20 to 1 alloy

[Sando]

I'm mixing pure tin (from Rotometals) to scrap lead to make 20 to 1 for my 45-70. Does it matter what order I melt them? Lead first or tin first? Also, how do I keep them mixed? Seems like the tin floats to the top (the dark grey stuff) or is that the lead oxide from my scrap lead?

[imashooter2]

It doesn't matter what you melt first although adding 20 parts to one part is going to freeze the one part right up. I just put all the metal in the pot at once and start the fire.

Once the tin is melted into the lead, it is alloyed and will not separate. The skim you see at the top of the pot is oxides and dirt. Search on flux and fluxing for valuable information on reducing these oxides back into the melt.

[idahoron]

if you are using scrap lead how do you know you are at 20-1? Ron

[Sando]

Foolishly assuming my scrap roofer's flashing is pure lead. It's super soft and flexible if that means anything.

[imashooter2]

There are many scrap sources that for all intents and purposes are "pure lead" to the hobby caster. Your roof flashing scrap is one of them.

[idahoron]

The roof flashing lead I have is a little harder than pure but not by much. It ran about .036 to .042 on my cabin tree. Somewhere between 5 and 8 BHN. They make GREAT muzzleloader bullets. Ron