looky, looky....thermometer stand.

[SSN Vet]

I'm a newby boolit caster and figured I better spring for a thermometer if I'm ever going to figure this "leads to hot, leads to cold" thing out.

picked one up here for short money http://www.surpluscenter.com/sort.asp?numrec=20&lastrec=80&sort=1&search=thermometer&UID=2008071611341470

got to thinking about how to keep it stable in my 20# bottom pour Lee casting pot so...
1. it doesn't tip over
2. I get consistant readings
3. it's easy to insert/remove
4. it's not in the way.

I drafted up a plan and today my "maintenance connection" at work fabricated this from scrap alluminum plate and conduit in about a half hour.



all it is is a stub of 3/4" thick 5" wide aluminum plate cut to 5" and drilled and tapped for 1/2 NPT, a stub of 1/2" aluminum conduit with the end already threaded and another stub of 3/8" plate drilled through to clear the conduit (with a set screw in the side) and drilled and tapped to match the thread on the thermometer.

I'm going to wrap the pipe with hockey stick tape in case it conducts the heat, so I can simply pick up the whole assembly and put int in or out of the pot.

It's good to have friends in high places

 

[TX1911fan]

Nice.

 

[Terminus]

Great design. Hope you don't mind if I borrow it when I finally get up and running on casting.

I still need to gear up. The thermometer source you linked has some great pricing. Which one did you get and how does it compare to a Lyman or RCBS?

 

[SSN Vet]

can't compare as I haven't dipped it in the pot yet....

and...

I haven't tried the others.

 

[dmftoy1]

That's alot prettier than mine! I made mine out of 3/4 inch scrap plywood and it's just a rectangular box with a carriage bolt sticking out of the top with a wing nut and big washer. The RCBS thermometer I have has a copper wire "holder" and it fits over the carriage bolt and the wing nut holds it in place. The only trick was making the box the right height such that the slight amount of droop didn't let the thermometer hit the bottom of the pot. (although washers under the holder allow you to raise it if need be.


Have a good one,
Dave

 

[tiger rag]

First class I like it!

 

[nicholst55]

You should consider marketing them. I think it's a slick idea, personally.