Cleaning production pot?

[burleytog]

Wouldn't stop dripping, so I drained the d**n thing.  Now how should I go about cleaning all of the crud out of it?

[zbass]

Are you talking lead or plastic?

[Jig Man]

I assume you are talking lead.  I clean mine a couple of times each year because of sediment and some rust in the pot.  When I get the lead out I take a small wire brush and brush off the side walls and a screwdriver to clean up the bottom.  If necessary I heat the pot up to clean off the bottom.  Then I use my compressor to blow the junk out of the pot.

If you blow a hot pot, be sure to wear safety glasses and gloves, point the pot away from you and reach around with the air because the stuff will spray out everywhere.

To keep mine going longer I run an old spinnerbait wire up the spout when needed.

[fats69]

Burley

We have all had the dripping pot problem with the Production Pot

My cleaning of the Lee Pot:

When all the lead is out of the pot I WEARING GLOVES tilt it forward to get any remaining lead to flow out the hole, I turn the pot down to about 200 degrees and then with an old 1/4 oz jig with the barb cut off and the wire formed into an L shape I shove it up into the hole from the bottom and remove any clogs/buildup, then I use a piece of spinner wire (I make mepps style spinners) and do the same from the top.

Using channel Locks I then turn the pot off and pull the bar our of the pot and use heavy duty steel wool and wipe it down to get anything off of it and then set it aside to cool.

When the pot cools down use an old flat head screwdriver to scrape the sides of the pot down. I tip the pot over and knock all the scrapings out then use a big piece of steel wool to wipe the inside of the pot till totally clean.  When done put pouring bar back into place in the melter.

Some folks leave lead in their pot from batch to batch pouring but I never have.  

I've done this with every pot I've ever had and it works really well for me, plus when you go to pour again everything is clean and ready to go.  Just keep adjusting for the drip by turning the pouring bar with a flat head screw driver until it stops.  I have a small metal bowel I put under the spout in between pours and it keeps everything neat and cut's down on the splatters.

Hope this helps

Fatman