Is Flux important and what can I use?

[burbank.jung]

I don't use flux. When I make my lead ingots, I sometimes have wood chips in it from the target stands at most. I just stir up my molten lead alloy, scrape off the slag on the surface and cast using my bottom our lead pot.

 

[waco]

I use sawdust when fluxing alloy to pour ingots. This is a good article to read.

The Simple Act Of Fluxing, A Bullet Casting Feature Article

From the pages of The IHMSA News, Shooting sports, hand gun, ammo, cartridges, xp 100, reloading, firearm, cast bullet, bullet casting and more information articles

www.lasc.us

 

[burbank.jung]

I use sawdust when fluxing alloy to pour ingots. This is a good article to read.

The Simple Act Of Fluxing, A Bullet Casting Feature Article

From the pages of The IHMSA News, Shooting sports, hand gun, ammo, cartridges, xp 100, reloading, firearm, cast bullet, bullet casting and more information articles

www.lasc.us

Thanks for the article!

 

[waco]

Chapter 4 - Fluxing the Melt - A Cast Bullet Guide for Handgunners - Glen E. Fryxell

 

[Rick]

I don't use flux. When I make my lead ingots, I sometimes have wood chips in it from the target stands at most. I just stir up my molten lead alloy, scrape off the slag on the surface and cast using my bottom our lead pot.

Then you are removing things like Sn and Sb, plus whatever you don't want in there is still there. Read the articles posted by Walter and pay attention to words like "reducing" and "removing".

 

[Brad]

I use wood bedding sold for rodents. A bag will last a long time, like decades.

Stir like crazy, bring the nasties to the surface, add a bunch of wood chips, sawdust, whatever. Let it start smoking and ignite. I ignite it to cut down on the smoke. I like to use a spoon to pour lead thru the burning wood and nasties. Keep stirring once it stops burning. I sometimes repeat if I see anything but dirt and ash.

Lots of oxides to reduce back when you add a lot of sprue to the pot.

 

[Spindrift]

I've recently tried a new flux:
Bread crumbs. Whenever I have a heel of some dry bread, I dry it completely and run it in the blender. Works well, and smells nice to! And I don't have to eat that dry, old bread!

 

[Ian]

Dry coffee grounds work too, and smell better than a lot of things.

The bread heel idea is genius.

 

[Brad]

I can’t use bread, my pot is gluten intolerant.

 

[JWFilips]

This is my best document I have on Fluxing Part of it was written by Ian!
It has helped me to become a very good caster! Something I'm not ashamed to say!

 

[RBHarter]

"a few wood target stand chips" ...... That's your loosely translated flux right there .

 

[Snakeoil]

Well, I have to admit that for all the years that I've cast bullet, I've paid little to no attention to fluxing and its fine points. I bought a big container of smoke free flux from Brownell's that was a powder and over the years turned into on solid mass that I smashed up with a hammer and use small chunks to flux my pot. Little did I know that I was stripping the tin out of the mix with this stuff. It will be going in the trash shortly.

Sawdust seems to be the secret to success. My primary question is just how smokey is the stuff. I have built many a fire in my day and sat thru many clouds of campfire smoke when the wind changed. I cast in the basement and suspect that sawdust will be prohibitive in the comfort of my home and will force me out to the garage. I noticed that lighting whent it starts to smoke cuts down on the smoke. Makes sense. Same as lighting the smoke from a candle and it will relight the candle.

Appreciate any input on the smoke issue. Otherwise, sawdust seems to be the way to go.

Thanks.

 

[CWLONGSHOT]

I use pine saw dust for smelting. (Making ingots)

But Bees Wax in my pots.

I like these beads.




ALWAYS FLUX!

And ALWAYS STIR REGULARLY!!

See the alloys do NOT WANT to be mixed a d will continually try to separate. Flux helps all parties get along better.

CW

 

[Snakeoil]

So, does the wax smoke. In the articles it said a puddle of wax on top keep the metals from oxidizing. But would think that wax on top of 600F+ molten lead might smoke.

 

[Rick]

Being that wax is not a flux I don't use it, read the articles, the difference is clearly explained. Wax is a good reductant but clean the alloy? Nope.

 

[Bret4207]

I still use the "stick to stir with and act as a flux" idea. Some people say it doesn't work, but it does for me. You HAVE to flux, no 2 ways about it. If you don't get the crap out of the mix it's going to eventually end up as dross inclusions at the least.

 

[dannyd]

I use a good wooden paint stick because sand dust in Florida will absorb moisture and give you a big surprise when dropped into the pot.

 

[burbank.jung]

I still use the "stick to stir with and act as a flux" idea. Some people say it doesn't work, but it does for me. You HAVE to flux, no 2 ways about it. If you don't get the crap out of the mix it's going to eventually end up as dross inclusions at the least.

Bret, How do you flux with a stick? Do you use a paint stick for example and stir it in molten lead until it burns up?

 

[Brad]

I use a good wooden paint stick because sand dust in Florida will absorb moisture and give you a big surprise when dropped into the pot.

Sprinkle on the surface and let it sit until it begins to smoke. That lets it dry well.
I don’t like to force the wood under the surface and more than needed as it often gets trapped.

Yes, something light like wood ash can get trapped in the melt- the lead is dense enough to hold it under the surface. A really vigorous stir that creates a vortex help bring it to the surface.

 

[Spindrift]

One thing I like about bottom- pouring. It allows me to keep a protective layer of flux on top of the melt during casting. I do some ladle casting as well, as some of my moulds work better that way.