There was a thread on or about Copper...

CWLONGSHOT

Well-Known Member
Sorry I cannot remember if it was a off topic topic or a titled one but I cannot find it.

I was advised to add some stump killer. (Copper sulfate) to get some copper i to my alloy.

I have a pill bottle of the stuff. I also have a pill bottle of copper powder. Real copper pulverized i to a very fine powder.

Can someone recommend a ratio for this addition?
Im thinking if ingatizing (lee 1/2#) the mix so it can be added as a "sweetener" when so needed.
 

Ian

Notorious member
Add root killer (Zep) on top of the pot. About 2 tablespoons per Lee bottom dripper. Let it turn white, then mix in and spoon out ALL the dross powder. Don't breathe it. Whatever tin or zinc is in your alloy will be replaced with copper. 0.2- 0.3% Cu is enough
 

Ian

Notorious member
 

fiver

Well-Known Member
yep 22's are really good at it. [so are smashed plated bullets]
you usually end up with a copper swirl on top of the alloy once it's good and hot, and it needs a titch of fluxing [and some antimony don't hurt] to get it sucked into the alloy.
 

CWLONGSHOT

Well-Known Member
My range lead IS 22 bullet metal 99.8%!! Its off a 22 only indoor range. I say 99.8 because I have found some 9 & 45 fmj copper husks in the slag! I heat till that is powder so everything good should be integrated then slotted spoon sift off then couple chunks of canning or bees wax or big scoop fresh pine saw dust. (Sift again is wood) and pour.

CW
 

BudHyett

Active Member
Sorry I cannot remember if it was a off topic topic or a titled one but I cannot find it.

I was advised to add some stump killer. (Copper sulfate) to get some copper i to my alloy.

I have a pill bottle of the stuff. I also have a pill bottle of copper powder. Real copper pulverized i to a very fine powder.

Can someone recommend a ratio for this addition?
Im thinking if ingatizing (lee 1/2#) the mix so it can be added as a "sweetener" when so needed.
If using Copper Sulfate, the loose radical in solution is -SO4, This radical even mixing with the slight moisture in the air can seriously damage your lungs. Even precautionary steps will not always suffice.

Find another source as suggested above.
 

Ian

Notorious member
@BudHyett , that sounds a lot like what happens when calcium in dross skimmed from car battery lead absorbs moisture from the air and off-gasses very deadly stuff.
 

popper

Well-Known Member
loose radical in solution is -SO4
Not as bad as SO. Been doing this for >4yrs, still kickn.
CuSO4 · 5H2O, the 5H2O boils off. Then you get 3Cu(OH)2 · CuSO4.
O4S- + Water = (O4S- • Water ), simple chemistry.
Yup, you get some rotten egg/sulfur smell. don't dwell on it. Biggest danger is the tinsel fairy.
 

popper

Well-Known Member
I cast in the garage with the overhead door open. Using sulfur is the worst. Or smoking beeswax from fluxing. Actually toluene is more hazardous as it is absorbed through the skin and damages kidneys. Yrs ago I worked on a project that effectively used nerve gas agent. Worked on the leak detection part. Scrubs anything with DNA/RNA out of blood. Interesting project.
 

CWLONGSHOT

Well-Known Member
I also cast in my Garage with back door open and overhead wide open.
Often also using a 36" powerful fan as well.


Id still do this in the open air IF I DO, do it.

CW
 

GRMPS

Active Member
You can get copper from alloying with

Babbitt Bearing Grade 3 Super Tough Alloy Ingot​

This Grade 3 Super Tough Babbitt Bearing Alloy consists of approximately 84% Tin, 8% Copper, and 8% Antimony. The melting temperature is 464 F.


I've heard that very fine copper wire or thin copper shim stock will melt when smelting.
I don't see why your copper powder wouldn't work

I smelted a bunch of monotype/foundry alloy with the tiny copper spacers in it and sent a sample to BNE on CB and he XRF's it getting these results
SAMPLE..... LEAD.......TIN...ANTIMONY COPPER
1.................. 72.00....... 9.4....... 17.6...............1.0
2.................. 73.00....... 9.4....... 16.7................ .9