Smelting rad shop solder.

[dieguy59]

So I scored about 70lbs of solder drippings. When I smelted, the first few ingots were shiney, the rest were dull. The surface started to skin over and 'crud' started to form. Now being afraid that I was fluxing out the tin, I shut it down until I could find an answer. My thermometer showed a temp of 500-550. I used the little candles for flux. Am I missing something? Any advice would be appriciated.

[Jailer]

You were oxidizing the tin. Lower the temp and you should be fine.

My solder ingots are dull too, nothing to worry about.

[dieguy59]

Thanks Jailer. I'll try that, too. Am told sawdust might be a better flux aswell. I was a pretty good score so I didn't want to do them all when I knew there was a problem. I can always turn the heat back on later.

[Ervin]

Smelting is the process of rendering metel from ore. We melt metal that has already been smelted. Not trying to be smarta$$ but thats just the way it is. Go to sawdust for flux and don't look back. Ervin.

[HamGunner]

When the ingot mold is very hot when you drop in the next pour, it will probably be quite a bit duller than the first few pours. Nothing wrong with it, just a bit frosty looking.