New RCBS Pro Melt 2

Brad

Benevolent Overlord and site owner
Staff member
Does the new ProMelt COME WITH THE PID? Or did the user put the PID in the case himself?
I saw it in the first pic, assumed it was a user installation.....and didn't like the idea of electronics in
the same box as gets super hot right next to it. I agree that the electronics will live a lot longer when
cooler in a separate box.

Bill
This is as shipped by RCBS. They put the PID in the housing with the pot. My understanding is that it includes a cooling fan and you keep it plugged in after shutting it down so the fan can continue to run until the pot is cool.
 

Rick

Moderator
Staff member
Matt, have you ever used a PID pot with nothing stuck inside to interfere with fluxing, stirring and ladle casting. Try it just once and you just might change your thoughts on this.
 

dannyd

Active Member
Does the new ProMelt COME WITH THE PID? Or did the user put the PID in the case himself?
I saw it in the first pic, assumed it was a user installation.....and didn't like the idea of electronics in
the same box as gets super hot right next to it. I agree that the electronics will live a lot longer when
cooler in a separate box.

Bill

The new one comes with the PID.
 

mattw

Active Member
Matt, have you ever used a PID pot with nothing stuck inside to interfere with fluxing, stirring and ladle casting. Try it just once and you just might change your thoughts on this.
Nope... But, I still think it is wrong to regulate the element temperature as it does not reflect the melt temperature accurately. For example if you add 5 or 6 sprues to the pot that will likely never see the drop in temp, but checking temp in pot will reflect that change. Plus, that element is much different than the old Pro that I have. The heating element in the old unit heats up the sides of the pot, better distribution of heat, or at least more uniform. The only drawback I see with the tall element is that if you run the pot low the sidewalls get really hot.
 

Brad

Benevolent Overlord and site owner
Staff member
With the 40# Magma pot there is no adding spruces. I can cast until the ladle is showing at the surface of the melt and still get 4-450 200 swc. With most mounds I need a break by then anyway.
 

Pistolero

Well-Known Member
Amazed that RCBS went with the PID....they must have spies over at the other site.:)

Who knows, maybe even here. If they were smart they would be doing it.

Bill
 

Rick

Moderator
Staff member
Bill, Brad posted a picture of the Magma in post #17 of this thread, here is mine mounted on a wood stand I made it for it. Only other thing here not standard is the oak handle that I added. The control box here is under the pot but can be placed anywhere convenient around the pot. It's not mounted to the side of a pot hot enough to melt the solder out of the electronics. The cable coming from the left side is wiring to control box. The temp sensor is attached on the bottom outside center.

DSCN2034-small.jpg
 

Pistolero

Well-Known Member
OK, I did not realize that the PID was now becoming something that the pot suppliers were
including. I saw the PID in Brad's comment about "in a separate box" bit didn't realize what
exactly I was looking at. I had assumed that any PID was a user added option. Silly me.
Thanks, Rick.

And no doubt, putting the PID in separate box seems much smarter....but there is the long term
risk of wire damage with ham fisted users that some makers have to think about.

Bill
 
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Rick

Moderator
Staff member
Magma will sell the pot with or without the PID, sell the PID separately or installed. The cable is wrapped in a nylon sleeve, I doubt it's possible to make anything completely bullet proof. Some people can ruin anything.
 

mattw

Active Member
Magma will sell the pot with or without the PID, sell the PID separately or installed. The cable is wrapped in a nylon sleeve, I doubt it's possible to make anything completely bullet proof. Some people can ruin anything.
That is a manly pot! I only can wish I had one. Many years back I helped a good friend running the automated Magma casters, he had 2 of them. They were a sight to behold in operation.
 

Rick

Moderator
Staff member
Matt, you can buy the pot alone with or without PID or the pot with the automatic casting machine. The machine is right pricey unless you plan on going into the casting business.
 

KeithB

Resident Half Fast Machinist
I've thought about what would be a top notch universal casting furnace, If I were going to make one I would make the PID separate from the furnace. Extend a connector from the sides of the pot and have the PID be a plug-in unit. Eliminate the cables, just have a dedicated connector. Make it so it could work w/o the PID. Put a connector on BOTH side of the pot and the proper top hardware so both the handle and PID could be flipped left-right. Make the pour spout replaceable or at least threaded on the OD for a cap so it could be used for ladle casting.
 

CZ93X62

Official forum enigma
If my current (1988-made) RCBS Pro-Melt ever clips the mortal coil, I really like that Magma Engineering bottom-pour furnace. pricey? YES--but you only live once, and that Magma looks just about bullet-proof. I only paid $50 for the RCBS in 2003, so I already got a DEAL on the first real furnace. That PM II looks a whole lot like a Lee furnace that costs a whole lot less money. Buckshot just bought one of these PM IIs, he likes it well enough, and he described the cool-down cycle as not a big thing. I got by with a couple Lee furnaces for a number of years. They did all right, for what they are and the price charged for them. A good furnace spoils ya rotten, though.