Tin

[hedgehorn]

I scored a 16 pound ingot of tin. What would be the best way to break it down into smaller more workable pieces? Thought about cutting it with a band saw. :-?

[trk]

I would use one of the ($20 on sale) propane weed burners - melt it off - it goes QUICKLY!

I use a piece of architectural channel at 30 to 45 degrees and whatever (wheel weights etc) just melt and run down into an old skillet - leaving the junk and crud to be swept off.

[imashooter2]

Don't saw it unless you have a way to collect the "sawdust."

[Beagler]

I scored a 16 pound ingot of tin. What would be the best way to break it down into smaller more workable pieces? Thought about cutting it with a band saw. :-?
LP torch, Map torch, Oxy/Ac torch

[GP100man]

LP torch, Map torch, Oxy/Ac torch

Exactly what came to mind !!

Take a hand held propane torch & melt it into a ingot mold .

I try to make small ingots when pouring tin so I can cut em with limb shears .

[randyrat]

Hack saw will cut it, save the shavings or Tin dust.

[hedgehorn]

how much should I add to wheel weights for 44 mag and 45 acp boolits?

[Beagler]

I might be wrong but check with the other guys. I think around 2 percent. Please correct me if I;m wrong

[onesonek]

I melt it into coins/disc,,,,,can't remember whom the tip came from here, but bottom of pop cans make bout the right size. After a few, one can guess close enough for 1 or 2 oz pieces.

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

I'd melt it in a pot and pour tin boolits,
I used a Lee 50 cal real (350 gr.)
also, I pour large sprues and save/use those too.
Jon

[HammerMTB]

I pour small coins in my mini-muffin tin ingot pan. Then I weigh 'em and mark 'em. It's pretty easy to pick one that's the right weight for your pot of melt, or grab one side with pliers and get 1/2 if that's what you need.
I am very scotch with my tin. It is expensive, so I add only what I need to get filled out boolits. That's none with pistol, just a bit (1% or so) for rifle boolits.
If you're using pure or something close to it, you may need 2%, but WW don't need much.

[Mal Paso]

Got a Logsplitter? My 20 Ton 5 HP Splitter will divide tin and pure lead ingots without any dust.

[Down South]

how much should I add to wheel weights for 44 mag and 45 acp boolits?

2% should work well. for breaking it down, if you have a "smelting Pot" and an ingot mould, melt it down and make small ingots about 1/4" thick.

[prs]

For clip on WW metal when I am getting imperfect fills, I add about 1% tin and then see how it casts. If it needs another 1%, OK. Have never needed more. Keep moulds hot and casting temps fairly low with a good layer of clay granules on top of melt and your tin will not oxidize out too quickly. Use just enough to get the job done, it costs too much to waste. Its a SiN to waste tin ;-)

prs

[GP100man]

For clip on WW metal when I am getting imperfect fills, I add about 1% tin and then see how it casts. If it needs another 1%, OK. Have never needed more. Keep moulds hot and casting temps fairly low with a good layer of clay granules on top of melt and your tin will not oxidize out too quickly. Use just enough to get the job done, it costs too much to waste. Its a SiN to waste tin ;-)

prs

Try the WW as is first , then do as prs does .

more tin may help tuffen the alloy & castability but it won`t make it harder!

[hedgehorn]

been casting with wheel weights alone and having good fill out. I guess there aint no need fixin what isnt broken. Thanks for the replies.

[ku4hx]

I used to buy Linotype alloy in long thin ingots from a local printer. Those many years ago I paid $.40 cents per pound; they were something like 2"x2"x36". I laid them on our concrete patio and used a hatchet to hack off chunks to melt in my then brand new Lyman 10 lb. Mold Master.

It actually worked pretty well since I could cleave the stuff enough to break chunks off by hand precluding the need for concrete repair.

[captaint]

You're correct about not fixing what ain't broke. I have a Lee ingot mold, and pour up 1/2 lb ingots of pewter and call it good.