kjackson Posted November 21, 2013 Posted November 21, 2013 I'm in the market for a new lead-melting apparatus. My old Lee production pot didn't make the move to Arkansas, and now that I'm getting back into tackle tinkering, I want to pour my own jig heads. I'm looking at the Hot Pot ll, but I have no experience with this unit. I don't really see myself getting into serious production, so the small and less expensive melter looks good. Is there anyone out there who has used this or the earlier version? Suggestions? Thanks in advance.
Wayne SW/MO Posted November 21, 2013 Posted November 21, 2013 I'm not familiar with all the pots, but I've always appreciated my Lee with the bottom spout. I used a dip pot before, but thought it was to cumbersome. Today's release is tomorrows gift to another fisherman.
Dutch Posted November 21, 2013 Posted November 21, 2013 For just a few bucks more you can get the production pot IV. Look on Ebay or Amazon. My IV is over 20 years old and has made 10s of 1000s of jigs with only a few parts ordered from Lee over the years. That pot II looks like an accident waiting to happen.
Mitch f Posted November 21, 2013 Posted November 21, 2013 Agree with Dutch "Honor is a man's gift to himself" Rob Roy McGregor
Wayne SW/MO Posted November 21, 2013 Posted November 21, 2013 Yeah I would imagine that it would be a bear to keep the slag under control. Today's release is tomorrows gift to another fisherman.
RSBreth Posted November 22, 2013 Posted November 22, 2013 Another vote for getting a new Lee pot - it's just so much better than the cheap pot that the money isn't even the issue - it's more about quality of your pour and ease of use. I'll scrimp on something if there's no downside but you don't want hot lead spills - which you will get with one of those cheap melters.
Rolan Duffield Posted November 23, 2013 Posted November 23, 2013 I agree with the recommendation for the Lee Pot. Mine is about 30 years old and still works great. If you're pouring small jigs you need this type pot. With the jig mold held against the spout you can pour the lead directly into the mold and keep the lead from being exposed to air. The benefit of this method is that the lead flows into the mold under the pressure and weight of the molden lead for a quick flow to fill the mold. Lead will harden in a fraction of a second when exposed to air. The open pots may work OK for larger jigs. though probably will not be successful for small jigs. You need good contact with the pour spout for optimum success.
Idylwilde Posted November 23, 2013 Posted November 23, 2013 Check Out Do-It Molds online! Take a Child Fishing they are the future of the sport.
Mitch f Posted December 25, 2013 Posted December 25, 2013 FWIW, Cabelas has Lee production pots on sale, making them only $9 more than the Hot Pot II http://www.cabelas.com/product/Fishing/Tackle-Craft/Tools-Molds%7C/pc/104793480/c/104776380/sc/104635980/Lee-Production-Pot/741146.uts?destination=%2Fcatalog%2Fbrowse%2Ftools-molds%2F_%2FN-1100419%2FNs-CATEGORY_SEQ_104635980%3FWTz_l%3DUnknown%253Bcat104793480%253Bcat104776380&WTz_l=Unknown%3Bcat104793480%3Bcat104776380%3Bcat104635980 "Honor is a man's gift to himself" Rob Roy McGregor
kjackson Posted December 31, 2013 Author Posted December 31, 2013 Thanks for that, Mitch. i almost dropped the dime with Cabela's until I discovered that taxes brought it up into the price range of one from Amazon. And if I wanted it shipped, instead of making yet another trip to Rogers, it would have cost more. Amazon got my bucks, and with free shipping, it will be here soon. I probably should have shopped eBay, but since I needed to meet a minimum for free shipping, it was a quick decision.
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