Saw dust for flux!No way

[Fly]

I love this board.I have learned so much in such a short time from you
guys.Now maybe I can give something back.

I have been reading the saw dust flex thread.At first I thought no way
& the more people that try it I knew it must work.Well I was casting to day
but had no saw dust.

Being I live in the woods I thought?LEAF, I have them every were.I
went & got some dry oak leaves ground them up by rubbing them in between
my hands & threw them in the pot.

WORKED GREAT!:lovebooli

Fly

[lwknight]

I never could prove that sawdust or the likes is as good of a flux as wax for reducing oxides but for extended casting sessions like using a single cavity mold with a 20# pot, would help prevent excessive oxidation by covering the surface with ash.

[wmitty]

FLY

I agree that leaves, especially red oak leaves; work quite well for flux material.

Sounds too good to be true, but I have done it a number of times with great results.

[prs]

Hmmmmmmmmm... Pine straw (needels). Would smell good, has some pitch in it and would work well to boot.

prs

[Fly]

Hey I knew I could not be the first to think of leaves.But hey they work great, don't
they wmitty.There part of the tree!SMILE
Fly

[BLTsandwedge]

Dammit.....just tried a banana leaf and knocked the pot over...........

[geargnasher]

Watch those oak leaf fumes, but you're using good ventilation anyway, right?

Gear

[rondog]

Um, wouldn't even the slightest bit of dampness in any leaf be bad ju-ju? I hear so much about "The Fairy".

[shooter75126]

The fairy only comes when moisture is forced below the surface of the melt. You need to leave the sawdust, leaves, pine needles, etc. on top of the melt until they dry out and char, so that they have no moisture left in them. Then stir into melt and flux as usual.

[303Guy]

I've said it before. I like the way you think,Fly!:drinks:

I've tried fluxing and stiring with dry sticks and then, because I had to know, wet sticks and 'green' sticks! (It's best to wear safety gear when doing things like that).[smilie=1: There were no 'visits' but the melt does bubble rather vigorously. I cover my melt with 'Kitty Litter' and before that, sand. The 'Kitty Litter' prevented any lead splashing out (it also reduces oxidation).

[leftiye]

Crushed charcoal.

[AZ-Stew]

Crushed charcoal.

Hint: Don't use Match Light.

Regards,

Stew

[Dave B]

I used sawdust from reg pine lumber. I put in a layer about 1/2" thick in 20 lb pot. The heavy acrid smoke chased me out of the garage for awhile, but after the smoke cleared, it seem to work real good. It seals the surface with carbon for quite a while before it finally burns away.

[docone31]

Kitty litter is great! Lasts forever, and slows down rejects for remelt. I have used sawdust also. That works well. Lasts a long time.
However, the absolute best flux I have used in the pot, is PAM! Does not really smoke, does not ignite, and fluxes for a long time. I have taken to a dose of spray now and again on top of the mold. A little dab will do ya!
Makes a good flux.

[qajaq59]

Anything that will turn into carbon works. Leaves, wood, paper. You name it.

[mike in co]

Dammit.....just tried a banana leaf and knocked the pot over...........



ya gotta take the seeds out first....

[sundog]

Ash from the wood stove.