well, I just did it. Twice. It was a nice warm dry day here. The lawn got mowed and I got past two oil changes. Grilled chicken for dinner.

I drained the pot by pouring from the top. I used leather gloves.
I poured water from my canteen into the pot while it was still warm. PSSSSS. Set to 5 and run. I got a good boil going and dumped in the driveway. I filled with water again and repeated.
Water was dumped and pot was left inverted in the sunshine until dry. I gave it a good sprits of WD- 40 and put away.
I see no harm. No gain from all of this? I will admit it was a near new pot!
Cheezywan

Clean the pot? Happens every time I use it.

I coated it years ago with collodial graphite in isoprophol alcohol (sold by some as mould prep) and it has stayed that way for 25 years, a dull black finish.

I never leave the pot filled, I drain it each use. No chance of unseen moisture buildup/accumulation and its easier to move around, I have moved to many times (military and all).

A quick wire brush job after draining and ignore it till next use (or move).

Unless I am melting scrap lead into ingots, then I have to clean the crude buildup in the metering hole occasionally......