Ready for first smelting! pics

[Chilmonty]

Mods can move if this is the wrong place.

Have gathered what I need for smelting:

Safety Gear
Turkey Cooker
Cast Iron Dutch Oven
SS Skimmer
SS Ladle
Sawdust for Flux
Ingot Mold
20# Alloy from Screwbolts 11.5 Bhn
30# Range Scrap Bhn ???
50/50 lead/Tin solder, if needed



The range scrap has about 35-40% cast bullets which I assume is probably #2 Alloy, 2 bullets on the left.
The rest are various jacketed bullets and some soft .22 bullets, and 2 lead ww I found.


I think I can assume about 10# scrap loss giving about 40# of total alloy, I will weigh everything before smelting.

My question is, assuming about 1% tin in 40# of alloy, should i add about 12oz of 50/50 solder (6oz tin) to increase
overall tin to about 2%?

I just want to "head off" any casting problems to help with my first cast.

[shadowcaster]

Yes it would be approximately 6 ounces of tin. Your range scrap should already have tin in it. But if it were me.. I would not add any tin to begin with and see how they cast up and shoot. Tin is expensive and I try not to go over 1% tin, and if I can help it, no tin at all.

Shad

[Chilmonty]

Thanks Shadow. I agree with you however since i already have the tin solder, it isn't costing me anything.

Have read as much as I can and just thought that a little extra tin would help fill out the mold better.

I will be starting casting with all new Lee molds, probably start with a 2 cavity 240gr .44mag SWC TL.

Just thought it might make things a little easier on a Noob.

[luky-dude]

Good luck--Be safe One of these days I will have gatered up everything to start also.

[Doby45]

Thanks Shadow. I agree with you however since i already have the tin solder, it isn't costing me anything.

Not that it is costing you anything this time, but if it is not needed, then you can save that tin for your next batch that might actually need tin. Never waste tin unless you just have to.

[khmer6]

I would add the tin during casting as needed. Never know when you might need it latter if you get some softer lead

[FLINTNFIRE]

I also would save the tin to add to the casting pot as needed when making boolits , smelt your scrap into ingots and go from there .

[Oreo]

I agree with not alloying during smelting. The exception would be if you had several hundred pounds analyzed so as to know what it is, know what you want it to be, and want it to be consistent for all of it. Then alloy in a measured way, in a single large pot so you know what you're making and that its all the same.

[captaint]

Thank you, Oreo. Much better to blend alloys when casting, not so much when smelting. Makes it easier to remember, change or whatever when casting. Smaller batches to deal with. Mike

[Chilmonty]

Thanks Guys! All excellent points. I will save the tin.
Will try to smelt today (weather permitting) and post some more pics.

[Alan in Vermont]

Somebody isn't doing their math right, maybe it's me, I get 40 lbs= 640 ozs. 1% of 640 = 6.4 ozs. 2% of 640= 12.8 ozs of tin. Adding 60 ozs. of tin would be a little under 1%.

I would try it before I added any tin, RS just may cast fine, as is.

[shadowcaster]

Somebody isn't doing their math right, maybe it's me, I get 40 lbs= 640 ozs. 1% of 640 = 6.4 ozs. 2% of 640= 12.8 ozs of tin. Adding 60 ozs. of tin would be a little under 1%.

I would try it before I added any tin, RS just may cast fine, as is.

Your math is correct, but the OP is figuring he already has 1% tin and only needs to add 1% more for a total of 2% tin.

Shad