Stearic Acid

[TX BOOMER]

Ran across some stearic acid , so I picked it up. Now that I have the stuff tell me the pro's and con's of it for fluxing . Thanks :Fire:

[oneokie]

Some good informative reading here:

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/search.php?searchid=445738

[leftiye]

Oneokie, your URL didn't bring anything up , at least for me.

Stearic acid is one of the best reducing agents - to reduce the oxides back into pure metal. True Fluxes (Marvelux, and that midway stuff) just encapsulate the crud so you can remove it from your melt, AND coat your pot with same. My inclination is to reduce the oxides etc., until only grey ashlike dross is left, and to remove that with a holy spoon. I like to use a little stearic acid and a little rosin together, and to stir with a hardwood dowel. Once you get your pot clean, put a covering of ground charcoal on top to stop further oxidation. If you melt in a separate pot and flux the metal before pouring it into your casting pot, stirring a little with the stick will be all that is needed in the casting pot.

[oneokie]

leftiye, thanks for the heads up on the link. It works now.