First smelt today

[RustyFN]

The rain finally stoped so I could have my first smelt. I thought it went good but think I need a little help on fluxing. I used wax to flux. After I skimmed all of the clips out I added the wax. After about 15 seconds the wax caught fire. After the fire burned out I cleaned the top with my spoon. After it was clean I stirred and then cleaned again. Does that sound about right. Here are a few pictures.
Rusty
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b8db32b3127ccea82302ad60b600000016100DZOGblm4Yo

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b8db32b3127ccea823000e601400000016100DZOGblm4Yo

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b8db32b3127ccea82300ffe1d500000016100DZOGblm4Yo

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b8db32b3127ccea82307bca10d00000016100DZOGblm4Yo

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b8db32b3127ccea82307b9203800000016100DZOGblm4Yo

[ANeat]

I thought I smelled something familiar today, Wind out of the east??

[docone31]

You had a big day, looks good.
How does each one weigh?

[RustyFN]

You had a big day, looks good.
How does each one weigh? I haven't weighed any yet. The ladle is supposed to hold 4 pounds of lead and there are 2 in each bar. I am going to guess around 7 pounds per bar.

I thought I smelled something familiar today, Wind out of the east??
That was some stinky stuff.
Rusty

[docone31]

Ok, 7lbs each, give or take. A lot of smelting. A well earned rest coming.
Now, how are you gonna put them into the casting pot?
I have a nice little ingot mold. I use it for smelting silver and it measures 3/8" X 1/2" X 6".
I can throw 100 .312 180gn bullets and toss in three bars to recharge. The ingot mold is a full bullet ladle from Lyman.
I love the smell of fluxing with beeswax.

[xr650]

I light the wax with a wooden match as soon as it starts smoking. I then stir the flux in the melt. I have a fairly long handled dipper and welding gloves so I stir while on fire.
I am under the impression that you need to stir the flux into the melt and try to scoop air down also.

Your ingots look good to me.
Kinda fun aint it. Rewarding too.

[RustyFN]

I light the wax with a wooden match as soon as it starts smoking. I then stir the flux in the melt. I have a fairly long handled dipper and welding gloves so I stir while on fire.
I am under the impression that you need to stir the flux into the melt and try to scoop air down also.

Your ingots look good to me.
Kinda fun aint it. Rewarding too.
Thanks I'll try that. I had a great time smelting, it was a lot of fun. I have some good leather gloves but found out that some welding gloves would make things a little nicer.
Rusty