Brick Red Floaters - What Is It?

[38-72]

When I flux my melt, I often find a few marble size chucks of a brick red colored rock looking stuff floating on top the melted lead. I can crush them with my pliers. They are very light and brittle. Anyone have an idea as to what this stuff might be?

[BNE]

It has to be something you are putting in....

Can you tell us what alloys you are using and what flux you are using?

[38-72]

I had the lead analyzed a while back, here are the numbers:
Antimony 0.72
Copper 0.48
Titanium 1.75
Tin 1.88
Bismuth 2.31
Lead 92.86

I flux with wood sawdust. The lead cast very nicely.

[SlippShodd]

Range scrap? Could be sintered copper bullets.

mike

[osteodoc08]

Hmm. Titanium, Bismuth and Copper. Any idea what your BHN is?

I doubt it's a jacket since it can crush and is light. The sintered metal is a possibility but I'd expect it to not be described as light.

Pull one out. Let it cool and analyze further.

[38-72]

BHN -- I used a Cabin Tree unit and the lead tested out at about 1-30 tin/lead. It does cast very well.

[BNE]

Is your pot rusty at all? I have scrubbed the sides of my pot with a stainless spoon and had clumps of "stuff" pop up. If it was rust, it would be magnetic. I do not have any experience with Bismuth. Sorry, I'm not much help on this one.