more flux options

[prs]

I was getting ready for a casting session today. An noticed an oatmeat cannister left out on the kitchen counter. I grabbed a dixie cup full and headed off the out building where the pots were already hot and waiting. Very similar to saw dust in effect and smelled good too, at least at first. The roased oats smell does fade to an odor more like plain sawdust after a couple of minutes. I bet any dry cereal would do as would corn meal or grits.

prs

[stubshaft]

Virtually any carbon based DRY organic compound can be used as flux.

[geargnasher]

Carbohydrates, hydrocarbons, and an oxygen-starved combustion enviroment is all you need. How you do it is up to you. Oh, and don't forget to stir the melt well with a stick to expose as much molten metal as possible to the flux, otherwise you're only removing impurities from the layer on top and reducing surface oxides.

I'd advise against coffee grounds, though.

Gear