Casting Flux? - The Firearms Forum

steve4102 · 08-26-2012, 07:36 AM

What do you guys use to flux your lead? I have read everything from wood to wax to commercial fluxes. Help me narrow it down please.

jack404 · 08-26-2012, 07:43 AM

green wood with natural oils and waxes is very good baking soda will also draw impurities and bind with them and make slag , you have to mix all fluxes through for them to work and thats what a lot of folks mix, they toss it in and give a little stir , its got to meet as much metal as possible to get all the junk out especially mercury or cadmium , so stir well for best results

gdmoody · 08-26-2012, 08:00 AM

I use old used birthday candles. When we have a grandchild's birthday and we put candles on the cake, after they are blown out, I take them and keep them for flux. I will use 1/3 to 1/2 of the candle per pot. Seems to work pretty good for me. I have 6 grandchildren from 2 to 18 so there are always candles available.

steve4102 · 08-26-2012, 08:30 AM

I have a few 5 gal buckets of wheel weights. Most are lead, some are not. What is the best/quickest way to weed out the non-lead weights? So far I have been pinching them with a diagonal cutter checking for softness, what a PIA.

gun-nut · 08-26-2012, 09:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by steve4102

I have a few 5 gal buckets of wheel weights. Most are lead, some are not. What is the best/quickest way to weed out the non-lead weights? So far I have been pinching them with a diagonal cutter checking for softness, what a PIA.

Grab a magnet that will find the steel ones. Most have the type marked on them useing the table of elements abreviation on them like the zinc weights.

gun-nut · 08-26-2012, 09:25 AM

I have used a mix of bees wax, candle wax and the Lee's Alox. Mix it 50/50 and just a few drops of the Alox. Then make into pea sized balls. Then i put them in a jar and use as needed for the melting pot. That Alox is some good stuff to use.

Old Grump · 08-26-2012, 10:04 AM

I have an old hunk of beeswax I use when I get down to clean lead but at first I use a handful of dry sawdust. I use an old fish scaler to dig out the dross.

myfriendis410 · 08-26-2012, 10:13 AM

I've tried just about everything, up to and including picking pine resin off of neighborhood trees. The best I've found is plain old sawdust/chips. Rouse it, let it smoke up and leave on the melt. It turns into activated charcoal and absorbs impurities while protecting the top of the melt.

Sorting wheel weights IS a pain. I never can get a magnet to work, and it only works on the steel weights; not the zinc and aluminum ones. Also, the stick-on weights need to come out too. I just eyeball the good ones after spreading 'em out on the garage floor and trash the rest.

gdmoody · 08-26-2012, 10:28 AM

I just put all of the wheel weights and other stuff in the pot. The non-lead stuff will either melt or float to the top. Skim the crap off the top every once in a while and pretty soon will have good bullet making material.

aa1911 · 08-26-2012, 11:52 AM

Been using this stuff lately:

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/593...-compound-1-lb

steve4102 · 08-26-2012, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aa1911

Been using this stuff lately:

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/593...-compound-1-lb

Does it leave a film and rust everything up like some claim?

RustyFN · 08-26-2012, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by steve4102

I have a few 5 gal buckets of wheel weights. Most are lead, some are not. What is the best/quickest way to weed out the non-lead weights? So far I have been pinching them with a diagonal cutter checking for softness, what a PIA.

I just fill up a six quart dutch oven and heat it on a turkey fryer. I keep a thermometer in and when it gets to 650 degrees I scoop out the clips and any unmelted weights. Then I flux with old candles or saw dust. I also stir it with an old broken wooden shovel habdle.

aa1911 · 08-26-2012, 01:37 PM

WW's are no longer lead here in WA, sucks.

I have not had any issues with the flux compound, it was pretty cheap and I'm still on my first container after several years.
I've not had any film and my pot is fairly rusty around the edges but was like that long before the FA flux. I leave my pot completely full when I'm done also.

Rusty, did almost the same thing when I bought the last 500# of lead (WW's from a shop), I used the coleman stove and a cheap dutch oven I bought (now dedicated lead smelter...) to melt it all down; used a slotted serving spoon to skim off all the clips and dross, I've still got a 5 gal bucket of nothing but clips to dispose of. I've got two Lee ingot molds, a 4 cavity 1lb-er and a combo one that can do 1/2lb ingots, poured all my lead into those and stacked them on the floor in a corner of the garage. my little 'lead depot'

When I'm casting, I use a large table spoon to flux and put the sprue trimmings or bad bullets back into the pot, also to skim off the dross. I have an old ball peen hammer handle that I use backwards to strike my molds open with. Used to flux with beeswax or parrafin also; didn't like it cause sometimes it would catch fire if I wasn't fast enough.

dbach · 08-26-2012, 01:51 PM

I flux with sawdust from the tasblesaw. Most of it is pine. Works great! and the price is right.

I did use wax, but I got tired of the fire.

The sawdust does not flame up, it smoulders then turns to carbon. Stir it in well, wait a few seconds then remove the dross. Keep it stirred.

JLA · 08-26-2012, 05:00 PM

Make you a wax and sawdust slurry and pour it into a 1/2" thick block and cut it into chunks about 1/2"X1/2". Perfect fluxing material.

howlnmad · 08-27-2012, 09:33 AM

Sawdust for me as well. Stirred in with a hardwood dowel.

As far as sorting goes, I'm with Rusty. The almost pure stuk-ons are easy it's the zinc that can be a pain. It takes a lot more heat to melt zinc, steel or aluminum (which I've never seen). Just dump them in and scrape off the garbage that floats. But watch your temp, 650 ° is good.

JLA · 08-27-2012, 08:36 PM

Not just good Howln, but ideal 650-670 is the ideal range for making ingots. Lead and everything compatible melts at roughly 660 and below, Zinc melts considerably higher and will float in a 670 degree pot of molten lead alloy. But it is possible to melt your alloy too hot and the zinc will melt and alloy with your mix. Once melted in its there forever. All youll ever get is brittle frosty lookin bullets that wont fill the mold right.

steve4102 · 08-27-2012, 08:44 PM

I'm smelting with a Dutch oven and a Turkey fryer. I do have a casting thermometer, but It might be tough for me to keep this bad boy at 600-650*.

I'll give it a try with known lead weights and see if I can control it. If I can, I'll just dump and skim..

08-26-2012, 07:36 AM	#1
steve4102 Former Guest Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Minnesota Contributor Posts: 2,760	Casting Flux? What do you guys use to flux your lead? I have read everything from wood to wax to commercial fluxes. Help me narrow it down please. -->

08-26-2012, 07:43 AM	#2
jack404 Former Guest Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Australia Contributor Posts: 17,622	Re: Casting Flux? green wood with natural oils and waxes is very good baking soda will also draw impurities and bind with them and make slag , you have to mix all fluxes through for them to work and thats what a lot of folks mix, they toss it in and give a little stir , its got to meet as much metal as possible to get all the junk out especially mercury or cadmium , so stir well for best results

08-26-2012, 08:00 AM	#3
gdmoody Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Northeast Georgia Contributor Posts: 6,407	Re: Casting Flux? I use old used birthday candles. When we have a grandchild's birthday and we put candles on the cake, after they are blown out, I take them and keep them for flux. I will use 1/3 to 1/2 of the candle per pot. Seems to work pretty good for me. I have 6 grandchildren from 2 to 18 so there are always candles available. __________________ NRA Endowment Member GeorgiaCarry.Org Member Retired US Army Postal Worker Personally, I carry a gun because I'm too young to die and too old to take an ass whoopin'.....author unknown (but obviously brilliant)

08-26-2012, 08:30 AM	#4
steve4102 Former Guest Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Minnesota Contributor Posts: 2,760	Re: Casting Flux? I have a few 5 gal buckets of wheel weights. Most are lead, some are not. What is the best/quickest way to weed out the non-lead weights? So far I have been pinching them with a diagonal cutter checking for softness, what a PIA.

08-26-2012, 09:25 AM	#6
gun-nut Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: ohio Contributor Posts: 947	Re: Casting Flux? I have used a mix of bees wax, candle wax and the Lee's Alox. Mix it 50/50 and just a few drops of the Alox. Then make into pea sized balls. Then i put them in a jar and use as needed for the melting pot. That Alox is some good stuff to use. __________________ Don't retreat just reload.

08-26-2012, 10:04 AM	#7
Old Grump Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Little hut in the woods near Blue River Wisconsin Posts: 2,320	Re: Casting Flux? I have an old hunk of beeswax I use when I get down to clean lead but at first I use a handful of dry sawdust. I use an old fish scaler to dig out the dross. __________________ "When once a republic is corrupted, there is no possibility of remedying any of the growing evils but by removing the corruption and restoring its lost principles; every other correction is either useless or a new evil."~~- Thomas Jefferson Roman Catholic, Life Member of American Legion, VFW, Wisconsin Libertarian party, Wi-FORCE, WGO, NRA, JPFO, GOA, SAFand CCRKBA

08-26-2012, 10:13 AM	#8
myfriendis410 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Lompoc California Posts: 552	Re: Casting Flux? I've tried just about everything, up to and including picking pine resin off of neighborhood trees. The best I've found is plain old sawdust/chips. Rouse it, let it smoke up and leave on the melt. It turns into activated charcoal and absorbs impurities while protecting the top of the melt. Sorting wheel weights IS a pain. I never can get a magnet to work, and it only works on the steel weights; not the zinc and aluminum ones. Also, the stick-on weights need to come out too. I just eyeball the good ones after spreading 'em out on the garage floor and trash the rest. __________________ Life's too short to shoot an ugly gun.....

08-26-2012, 10:28 AM	#9
gdmoody Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Northeast Georgia Contributor Posts: 6,407	Re: Casting Flux? I just put all of the wheel weights and other stuff in the pot. The non-lead stuff will either melt or float to the top. Skim the crap off the top every once in a while and pretty soon will have good bullet making material. __________________ NRA Endowment Member GeorgiaCarry.Org Member Retired US Army Postal Worker Personally, I carry a gun because I'm too young to die and too old to take an ass whoopin'.....author unknown (but obviously brilliant)

08-26-2012, 11:52 AM	#10
aa1911 Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Pacific Northwest Posts: 3,122	Re: Casting Flux? Been using this stuff lately: http://www.midwayusa.com/product/593...-compound-1-lb __________________ "Loud noises don't end gunfights.... well placed shots do."

08-26-2012, 01:37 PM	#13
aa1911 Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Pacific Northwest Posts: 3,122	Re: Casting Flux? WW's are no longer lead here in WA, sucks. I have not had any issues with the flux compound, it was pretty cheap and I'm still on my first container after several years. I've not had any film and my pot is fairly rusty around the edges but was like that long before the FA flux. I leave my pot completely full when I'm done also. Rusty, did almost the same thing when I bought the last 500# of lead (WW's from a shop), I used the coleman stove and a cheap dutch oven I bought (now dedicated lead smelter...) to melt it all down; used a slotted serving spoon to skim off all the clips and dross, I've still got a 5 gal bucket of nothing but clips to dispose of. I've got two Lee ingot molds, a 4 cavity 1lb-er and a combo one that can do 1/2lb ingots, poured all my lead into those and stacked them on the floor in a corner of the garage. my little 'lead depot' When I'm casting, I use a large table spoon to flux and put the sprue trimmings or bad bullets back into the pot, also to skim off the dross. I have an old ball peen hammer handle that I use backwards to strike my molds open with. Used to flux with beeswax or parrafin also; didn't like it cause sometimes it would catch fire if I wasn't fast enough. __________________ "Loud noises don't end gunfights.... well placed shots do."

08-26-2012, 01:51 PM	#14
dbach V.I.P. Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Trinity, TX Posts: 173	Re: Casting Flux? I flux with sawdust from the tasblesaw. Most of it is pine. Works great! and the price is right. I did use wax, but I got tired of the fire. The sawdust does not flame up, it smoulders then turns to carbon. Stir it in well, wait a few seconds then remove the dross. Keep it stirred. __________________ David Bachelder Trinity, TX Rookie Reloader but learning fast 9mm, 40S&W, 45ACP, 45 Colt, 38 Special, .357 Magnum, 38 S&W, .243, & 30-06 CHL ~ Texas

08-26-2012, 05:00 PM	#15
JLA TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Heart Of Texas Contributor Posts: 17,407	Re: Casting Flux? Make you a wax and sawdust slurry and pour it into a 1/2" thick block and cut it into chunks about 1/2"X1/2". Perfect fluxing material. __________________ It takes 43 muscles to frown, 17 to smile, and 3 for proper trigger squeeze. The latest caliber or gear is no substitute for experience and skill. Rifles and cartridges don't make hits -- shooters do. Fact of life: After Monday and Tuesday, even the calendar says WTF!

08-27-2012, 09:33 AM	#16
howlnmad Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Harriman, Tn Contributor Posts: 2,637	Re: Casting Flux? Sawdust for me as well. Stirred in with a hardwood dowel. As far as sorting goes, I'm with Rusty. The almost pure stuk-ons are easy it's the zinc that can be a pain. It takes a lot more heat to melt zinc, steel or aluminum (which I've never seen). Just dump them in and scrape off the garbage that floats. But watch your temp, 650 ° is good. __________________

08-27-2012, 08:36 PM	#17
JLA TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Heart Of Texas Contributor Posts: 17,407	Re: Casting Flux? Not just good Howln, but ideal 650-670 is the ideal range for making ingots. Lead and everything compatible melts at roughly 660 and below, Zinc melts considerably higher and will float in a 670 degree pot of molten lead alloy. But it is possible to melt your alloy too hot and the zinc will melt and alloy with your mix. Once melted in its there forever. All youll ever get is brittle frosty lookin bullets that wont fill the mold right. __________________ It takes 43 muscles to frown, 17 to smile, and 3 for proper trigger squeeze. The latest caliber or gear is no substitute for experience and skill. Rifles and cartridges don't make hits -- shooters do. Fact of life: After Monday and Tuesday, even the calendar says WTF!

08-27-2012, 08:44 PM	#18
steve4102 Former Guest Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Minnesota Contributor Posts: 2,760	Re: Casting Flux? I'm smelting with a Dutch oven and a Turkey fryer. I do have a casting thermometer, but It might be tough for me to keep this bad boy at 600-650*. I'll give it a try with known lead weights and see if I can control it. If I can, I'll just dump and skim..