Lee Pro 4-20

Product detailed description

Lee Pro 4-20 is the most popular model of electric lead melting furnace from Lee Precision in the USA. The melting furnace holds up to 9 kg of lead, which it melts in 10-15 minutes depending on the thickness of the lead ingots. The furnace is equipped with infinitely variable temperature control to prevent lead melting. We recommend purchasing an external thermometer to continuously check the melt temperature. When casting is complete, simply turn off the furnace and allow the lead to solidify in the furnace. Melt it by turning the melting furnace back on. The melting furnace has an integrated bottom outlet through which the lead flows in a continuous stream for precision casting of jigs, pilkers and other fishing sinkers. The large capacity of the electric melting furnace ensures a more constant melt temperature than lower range models. The bottom outlet combined with the casting reed support allows for comfortable and fast work. When removing the melt, there is no breakage or inadvertent picking up of slag on the lead surface. 

WARNING: The furnace is not intended for melting zinc, if it is degraded in this way, the warranty will not apply. Lead and its fumes are toxic. Molten lead can cause burns. Use appropriate protective equipment.

TECHNICAL PARAMETERS

• power consumption: 700W
• melting time: 10-15 minutes
• regulated melt temperature
• oven content approx. 9 kg lead
• bottom drain
• supplied without electrical plug

LEE electric melters are the most modern heaters for lead casting. An electric spiral placed directly around the melting tray allows metals to melt quickly with low energy costs that meet current requirements.

CAUTION: Be very careful not to get any water in the molten lead. Even a small drop of liquid will explode and spray hot lead, which can fly a distance of several meters. Wear safety goggles each time you use it. Use the oven only in areas where adequate ventilation is provided. Keep food and drinks out of the work area. Wash hands before eating or smoking. If the furnace is cold, it will probably briefly drip lead from the outlet when heated. Make sure you have a metal tray under the drain to catch these drips. Never hit the valve rod to stop the leak.

CAUTION: Lead smelting and lead casting cause birth defects, other reproductive problems, and cancer. Wear protective clothing to reduce the risk of exposure to lead contamination, which is in the air, dust, and skin and is invisible. Keep children and pregnant women out of the room during oven operation. Risks can be reduced but not completely eliminated: with strong ventilation, washing hands immediately after using the products, before eating or smoking, and cleaning surfaces and floors with disposable wipes after the dust has settled. Use strong ventilation.
When using the furnace, the lead level must not fall below 2/3 of the container. Then there is a risk of irreversible damage to the spiral, which could not be the subject of a complaint. Never leave the oven switched on unless it is 2/3 full of lead. The furnace is designed for lead. By adding zinc to the lead, zinc is deposited on the vessel of the melting furnace and prevents direct heating of the lead, which is another consequence that can lead to spiral burning. Even in this case, we cannot take the complaint into account.

ADJUSTMENT: Place the electric oven on a stable workbench. Do not allow the fan to blow directly on the pot. Plug the power cord into a 220V outlet (outlet) so that you cannot trip over it. Fill the pot with the required amount of lead. Do not overload the furnace with more molten metal than the weight of the furnace. Set the temperature controller to medium. Lead melting will take about 20-30 minutes at 5 kg of lead to 400 degrees Celsius. Once the lead has melted, adjust the temperature setting to the desired position. The characters are only reference numbers and do not indicate the temperature. The high setting on the scale is about 500 degrees Celsius and the low about 240 degrees Celsius. The valve drain may corrode over time or dirt may settle in it. If the valve starts to drip, turn the valve rod back and forth about 10 degrees with a flat-blade screwdriver. This is a sign that there is residual dirt in the furnace or there is corrosion between the valve rod and the seat. Lead should always be clean before we put it in the furnace. A small piece of pea-sized wax works just as well as the grease that the oven lubricates against corrosion. Be prepared for a flame of about 10 cm when the wax is thrown into the oven. From time to time, mix the lead vigorously and scrape the sides and bottom to release the dirt that floats to the surface. Then remove it from the furnace with a suitable tool.

TIPS: Before storing the furnace for a long time, apply WD40 silicone spray to all steel parts. Always leave 1-3 cm of lead in the furnace and let it harden. Lead prevents surface corrosion of the valve.

TROUBLESHOOTING: If lead does not flow out of the drain valve, the reason is that the lead, even if it is already molten on the surface, is still solidified in the drain area. Add one to two degrees on the thermostat and wait 5 minutes. It can also be caused by dirt in the drain. Use protective work aids, a curved paper clip that you hold in your pliers. Use the lever to raise the valve rod and the carefully pierce the drain with a paper clip.