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Thread: First pewter smelt today

  1. #1
    Boolit Master brewer12345's Avatar
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    First pewter smelt today

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    Did my first pewter smelt today. The hotplate did not cut it, so I resorted to using a propane burner I really don't want to use for this stuff. The pewter melted easily and although I fluxed a few times with beeswax, the junk skimmed off very easily. I poured partial fills of mini muffin pans.and ended up with 36 discs that are just shy of half a pound on average. There was about another pound left in the smelting pot that will probably stay there until I smelt again.

    I don't smelt lead, so a dumb question: Do I need to clean the bottom of the smelting pot? There is some black junk on the bottom.

    I figure each disc should be perfect to sweeten a full pot of range lead.
    When you care enough to send the very best, send an ounce of lead.

  2. #2
    Boolit Master pjames32's Avatar
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    With the pot cool, I'd dump the remaining pewter and clean it. FWIW...I usually use a large mold (500+/-gr) for my pewter to make it easier to add the amount I want to my mix.
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  3. #3
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    I found that 50 cal 320 mini was 1/2 ounce with the pewter I smelted




    [OK not quite 1 ounce but close enough for the girls I go out with]
    great for "sweetening" a pot or accurately recreating a favorite alloy.

  4. #4
    Boolit Master brewer12345's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by pjames32 View Post
    With the pot cool, I'd dump the remaining pewter and clean it. FWIW...I usually use a large mold (500+/-gr) for my pewter to make it easier to add the amount I want to my mix.

    Anything special I should do to clean it? Soap and water?

    I might pour the ingots a little smaller next time. For my purposes and as long as I can get pewter for an average of $3 a pound or less, I don't mind if range lead plus pewter gets me to around 40 to 1 plus 1% or so antimony. That should be good for everything but the serious rifle rounds.
    When you care enough to send the very best, send an ounce of lead.

  5. #5
    Boolit Master pjames32's Avatar
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    I'd just wipe the pot our unless there is a lot of debris stuck to the sides/bottom. I'd probably not use water, maybe an abrasive pad. I've never cleaned my smelting pot much. It is an old Dutch oven.
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  6. #6
    Boolit Master brewer12345's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by pjames32 View Post
    I'd just wipe the pot our unless there is a lot of debris stuck to the sides/bottom. I'd probably not use water, maybe an abrasive pad. I've never cleaned my smelting pot much. It is an old Dutch oven.
    Thanks.
    When you care enough to send the very best, send an ounce of lead.

  7. #7
    Boolit Grand Master

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    I'm envious of you guys that can find pewter. I find very little thats affordable. I depend on solder for my tin source and the rosin and acid core stuff is messy to work with.

  8. #8
    Boolit Master brewer12345's Avatar
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    I average about 3 bucks a pound and will buy it online if an auction shows up at that price or better.
    When you care enough to send the very best, send an ounce of lead.

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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