I plan to use my electric, bottom pour "Lee Production Pot" lead melting pot for nitre blueing.

If I can find a probe thermometer of the appropriate (500-800 degree F ?)temperature range, I would feel a lot more confident in getting consistant results.

I have one for melting Cerrosafe, but thats just a candy thermometer & doesn't go near high enough.

Midway has Lyman & RCBS bullet casting thermometers. It looks like the RCBS is the better of the 2 by the reviews.

Anyone have any experience W/these or other brands?

A lot of multimeters nowadays have a thermocouple probe with them, just put the probe in a small metal tube (piece of old brake line, etc) and use the temp setting on the meter.

Personally I'd use a hot plate and a stainless pot instead of a lead pot as you might get some contamination issues with the pot and old lead interaction.

Have you considered using a digital temp meter with a "K type" thermocouple? Better accuracy and you can keep the meter away from the heat.

For that matter you wouldn't even need the t-couple, just a piece of "K type" lead wire with the "wet end" twisted together (the 2 types of wire create a small voltage, that changes with temperature, where they make contact.

http://www.grainger.com/Graing...er%20Testing-_-3LXX9


From Grainger:



Multimeter, Temperature, Battery Test, Temp. Range -4 to 1400 F, 2000 Count LCD Display, Data Hold, Battery Type 9V, Includes Rubber Holster, Test Leads, Battery, Bead Wire Temperature Probe, Instruction Manual
Grainger Item # 3LXX9
Price (ea.) $22.56
Brand EXTECH
Mfr. Model # MN35
Ship Qty. 1
Sell Qty. (Will-Call) 1
Ship Weight (lbs.) 0.6
Usually Ships** 1-3 Days
Catalog Page No. N/A
Country of Origin
(Country of Origin is subject to change.) China

OK I have one of these.



The temperature range is 0-32F/32-750F/760-1800F

Problem is I got this from my son & I'm not sure if there is a temperatuer probe W/it.

I saw a temperature probe on e-bay for $4. It looks like it woild work for this meter, but it is a different model # than what is listed in the manual.



Will all "K" type probes work?.

My turkey fryer came with one that reads hot enough. Just a dial on a 10" stick with a clip for the edge of the pot.

What about an Infared thermometer.
Butch

Typically multimeters run on K type TC's so that should work fine. Just be sure it's rated for the range you are measuring. That craftsman meter is probably a relabeled extech or something

quote:

Originally posted by kcstott:
Typically multimeters run on K type TC's so that should work fine. Just be sure it's rated for the range you are measuring. That craftsman meter is probably a relabeled extech or something

I just got off the phone W/my son & he said the thermocouple was locked up in his toolbox out in the shed.

Looks like I'm good to go.

Harbor Freight has a multimeter that is often on sale for about $20 that has the K type thermocouple and goes up to about 700C.