bottom of the valve rod

[smokyCMP]

Anyone have any good ideas of what to use around the bottom of the valve rod to stir up what matter might be lurking there? Just cleaned out my pot and you sure as heck aren't going to be getting anything out of there with a spoon. Wasn't a lot there but don't need anything there either!

[TomAM]

Cleaning your bottom pour spout?
Bend a large paper clip wire and scrape the pour hole with it while the valve is open with lead pouring out.

[Dusty Bannister]

Most common problem is failing to use clean alloy in the casting furnace, and then failing to adequately flux and stir the melt to allow the debris in the bottom the pot to rise to the top. This dirt does not always float but can be trapped by the weight of the melt. What are you using to flux, and what are you using to stir the melt well?

[hc18flyer]

I periodically use the correct sized drill bit held by a small tap wrench to clean out my spout. I use a square piece of wood to scrape the bottom and sides of my Lee 4-20 pot before casting and occasionally while adding alloy during casting. Works for me, hc18flyer

[jsizemore]

You might try a bore brush by hand and some light probing, scraping with the pot laying on it's side.

[Winger Ed.]

I use a paper clip or piece of MIG wire.
Hold it with pliers & a glove, open the valve, and poke it up into the pot a few times.

I emptied and cleaned my pro-melt one time.
Then asked my self why I felt the need to do that instead of stir/scraping the sides & bottom with old screw driver.
That was in the 90s and I haven't emptied it again since then.

[Rich/WIS]

Think he means area between the rod and the side of the pot, I'm like Winger Ed and use an old screwdriver. Anything long and thin will work. When I'm done casting and have drained the pot there is still a bit of alloy in the bottom so I tip the pot back a little and prop it up, then use the screw driver to drag alloy away from the rod and spout.

[Minerat]

I use a wood paint stirrer to scrape the walls and bottom.

[Hick]

Cleaning your bottom pour spout?
Bend a large paper clip wire and scrape the pour hole with it while the valve is open with lead pouring out.

Bingo! (sounds messy but thats what I do and it works!)

[Froogal]

I use a paper clip or piece of MIG wire.
Hold it with pliers & a glove, open the valve, and poke it up into the pot a few times.

I emptied and cleaned my pro-melt one time.
Then asked my self why I felt the need to do that instead of stir/scraping the sides & bottom with old screw driver.
That was in the 90s and I haven't emptied it again since then.

I use a table knife. Scrape along the sides and as much as I can at the bottom, and then skim off the dross. Has made a big difference in how much dripping there is.

[Winger Ed.]

I use a wood paint stirrer to scrape the walls and bottom.

I used to.
But it can be so humid here, the wood traps moisture.
I've stuck it into the pot a time or two --- and it didn't decorate the ceiling, but it sure tried.
After that I switched over to metal for stirring.

[Petander]

I use a paper clip or piece of MIG wire.
Hold it with pliers & a glove, open the valve, and poke it up into the pot a few times.

I emptied and cleaned my pro-melt one time.
Then asked my self why I felt the need to do that instead of stir/scraping the sides & bottom with old screw driver.
That was in the 90s and I haven't emptied it again since then.

I asked myself the same question in early 2000's. Never emptied my Pro Melt ever since.

I also use a paper clip every now and then, never had a real dripping problem.

But I clean my (already cleaned when melted WW) alloy when I make ingots. Flux with beeswax and sawdust.

[William Yanda]

Without totally cleaning the pot, knowing that there is stuff under the alloy, if you tipped the pot so the valve was on the high side, the debris would settle to the other side of the pot. Not having debris included in your boolets, or interfering with the valve is a good thing.

[jsizemore]

Icing spatula.