First casting of 2023, what do you guys suggest for the cleaning?

[slughammer]

I feel like I waste more lead with sawdust than I should. It cleans it good but I end up with a large glob of trash.

If you are convinced the junk you are scraping off the top is actually lead, then save it in a tin can and drop it into your next smelt.

I cast with clean ingots in my basement with a vent fan. I don't use wax indoors, I switched to a dry 3/8" dowel about 12" long. I stir the pot with this and make sure to scrape the sides of the pot while doing so. Then I use a large kitchen table spoon to scrape the top of the melt. I put this slag into a tuna can for months and years. Eventually I convince myself that this is not lead but actually contamination and not wortth trying to incorporate into a smelt.....then I throw it into the trash and forget about it.

Sent from my SM-G781U using Tapatalk

[Iron369]

When making ingots, I use sawdust. In my pot, I use pure beeswax

[GregLaROCHE]

I use sawdust before casting ingots. I then flux in the casting pot, first with sawdust, then with beeswax. It’s important to constantly and thoroughly mix the alloy during fluxing.

[shootingblanks00]

Would the lubes from https://www.lsstuff.com/ work? One specific lube over another?

[Petander]

I use sawdust before casting ingots. I then flux in the casting pot, first with sawdust, then with beeswax. It’s important to constantly and thoroughly mix the alloy during fluxing.

I do this way,too. Clean is good.