The lowdown on fluxing...

[Any Cal.]

I realized that there are a million threads telling WHAT to flux with, but usually no one says WHY you should flux. So, what is accomplished by fluxing? What happens if you dont? How do you tell if your flux is working?

On another forum someone asked why they should flux, and most of the responses were "I use boolit lube" and "I use old candles". I would like to know more about what fluxing does, rather than who uses what.

Any thoughts?

[dragon813gt]

Read this: www.lasc.us/Fryxell_Book_Contents.htm


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[John Boy]

http://www.gravitaexim.com/lead-metal/lead-dross.html

[Defcon-One]

I use white pine sawdust! Ha Ha!

Here's the answers based on what they said:

1.) Remove impurities from lead! Clean the Lead Alloy!

2.) Reduce Tin! Put Tin back into the Lead Alloy!

3.) Prevent Oxidation! Keep oxigen (air) away from the hot metal so that the Tin does not oxidize back out. (Oxidize is the opposite of Reduce.)

[lwknight]

There are all kinds of little junk particles trapped under the surface of the melt.
Throwing some wax or whatever somehow releases the little junk bits and allows then to float out so you can skim it off.

I have been able to get the majority of dross back into solution with heavy fluxing and vigorous stirring leaving only a little carbon on top.