Rendered pork fat as a flux.

[bbwhais]

While smelting some lead belts i thoughtvof using pork fat as a flux. I used 1lb to 150 lbs of lead. Pritty smokey but most of the oxide went back to metal plus the garrage now smells of baccon. The fat bubbled for a while then turned to ash. I scooped off the ash and what draus was there was. Would any other animal fat produce good results? Has anyone tried this and dose this work on the same princible as using saw dust?

[btroj]

Not as good as sawdust. You reduced the oxides back into the melt but sawdust also has an ability adsorb many I purifies we don't want. It helps grab onto drt, grit, and some of the odd metals we don't really want.

[Stephen Cohen]

I had used candles and all manner of wax for years, one of the greatest things I have learned on this site is the use of sawdust. Even after you use candle wax your melt will be no where near as clean as using saw dust IMHO, no bad smells and no waxy residue, just don't use MDF or treated pine type saw dust.