dissolving antimony chunks

[Oklahoma Rebel]

whats the best way to dissolve antimony chunks into lead? I was going to break them up if I can, as much as possible, then just keep stirring into my lead/4%tin/trace sb alloy. whats the best flux to use? and any other tips you might have would be appreciated. thanks a lot! Travis

[websterz]

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?37734-How-to-melt-antimony

[HangFireW8]

Keep stirring but also keep a layer of dry sawdust on top to prevent oxidation. That means its a bit messy, but don't worry. You can flux out all the carbon later.

-HF

[country gent]

If in a hurry I melt it in a ladle with a tourch and add in stirring as I add it back. Fluxing helps a lot also. I use sawdust and wax mixed to flux. Stiring to not only mix but scrapping the sides and bottom as well bringing the mix up and thru the flux and then the flux down thru the mix. SInce antimony melts at 1100* or so pre melting speeds the absorbtion somewhat.

[fredj338]

Best way to get antimony into your alloy is buy it in an alloy form like lino. Pure antimony takes a lot of heat.

[runfiverun]

I put it in at about 600-625-F
stir, stir, stir, wetting the surface helps.
I have sprinkled marvelux on the surface to help, sprinkle like from a salt shaker and get the antimony in while the stuff is fizzing and wet. [not glass]
add in about 1/2 tsp of the antimony at a time.
get it hot in the alloy, then sprinkle on the flux and stir, stir ,stir.

[Oklahoma Rebel]

will a regular old propane torch melt it?

[triggerhappy243]

The key is 1100 deg. F

[TexasGrunt]

Try adding a rusty nail to the pot. That's a VERY old trick that Gutenberg figured out.

[Oklahoma Rebel]

what is the science behind that, I love learning new stuff when it comes to alloys and such.

[TexasGrunt]

Google it.

Just something that I remember from a very good history teacher about 40 years ago. It wasn't that Gutenberg was the first to use moveable type. It was that he was the first one to figure out long lasting moveable type.

[308Jeff]

Chuck Norris just punches it in with his fist. No science needed.

[Oklahoma Rebel]

just punch the SB? ok, will do