Great review, mine, I bought it new from a sporting goods liquidator over the internet, I waited many years before finding one that was affordable. I believe you are correct in your statement about the cost of manufacturing them and what RCBS had to sell them for. they are extra heavy duty in construction and very close to Lab quality. -Dave
Does look like like a good solid rig. I've got a Lee unit, and it does exhibit the flaws you would expect from a budget product. Still, it does work. My big issue currently is the change over from lead to zinc in wheel weights, my primary raw lead source.
I've a Lee 4-20 unit that I've had for six or seven years, it works well except that it drips a lot. As for wheel weight materials about half a pail of them around here are now zinc or steel and not lead.
I bought one of the original models like yours still NIB and yes even waiting for a good price I think I paid around $250 U.S. for it. I am just now starting to get serious enough about casting to fire it up in a couple of weeks after I get all my materials in. I see they offer a top cover and a better rest for the bottom now.
Oh just an FYI. Those switches are installed by pushing them in from the outside. They have spring loaded clips that snap into place. You can find these at most electronic stores or online for fairly cheap. Just get a small flat screw driver and start prying out from the top of the switch. You probably will destroy it getting it out but who cares at that point. Swap over the the wires and push the new one in. Easy peasy.
I just bought one second hand but it looks brand new!!! It’s my 2nd furnace, I have the Pro Melt 2 so I’ll let ya know what I think of the original in comparison when I get it
Just got a free one. Didn't really understand the handle was up some. It dripped about twice before 10-15 pounds came out. I caught half in a pan and a dog bowl. The top was still solid. Not sure if it it got knocked over and the slug moved up a bit or what. Gigantic mess, it's been a week and I've got about half cleaned-up. Needed it empty, I'm not casting lead. You can make bismuth crystals or other low temp alloys. I failed casting pewter into cutlery handles and have been fooling with things like cerrotru 281° for a while. I've got a few pounds of tin. Could make some toy soldiers or something. I'll be selling it though, later. A bottle a gas has been just fine till now, just couldn't let it get tossed in the trash. Maybe I should've considered the mess now. I was sitting at it too and had a pan. It knocked the pan up when it came out. Ruined my clothes and burned my hands all over in spatter. Was wearing glasses thankfully, it was in my hair and up to the ceiling in a 7 foot in a bunch of directions. The start of it immediately hardened and deflected the worst to one side of me. Completely coated my small parts drawers and bench.
Wow, that sounds like the kind of "excitement" we would all like to avoid. It does sound like it suffered a fall and got damaged. Glad to hear you were not seriously injured and that your place did not burn down as a result. This is a good incident to have in mind especially for anyone who picks up a second hand unit, they might want to run it for the first time somewhere that could tolerate a failure, perhaps outside on a concrete surface.
Interesting...will have to keep my eye out for one of those on the secondhand market. What scale do you use to weigh out your powder charges? Electronic vs balance beam? Thanks
For may years I used a Lyman 505 beam scale, but a couple years ago I purchased an electronic scale/dispenser unit, a Lyman compact digital powder system. I quite like the digital scale/dispenser unit, and it gets a lot of use.
I have no issues with the Brownells Marvelux, it works as it's supposed to. You need only a tiny portion of the stuff, not people who dont like it use far too much of the stuff.
Mine was bought second hand for about 1/2 the cost of a new one and was in almost new condition, so there are deals that can be had if you keep looking.
I doubt they will as the market for 20 gauge slugs is much smaller than that for 12 gauge. If they ever do it would be nice if they did something different than their "drive key" slug design. Perhaps they could do something like the Russians are doing with slug designs.
I liked your presentation except for that bottle of Marvelux on the table, NEVER use it in a bottom pour furnace! It will plug the spout and turns into a hard glass like plug. It works well in a cast iron pot that you use a dipper with.
I've been using Marvelux in bottom pour furnaces for over 30 years with no such issues. The key is to use only a tiny amount, and to sprinkle it on as a powder and then stir in and take the dross off.
I got into casting even before i picked up reloading. Also because of tedious bureaucracy with powder license in Germany. But upfront i noticed that commercial bullets are just too expensive. I run 6 cavity molds and tumble lube them. No sizing. No handling of individual bullets. Easy. Today a friend told me he has an old promelt left over for free for me, he was leaving the hobby because of tedious regulatory issues in Germany. I am excited to see how it compares to my Lee bottom pour pot.
Great review, mine, I bought it new from a sporting goods liquidator over the internet, I waited many years before finding one that was affordable. I believe you are correct in your statement about the cost of manufacturing them and what RCBS had to sell them for. they are extra heavy duty in construction and very close to Lab quality. -Dave
The last price I could find on line in the USA was $369, pretty expensive when you can get a Lee 20 pound unit for $100.
Dave, I see you everywhere haha. Do you have the pro melt 2 by any chance? I JUST bought one and I’m looking for opinions
Does look like like a good solid rig. I've got a Lee unit, and it does exhibit the flaws you would expect from a budget product. Still, it does work. My big issue currently is the change over from lead to zinc in wheel weights, my primary raw lead source.
I've a Lee 4-20 unit that I've had for six or seven years, it works well except that it drips a lot. As for wheel weight materials about half a pail of them around here are now zinc or steel and not lead.
I bought one of the original models like yours still NIB and yes even waiting for a good price I think I paid around $250 U.S. for it. I am just now starting to get serious enough about casting to fire it up in a couple of weeks after I get all my materials in. I see they offer a top cover and a better rest for the bottom now.
$250 was a good deal on a NIB example. I think I paid $200 for mine used about 25 years ago.
Oh just an FYI. Those switches are installed by pushing them in from the outside. They have spring loaded clips that snap into place. You can find these at most electronic stores or online for fairly cheap. Just get a small flat screw driver and start prying out from the top of the switch. You probably will destroy it getting it out but who cares at that point. Swap over the the wires and push the new one in. Easy peasy.
Thanks for that info, I'm sure it will come in handy when it stops working again. I've been doing a lot of casting lately for some strange reason.....
No problem. Hope it helps.
Definitely a better unit than the current model.
I have never seen one of the new units in person, but they do look like a lighter and cheaper furnace.
I just bought one second hand but it looks brand new!!! It’s my 2nd furnace, I have the Pro Melt 2 so I’ll let ya know what I think of the original in comparison when I get it
Nice. My second furnace is a 20 pound Lee unit, it's OK but it's not as nice as the RCBS.
I've had mine since 1983.Ill cry when it dies.
The only real issue with these is the power switch, and those can be replaced, You'll most likely never have any issues with yours.
Gungeek was showing his yesterday,I have a love-hate relationship with my Lee 4-20.
I have a Lee 4-20 as well and it's good except that it is quite prone to dripping.
Just got a free one. Didn't really understand the handle was up some. It dripped about twice before 10-15 pounds came out. I caught half in a pan and a dog bowl. The top was still solid. Not sure if it it got knocked over and the slug moved up a bit or what.
Gigantic mess, it's been a week and I've got about half cleaned-up.
Needed it empty, I'm not casting lead. You can make bismuth crystals or other low temp alloys. I failed casting pewter into cutlery handles and have been fooling with things like cerrotru 281° for a while.
I've got a few pounds of tin. Could make some toy soldiers or something.
I'll be selling it though, later. A bottle a gas has been just fine till now, just couldn't let it get tossed in the trash. Maybe I should've considered the mess now. I was sitting at it too and had a pan. It knocked the pan up when it came out. Ruined my clothes and burned my hands all over in spatter. Was wearing glasses thankfully, it was in my hair and up to the ceiling in a 7 foot in a bunch of directions. The start of it immediately hardened and deflected the worst to one side of me. Completely coated my small parts drawers and bench.
Wow, that sounds like the kind of "excitement" we would all like to avoid. It does sound like it suffered a fall and got damaged. Glad to hear you were not seriously injured and that your place did not burn down as a result. This is a good incident to have in mind especially for anyone who picks up a second hand unit, they might want to run it for the first time somewhere that could tolerate a failure, perhaps outside on a concrete surface.
Interesting...will have to keep my eye out for one of those on the secondhand market.
What scale do you use to weigh out your powder charges? Electronic vs balance beam? Thanks
For may years I used a Lyman 505 beam scale, but a couple years ago I purchased an electronic scale/dispenser unit, a Lyman compact digital powder system. I quite like the digital scale/dispenser unit, and it gets a lot of use.
How do you like that flux next to your casting pot? I never used it but it has a bad name on cast Boolets with a few people liking it.
I have no issues with the Brownells Marvelux, it works as it's supposed to. You need only a tiny portion of the stuff, not people who dont like it use far too much of the stuff.
That's what the people that like it say. I cast outside so wood chips work fine for me.
I want one. This is as close as I'm going to get .darn it.
Mine was bought second hand for about 1/2 the cost of a new one and was in almost new condition, so there are deals that can be had if you keep looking.
Off topic. Is Lee ever gonna make 20ga mold?
I doubt they will as the market for 20 gauge slugs is much smaller than that for 12 gauge. If they ever do it would be nice if they did something different than their "drive key" slug design. Perhaps they could do something like the Russians are doing with slug designs.
@@314299 I agree. I really like the looks of the Russian. Medved.
I liked your presentation except for that bottle of Marvelux on the table, NEVER use it in a bottom pour furnace! It will plug the spout and turns into a hard glass like plug. It works well in a cast iron pot that you use a dipper with.
I've been using Marvelux in bottom pour furnaces for over 30 years with no such issues. The key is to use only a tiny amount, and to sprinkle it on as a powder and then stir in and take the dross off.
I think the first time I've seen this model was in a movie about a werewolf priest with Gary Busey.
Casting silver bullets I assume?
Wow! If something from 1987 is old , what the hell am I? Actually don't answer that.
Older? Haha, could not resist.
Nice😁 But I have my back to tell me that!
Want to sell it
Nope.
I never got into casting
I started casting around 40 years ago. Bullets for my rifles and handguns are one thing I never have to worry about having.
It's not for everyone. Many folks are just as well off purchasing commercial cast bullets.
I got into casting even before i picked up reloading. Also because of tedious bureaucracy with powder license in Germany. But upfront i noticed that commercial bullets are just too expensive. I run 6 cavity molds and tumble lube them. No sizing. No handling of individual bullets. Easy. Today a friend told me he has an old promelt left over for free for me, he was leaving the hobby because of tedious regulatory issues in Germany. I am excited to see how it compares to my Lee bottom pour pot.
First
:-)