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Thread: sweeping compound

  1. #1
    Boolit Bub
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    sweeping compound

    Was doing some clean up at work , was cleaning the floor with a sweeping compound thats made up of wood fibers and a wax like coating ,well got me to thinking that this could be used to flux ,anyone else seen this stuff before?,if this could be used work can get this stuff in a 50 pound box cheap .

  2. #2
    Boolit Master

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    We use it at the range to clean up the lead , dust and other junk that ends up on the concrete floor

    I smelt down the range lead
    A lot of the floor sweeping compound ends up in the pot sometimes
    Seems to work as well as anything else

    But IMO it smokes more than my normal Sawdust

    But I do my smelting outside


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  3. #3
    Boolit Master Scrounger's Avatar
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    I would check to see if that sweeping compound has any Mercury in it, most of them do.

  4. #4
    Boolit Bub
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    When i get back to work i'll look on the label and see what its made of, if its safe then hey i'm good to go

  5. #5
    Boolit Master
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    I would think mercury in sweeping compound would be more hazardous than lead.

    The stuff we use at work -- "Cheater" recipe is 5-gal bucket 'o sawdust, sprinkle and stir in 1-cup kerosene. Stir well. You want it about like slightly damp sand -- not wet. Just a little clumpy. Quite flammable, so treat it as such... store in a metal flame proof can, cover tightly, etc.

    It does make a fine flux -- but it might be hard to use up the amount you would generate cleaning up after one casting session...... I don't think I have ever used 5 lbs of flux all at once...... Some of you high volume folks might be different, though.

    Good luck

    John

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    Boolit Master 308Jeff's Avatar
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    I know this is an OLD thread, but I wanted to search to see if it had been discussed before.

    I'm looking at the ingredients and MSDS for Superior Sweeps "Fluffy Wax" sweeping compound. It's basically soft wood sawdust and paraffin. Ultimate flux? I'm gonna find out.

  7. #7
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  8. #8
    Boolit Grand Master popper's Avatar
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    Dad always used sawdust from the table saw with a tad of motor oil or H2O or anything to keep the dust down, for sweeping the floor. Don't see any reason to add anything for fluxing the smelt.
    Whatever!

  9. #9
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    Quote Originally Posted by 308Jeff View Post
    I know this is an OLD thread, but I wanted to search to see if it had been discussed before.

    I'm looking at the ingredients and MSDS for Superior Sweeps "Fluffy Wax" sweeping compound. It's basically soft wood sawdust and paraffin. Ultimate flux? I'm gonna find out.
    https://www.newpig.com/wcsstore/NewP...s/MSD-V101.pdf
    The solid soft lead bullet is undoubtably the best and most satisfactory expanding bullet that has ever been designed. It invariably mushrooms perfectly, and never breaks up. With the metal base that is essential for velocities of 2000 f.s. and upwards to protect the naked base, these metal-based soft lead bullets are splendid.
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  10. #10
    Boolit Master 308Jeff's Avatar
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    Yup. Looks perfectly safe to use. Just need to get my hands on some and give it a try.

  11. #11
    Boolit Master 308Jeff's Avatar
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    I picked up a 50lb box at Big D flooring supply for $22.43

    I've gotten into the habit of introducing my flux both while filling the pot with lead before I start melting, and then once more once I've skimmed off the dross.

    I'm an admitted novice at this still, and as such I don't see any perceivable different in how the flooring compound performs vs sawdust and wax as separate items.

    However, it's very easy to use.

    This is how I'd rate it:

    Performance: 10-Works just as well as sawdust and/or wax

    Convenience: 10-Don't have to try to scrounge sawdust and I don't have to cut up any wax

    Cost: 7-Most of us don't pay anything for sawdust, but there's some cost involved with wax. I'm using about 1.5 ounces per pot which equates to about 4.2 cents. The 50lb box should last for 500+ pots.

    Other notes: It has a fairly pleasant smell and does a good job of masking the odor of roof tar, wheel weight gunk, and SOW foam.

    Conclusion - It's worth the cost for use.

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Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
PSP Pointed Soft Point Spz Spitzer Point SBT Spitzer Boat Tail
LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
GC Gas Check