Solder Measure

[stainless1911]

I melted down some 95/5 solder, and wanted to figure a good way to measure it out, so I got those bowl shaped ss measuring things, and used them as molds, and then weighed them. the 1 tsp came out to a handy 1.5oz. since there is 16 oz in a pound, I figured that one of these in 1 pound would give a nice 10% lead tin alloy.

correct me if I'm wrong, Im still really green.

I noticed that the molten metal turned a little yellowish, and some seperated, so I fluxed it and skimmed it. Could someone explain what it was that I skimmed off? and what about the color? The little ingots were bright shiny silver things with a near mirror finish.

[stainless1911]

Not sure about my numbers though.

If I used lead shot to start with, how many of these do I need to mix with 10 lbs, to make a good pistol alloy for water dropping. Im making rounds for .40. What bhn will it make?

[lwknight]

That wheat straw color is just what tin does. If you had cast larger ingots that cooled slowly , they too would be that color.
You probably got it hotter than you needed to so it oxidized faster than you could reduce it back.

I would just leave solder in wire form and add it by the foot or inch. Why not just weigh a 1" piece and do some math?

[stainless1911]

My math skills are laughable.

[lwknight]

OK roll the whole spool out and fold the wire in half 4 times. You should have 16 wires.
Cut then at the bends and you will have 16 1 ounce wires.

[southpaw]

95% (your percent tin) times 1.5 (the weight that you are adding) = 142.5

142.5 divided by 17.5 (the total weight after you add the solder) = ~8.1% tin.

1.9 ounces of your stuff added to 1 pound of lead would be ~10.08%

I am assuming that your lead does not have any tin in it and that you are adding the tin to lead, example- 16 ounces your lead PLUS the tin = more than 16 ounces.

I second what lwknight said about too much heat for the tin causing the discoloration that you saw.

Jerry Jr.

[mold maker]

I had bulk tin, pewter, and 95/5 solder scrap, and was searching for very small ingot molds to get it in a convenient usable form. Someone here mentioned using Boolits the molds we already have.
I got out molds of a different design for each alloy, and cast up several lbs of each into well marked coffee cans. Now I have convenient small ingots, of known weight, to use as tin additives. 1-2% is easy to figure and add.
DUH. Some times we over think the obvious.
Thanks fellows, I learn something here every day.

[stainless1911]

How do I get to an alloy similar to ww?

[lwknight]

Add 1 pound of rotometals superhard to 9 pounds of lead.
I bet you won't like it without a little tin added as well.

[Calamity Jake]

Anything over 2% tin is a waste of good tin.

[white eagle]

I just cast shallow in my ingots and have thin pieces I can cut latter

[MN91311]

For solder already melted together in a pot, how about the old spoon method. Dip the spoon in, fill with metal, remove, let cool, and dump out. Repeat until you have a pile. Use different size spoons for larger solder pieces.

The same method works for sinkers, with junk alloy, just drill a hole.

[Spector]

Someone gave me some pure tin and I cast it in boolit molds. If I remember right my 200 grain molds throws them in pure tin at 135 grains. Use different weight molds and save some sprues. I add 2% tin and it is easy to come very close to what I need doing it this way......Mike

[Jim]

S1911,
Everybody here is laughable in one respect or another. That's one of the reasons we post and communicate.
Don't be ashamed or embarrassed to ask questions. I guarantee you, one of these days, somebody's going to ask a question that you know how to help with.
Everybody here was cucumber green at this at one time. We all advanced by learning from others.

[stainless1911]

Thanks Jim. It has been my pleasure to give advice and be of assistance to people on rare occasions, It makes me feel good to be able to help out when I can.

[fredj338]

If you have bar solder or tin, why melt it? I weigh the bar, then use a Sharpie to "break" it into 1oz bits. Just hold the bar in the casting pot & melt off what you need.

[lwknight]

Fred , that is too practical. Melting stuff is fun.