Load DataLee PrecisionSnyders JerkyMidSouth Shooters Supply
Titan ReloadingWidenersInline FabricationRepackbox
RotoMetals2
Results 1 to 13 of 13

Thread: What is this stuffin my pot?

  1. 05-12-2017, 07:12 PM #1
    km101
    km101 is offline
    Boolit Master


    km101's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2012
    Location
    N. of the DFW Metromess
    Posts
    1,379

    What is this stuffin my pot?

    Started a new batch of alloy and when I brought it up to temp (675 F) this "stuff" came to the top and I skimmed it off. It looks like silver colored oatmeal and is in small, half dollar size, clumps.

    Never had this occur before. Any ideas?
    "with liberty and justice for all"...must be 18 or older, not available in all states, void where prohibited, some restrictions may apply. D. Stanhope


    "The remedy for evil men is not the abrogation of the rights of law abiding citizens. The remedy for evil men is the gallows." Thomas Jefferson

    "To disarm the people is the best and most effectual way to enslave them." George Mason Co-author of the Second Ammemdment
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  2. 05-12-2017, 07:15 PM #2
    Madoktor1
    Madoktor1 is offline
    Boolit Bub
    Madoktor1's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2016
    Location
    Tennessee
    Posts
    32
    Zinc


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  3. 05-12-2017, 07:18 PM #3
    243winxb
    243winxb is offline
    Boolit Master 243winxb's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Location
    USA
    Posts
    2,859
    Antimony. use more heat.
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  4. 05-12-2017, 07:52 PM #4
    high standard 40
    high standard 40 is offline
    Boolit Master
    high standard 40's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Location
    South Louisiana
    Posts
    1,217
    What is the source of the alloy and what is it supposed to be? If this is believed to be COWW I would venture a guess that the "oatmeal" is Zinc because there would not be that much antimony in that alloy. Also, are you absolutely sure of the temperature? We need more information.
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  5. 05-12-2017, 08:17 PM #5
    jimb16
    jimb16 is offline
    Boolit Master
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Location
    N. E. Ohio
    Posts
    1,594
    Agreed. Zinc is the likely culprit. Heat the mix to 600 aqnd flux with wax. Stir. If it is still there, then it is zinc. Antimony will go back into the mix; zinc won't at least not at that temp.
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  6. 05-12-2017, 08:33 PM #6
    Wayne Smith
    Wayne Smith is offline
    Boolit Grand Master

    Wayne Smith's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Location
    Hampton Roads, Virginia
    Posts
    13,695
    Get some swimming pool acid (muriatic acid) and a glass dropper. Drop a drop of the acid on your oatmeal, if it sizzles it is zinc. If not it is something else.
    Wayne the Shrink

    There is no 'right' that requires me to work for you or you to work for me!
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  7. 05-12-2017, 09:32 PM #7
    osteodoc08
    osteodoc08 is offline
    Boolit Grand Master
    Join Date
    Jun 2013
    Location
    NW GA
    Posts
    7,243
    Quote Originally Posted by Wayne Smith View Post
    Get some swimming pool acid (muriatic acid) and a glass dropper. Drop a drop of the acid on your oatmeal, if it sizzles it is zinc. If not it is something else.
    Pull out of the melt and allow to cool first of course.
    My Feedback:

    http://castboolits.gunloads.com/show...75#post3107475
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  8. 05-12-2017, 09:52 PM #8
    km101
    km101 is offline
    Boolit Master


    km101's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2012
    Location
    N. of the DFW Metromess
    Posts
    1,379
    The alloy is COWW and it was bought from a member here. Don't remember who it was as I bought it over a year ago. This is the first time I have had this happen.

    Im sure of the temp as it is PID and analog thermometer checked.

    I will test it with muriatic acid.

    Thanks for all the info
    "with liberty and justice for all"...must be 18 or older, not available in all states, void where prohibited, some restrictions may apply. D. Stanhope


    "The remedy for evil men is not the abrogation of the rights of law abiding citizens. The remedy for evil men is the gallows." Thomas Jefferson

    "To disarm the people is the best and most effectual way to enslave them." George Mason Co-author of the Second Ammemdment
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  9. 05-15-2017, 11:30 PM #9
    Gohon
    Gohon is offline
    Boolit Master
    Join Date
    Sep 2007
    Location
    Oklahoma
    Posts
    578
    It could be zinc but could just as easily be junk that wasn't skimmed very well during smelting. I've had smelted ingots that I though were pretty clean produce surface junk in the casting pot. Did you cast any bullets? If so how did they look?
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  10. 05-16-2017, 07:56 AM #10
    Wayne Smith
    Wayne Smith is offline
    Boolit Grand Master

    Wayne Smith's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Location
    Hampton Roads, Virginia
    Posts
    13,695
    Do a search and read the information on fluxing with wax and with sawdust. They do different things to the melt.
    Wayne the Shrink

    There is no 'right' that requires me to work for you or you to work for me!
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  11. 05-16-2017, 07:37 PM #11
    Grmps
    Grmps is offline
    Banned
    Join Date
    Jul 2016
    Posts
    2,911
    Sometimes I get a silvery cottage cheese on top when fluxing with sawdust. usually, I flux again and stir it well and it goes away. No problems casting.
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  12. 05-18-2017, 11:02 AM #12
    Shiloh
    Shiloh is offline
    Boolit Grand Master
    Shiloh's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2006
    Location
    Upper Midwest
    Posts
    6,773
    Pics please.

    Shiloh
    Je suis Charlie

    "A society of sheep must in time beget a government of wolves."
    Bertrand de Jouvenel

    “Any government that does not trust its citizens with firearms is either a tyranny, or planning to become one.” – Joseph P. Martino

    “If you put the federal government in charge of the Sahara Desert , in five years there would be a shortage of sand.” – Milton Friedman

    "Ideas are more powerful than guns. We would not let our enemies have guns; why should we let them have ideas?" - J. Stalin
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  13. 05-18-2017, 11:01 PM #13
    Oklahoma Rebel
    Oklahoma Rebel is offline
    Boolit Master Oklahoma Rebel's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2015
    Location
    outside of Sand Springs, N.E. OK
    Posts
    2,353
    I use pine shavings that we have for our guinea pigs and rabbit, they are a little big (the shavings) so I just wad a handful up and tear/rip/twist it up into finer pieces. that's my favorite flux, though I do use wax on occasion.
    An armed man in a citizen.
    An unarmed man is a subject.
    A disarmed man is a slave.
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
« Previous Thread | Next Thread »

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  

Forum Rules

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