Is this from dirt in my lead?

[CBMC]

This is my second casting session. First session had a little bit of what you see in the picture, but this time it looked really bad. I was using a lee pro 20# bottom pour, lee 2 cavity molds, and bullplate sprue lube. I was fluxing with sawdust and using a paint stick to stir the lead. The lead was bought off a reputable member and the ignots looked clean. I was using 1-2% pewter with this lead. (cowws) I was thinking I need to drain and clean my pot, but am not sure. The pot was new when I got it, so this was only its second session. Any suggestions? Thanks in advance.

If this is in the wrong section, mods please feel free to move it.

[nagantguy]

Shoot them.and see, don't look bad to me, some discoloration shouldn't hurt if fill out is good and they are in round. Contrary to the pics here not every boolit cast is museum quality inn the looks department.

[Dan Cash]

Sure looks like dirt but hard to say for sure from the pix. Being a new pot, it could be scorched preservative oils from the pot; could be some residue from the sawdust. I am not a big fan of that method of fluxing. If you wish, remelt your pot of metal and put a table spoon of cooking oil on the surface once melted and stir that. Drop a match in with it so that the oil will burn and not smoke up every thing. When the burn is complete, use a spatula or similar tool and remove the dross from the surface. Cast and see if you don't have better luck.

[CBMC]

Thanks for the advice. I will definitely try the cooking oil trick. I haven't shot any yet. One I PC them I will take them to the range and try them out. With the cooking oil, do you put anything else on the surface to keep the lead from oxidizing?

[CBMC]

I don't think it'd be dirt, I'd be more inclined to agree with Dan on oils or whatnot.
Could it be from the sprue lube. Could I be applying too much. I am rubbing bullplate on top of the mold block (where the sprue contacts) and on the bottom of the sprue plate. Inside the actual bullet molds look clean.

[JSnover]

It looks like you alloy and temp are right. Try a different flux. The sawdust may not be doing what you need. Surf this thread for everything you ever wanted to know about fluxing;
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?42893-The-scientific-aspect-of-fluxing

[RickinTN]

Any dirt or leftover fluxing material (carbon or ash) should float to the top of your melt and not show up in your bullets with a bottom pour pot. I used some hallmarked pewter for tin once and had similar dark spots on my bullets but not as many as you have. Although it was hallmarked pewter I came to the conclusion it had some impurity I didn't want in my bullets. As already mentioned your bullets will probably shoot just fine. If you can try some roll solder for tin or cast some without adding the pewter and see if the spots go away.
Good Luck,
Rick

[725]

New pot - I'm with Dan Cash on this one. Melt - flux - skim - & cast a few more pots. If you run into a couple WW's that float when all the others have melted, pitch 'em. They are of another alloy and you don't need 'em in your mix. I bet it works out soon.

[jsizemore]

I would add to 725's comments also scrape the bottom and sides. Since your using a paint stick it will char and any loose pieces on the bottom or sides will be "pinned" there by the weight of the lead. Since you've already cleaned (fluxed) the lead in the smelting process, when your casting your concern is reducing the oxides and wax or oil will work for this without taking the chance of trapping carbon from your charred stick on the bottom. Clean your pot, add new alloy, try the wax/oil and see what happens.

[dg31872]

If you have a new pot, you may be using a new mould. Did you clean the mould thoroughly prior to casting? May be oil in the mould from manufacturing processes. I wash my moulds with dawn dish detergent and hot water, scrub with a toothbrush and blow dry with compressed air. Make sure it is really dry, then preheat.

[Ben]

CBMC


I'm sorry , I'd offer help but I can't see enough detail in your photo to really understand what the problem is ?

[CBMC]

Sorry, my phone camera isn't that good. Here are a couple more pics. Thanks for all the responses.

[Hannibal]

If you are pushing the sawdust down into the melt, this can cause what you are seeing. Paint sticks can as well. Someone will probably be along shortly to vehemently disagree, but this has been my experience. I still use sawdust, but just stir it around on top rather than submerging it and I use an old stainless spoon to stir with.

I no longer have problems with clogged/dripping spout issues, either.

[bangerjim]

Inclusions look like dirt or more likly flux material. I never use sawdust in my casting pots. Leaves too much stuff behind and I have found it on the sides and bottom. I know it is supposed to "float" but it does not always!

I use ONLY beeswax as a flux in my casting pot. A pea-sized piece if perfect! I do it when I add more feed ingots. Or when I see an Sn dull coating forming on the top. Beeswax turns the top mirror shiny like magic by putting the alloys back into the mix. All my ingots are guaranteed 110% clean, as I make them!

Try cleaning your pot, then skipping the sawdust and try some beeswax. For me and I know others, it works like magic, does not normally flair up (unless you are way too hot!) and smells great.

Let us know.

bangerjim

[VHoward]

If you have a new pot, you may be using a new mould. Did you clean the mould thoroughly prior to casting? May be oil in the mould from manufacturing processes. I wash my moulds with dawn dish detergent and hot water, scrub with a toothbrush and blow dry with compressed air. Make sure it is really dry, then preheat.
I find that when I preheat my mold on a single burner, the mold dries off really quick.

I never flux in my casting pot to clean the lead. I clean the lead in a separate pot using wax and then pour ingots from that. Only clean lead goes into my casting pot.

[CBMC]

Thanks for all the replies. Definitely have some ideas. Now I just have to get out in the cold and do them.

[Moonie]

Are you water dropping the boolits? I've seen this with water dropped, goes away when dropping onto towel. It has come up before and the guess is that it could be minerals in the water.

[tomme boy]

Same thing happens to me when I water drop the bullets

[John Allen]

Seconds on the beeswax. I use sawdust for my bulk processing. I use a dab of beeswax in the pot. It works for me.

[bangerjim]

Same thing happens to me when I water drop the bullets

I WD all of my boolits just to cool them off. Have never seen anything like that B4! And I use swimming pool water to drop in! Just scoop some out and go at it. Talk about high mineral content!!!!!!!

I still feel it is sawdust that is causing it and possibly some residual dirt in the pot or in the ingots?

banger

[runfiverun]

it's from not getting the carbon back out of the alloy.
try scraping the whole pot down really well with a metal utensil, you'll see stuff come up to the top.

[arjacobson]

If you are pushing the sawdust down into the melt, this can cause what you are seeing. Paint sticks can as well. Someone will probably be along shortly to vehemently disagree, but this has been my experience. I still use sawdust, but just stir it around on top rather than submerging it and I use an old stainless spoon to stir with.

I no longer have problems with clogged/dripping spout issues, either. My findings exactly!. I already have clean ingots and just melt them in the pot. Scrape the top of your lee pot when the lead is at operating temp.. Do NOT add any flux. Any scum that comes to the top gets left there until more lead is needed. Before adding more lead scrape sides. Every so often run the pot totally empty and clean well...

[bangerjim]

That "scum" on the top is you TIN oxidizing out. It needs to be reduced back in and the best and cleanest way (not having burnt carp in there like sawdust) is beeswax. A pot surface totally dull and "Scummy" will turn mirror shiny with a pea sized piece of beeswax and a bit of stirring!

Beeswax is far superior to standard wax candles and parafin as it's flash point is much higher and it smells great! Coming up is the time to look for beeswax candles on clearance at Bed Bath and Beyond and other places like that with the Jewish holiday candles going on clearance shortly! Or buy some from randyrat on here! http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?59975-100-fine-filtered-pure-beeswax-for-sale.

Just adding more feed ingots will only make the "scum" worse, from all the casting I have ever done. Gotta get that valuable Sn back in there!

Works LIke Magic!

banger

[GP100man]

Fux & stir , flux & stir !!!

1 aspect of fluxin that has`nt been mentioned is the temp we flux & stir at .
I find better results of fluxin & stirrin at higher temps , the alloys are more fluid & lets the carbon/dirt/**** float to the top easier, I`ve even had to let the temp settle down before starting to cast with a preheated mold!

I use parrifin at first (hot enuff to make it flash)stirring deeply, then use sawdust to insulate the top.

GP