Low smoke, low odor fluxing alternatives for Master Caster?

[BrassMagnet]

I am open to new options for low smoke, low odor fluxing alternatives for Master Caster.
Bees wax and paraffin are out!

[mattw]

BrassMagnet, when I am trying to avoid smoke as much as I can in the winter... I add my lead, I stir it well and scrape the pot with a wooden paint stirrer. I think any stirrer shaped wood would work. After a good stir, I spoon off the small amount of impurities. But, my lead is pretty clean from smelting. Be careful, the wood will have a small amount of moisture and will bubble the pot initially. The oils in the wood work the magic.

[rancher1913]

this might be a dumb question as I dont own a mastercaster, but it would seem to me that if you used clean ingots you would have no need for flux, I dont flux my pot when casting and have never had a problem.

did you ever retire again?

[Newboy]

Marvelux!


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[djryan13]

Marvelux!


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This works for me. I cast in the garage with door open. I have a fan blowing it out but still don’t want any smoke.

[454PB]

Another vote for Marvelux (or the Frankford Arsenal equivalent)

[gwpercle]

Marvelux!


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Like the man says .... Marvelux . Low Odor , Low smoke no Flash Fire ....it's everything you're looking for . I've used it for decades ... it works like a charm .
Gary

[NyFirefighter357]

As far as I can tell Marvelux is Boric acid (kills roaches) or borax cheap to buy in big box store

[djryan13]

As far as I can tell Marvelux is Boric acid (kills roaches) or borax cheap to buy in big box store

What???? Interesting....

[Doubles Shooter]

I've used borax for brazing flux in a pinch. It works well. I'll have to try some for fluxing too.

[38Special]

Pine wood (planer) shavings.

[Elkins45]

Rosin smokes a bit but it's not an unpleasant smell. Vegetable shortening smells like french fries and is probably the best option if you don't want to use Marvelux. I have a jar of the stuff but I find that it is pretty corrosive and causes your pot to rust pretty quickly.

[engineer401]

I use the Frankfort Arsenal flux. It works well with no smoke.

[roysha]

If marvelux was the only option I had for a flux, I believe I would very seriously contemplate the idea of no longer casting. It is, in my experience, the most miserable carp to use that I have ever tried.
If one is casting in an area that does not allow venting of smoke and/or fumes from things like wood shavings and other smoky or smelly options, I would suggest that one is casting in a very poor situation from a health point of view.

[mac1911]

i was looking into different fluxes
Marvellux is Sodium Formate and some tiny little amount of trade secrete stuff? Borax is sodium borate: I have no idea what else might be in the off the shelf Borax cleaning products?

Frankfords Clean cast ? I cant find a MSDS on that but I assume its in the ball park of the above. I use Clean cast in my casting pot. I cant say my smelted led does not need cleaning but I Do get a bit more junk out of my lead before it goes into the mold.

[454PB]

I've been using Marvelux in my Lee pots for 35 years, and they haven't rusted out.

[gwpercle]

I've been using Marvelux in my Lee pots for 35 years, and they haven't rusted out.

That has been my experience also . no smoke , no smell no flash fire ...but some just Hate it and would rater not cast if they could not use the smoke and fire producing stuff ...can't figure out why.
To each his own !
Gary

[engineer401]

i was looking into different fluxes
Marvellux is Sodium Formate and some tiny little amount of trade secrete stuff? Borax is sodium borate: I have no idea what else might be in the off the shelf Borax cleaning products?

Frankfords Clean cast ? I cant find a MSDS on that but I assume its in the ball park of the above. I use Clean cast in my casting pot. I cant say my smelted led does not need cleaning but I Do get a bit more junk out of my lead before it goes into the mold.

I found this. It’s also sodium formate.

https://fsreloading.com/userfiles/fi...ean%20Cast.pdf

[454PB]

One criticism of Marvelux that is true is that it's hygroscopic. That means you have to preheat your stirring or ladling tool before plunging it into molten metal. That's something that should be done regardless of what flux you use.

[engineer401]

One criticism of Marvelux that is true is that it's hygroscopic. That means you have to preheat your stirring or ladling tool before plunging it into molten metal. That's something that should be done regardless of what flux you use.

The Frankford Arsenal stuff is the same way. You also need to preheat the spoon. Absolutely true it should always be done anyway.