What is this stuffin my pot?

[km101]

Started a new batch of alloy and when I brought it up to temp (675 F) this "stuff" came to the top and I skimmed it off. It looks like silver colored oatmeal and is in small, half dollar size, clumps.

Never had this occur before. Any ideas?

[Madoktor1]

Zinc


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[243winxb]

Antimony. use more heat.

[high standard 40]

What is the source of the alloy and what is it supposed to be? If this is believed to be COWW I would venture a guess that the "oatmeal" is Zinc because there would not be that much antimony in that alloy. Also, are you absolutely sure of the temperature? We need more information.

[jimb16]

Agreed. Zinc is the likely culprit. Heat the mix to 600 aqnd flux with wax. Stir. If it is still there, then it is zinc. Antimony will go back into the mix; zinc won't at least not at that temp.

[Wayne Smith]

Get some swimming pool acid (muriatic acid) and a glass dropper. Drop a drop of the acid on your oatmeal, if it sizzles it is zinc. If not it is something else.

[osteodoc08]

Get some swimming pool acid (muriatic acid) and a glass dropper. Drop a drop of the acid on your oatmeal, if it sizzles it is zinc. If not it is something else.

Pull out of the melt and allow to cool first of course.

[km101]

The alloy is COWW and it was bought from a member here. Don't remember who it was as I bought it over a year ago. This is the first time I have had this happen.

Im sure of the temp as it is PID and analog thermometer checked.

I will test it with muriatic acid.

Thanks for all the info

[Gohon]

It could be zinc but could just as easily be junk that wasn't skimmed very well during smelting. I've had smelted ingots that I though were pretty clean produce surface junk in the casting pot. Did you cast any bullets? If so how did they look?

[Wayne Smith]

Do a search and read the information on fluxing with wax and with sawdust. They do different things to the melt.

[Grmps]

Sometimes I get a silvery cottage cheese on top when fluxing with sawdust. usually, I flux again and stir it well and it goes away. No problems casting.

[Shiloh]

Pics please.

Shiloh

[Oklahoma Rebel]

I use pine shavings that we have for our guinea pigs and rabbit, they are a little big (the shavings) so I just wad a handful up and tear/rip/twist it up into finer pieces. that's my favorite flux, though I do use wax on occasion.