Making ingots

[avidtrapshooter]

Hey guys,
I have what might be a dumb question but I am gonna go ahead and ask it. What is a flux? What is the purpose of it? How do you use it to flux?
Sorry, I am a huge newbie to anything involving melting lead. I am trying to melt all my wheel weights down into ingots for a shotmaker me and my dad are in the process of building, and want to do things right the 1st time around. Could someone maybe walk me through the steps of making ingots? Thanks alot.
avid

[45nut]

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/forumdisplay.php?f=35

Check out the "Classics & Stickies", there are several threads that go over it in there and several methods.

Flux, simply helps separate the garbage from the alloy, usually a carbon based item like wood or wax is handy and effective. I stir in a small chunk of a candle with a paint stick,, swirling thru and under to the bottom of the pot to bring the dross up to the surface to be scooped out.
Clean alloy goes into ingot molds, in my case muffin pans.
Do take a look at "Goatlips" threads, he even did a video.
http://goatlipstips.cas-town.com/index.html


Welcome to CB,, enjoy.

[trk]

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/forumdisplay.php?f=35
...
Flux, simply helps separate the garbage from the alloy,
...
Welcome to CB,, enjoy.


Right on the money! It comes from the latin word fluxari (forgive the spelling of the ending) MEANING "to clean".

[gray wolf]

WHATS dross DADDY?

Thats the other than lead and other useful metals in the mix son.
Oh OK, but whats it look like??----- Well it could be the clips from the WW
or an old valve stem or anything Else that may float to the top.
Does it go away Dad? -- no son you have to skim it off with an old spoon
or may be one of Moms old strainers.
Oh boy I know how to find one in the kinchen dad.
it's right near the place I make my sammiches.
Hold on son, let her go shopping first.

[avidtrapshooter]

Alrighty, thanks for the input I appreciate it alot.