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Can anyone recommend a reasonably priced thermometer for use when casting lead bullets rather than having to resort to the products marketed by the reloading manufacturers?
Thanks JohnE.

If you have a multimeter that can measure temperature you may be able to plug a thermocouple into it and use that. That's what I do, for a total cost of about twenty quid.

I use an infrared thermometer that I already had. It works well.

I use one of these:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/p/Digital-Thermo ... /858387670

Not bad for 13 quid. :)

I built myself a PID controller years ago, the parts were more expensive than a normal thermometer but its benefits far exceed the cost.

For years my temperature indicator was how a piece of match stick behaved on top of the melt, but when long range shooting requirements meant that high quality control was necessary then the PID was the only way to go keeping the alloy at a consistent temperature for me meant I was able to concentrate on my casting.

I also use a thermometer fitted to my moulds to help me keep my moulds at the best temp range too, what all this means is more consistent bullets which means less rejects and your pot time becomes more productive. At the end of the day it is down to what you want from your cast bullets.

An accurate thermometer can help in identifying certain alloys.

Thanks to all for your help.
JohnE

Lyman have arrived into the 21st century with a digital thermometer at £30ish. I have one and it seems fine.

dromia wrote:I built myself a PID controller years ago...

What, Dromia using tekkernoloji ? What is the world coming to ? *Mind boggles*

We thought a rufty tufty owd caster like you would just dip a thumb in the pot and give it a lick...