Pencil as a stir stick

[atom73]

Used a standard #2 pencil as a stir stick/flux while casting today in my lee pot. Worked great, just pulled the eraser end off one of the millions that my kids have around and stirred with it occasionally. I didn't have any bottom pour clogging issues or anything. Worked pretty well.
Mike

[RobS]

That would work, but there are those cheap pencils that aren't made of real wood too. I am assuming you had one made of real wood as I can see the cheapies flaming out and melting.

[atom73]

Nope, using the real thing.

[lwknight]

Paint stirring sticks cost between cheap and free at most stores that sell paint.
You can split them in half if you want a narrower stirer.

[fredj338]

Paint stirring sticks cost between cheap and free at most stores that sell paint.
You can split them in half if you want a narrower stirer.

Chop sticks work well for smaller pots, free @ most take-out places.

[frkelly74]

Pencils seem to be a rare thing around here at times. Especially right by the phone. But I have plenty of saw dust .

[Moonie]

Pencils I have, mechanical ones, all I can find when writing checks....pens disappear right about then.

Thankfully I have a supply of the commercial size paint stickes, free at Lowe's or Home Depot.

[JDL]

I use fat lighter pine sticks or pine resine. Emits a very pleasant aroma.
JDL

[xr650]

Wouldn't you get lead in your melt?
Or is this a super secret graphite alloy?

[Larry Gibson]

I thought it was to get more lead in your pencil........

Larry Gibson

[onondaga]

Laughs on the graphite alloy. Graphite is a terrific anti-flux. I used the #2 pencil for scribbling on cobalt chrome partial denture framework repairs when micro-gas welding or resistance brazing when I worked as a Dental Lab owner. The graphite would keep the repair metal from flowing to undesired areas. The #2 pencil did carry over into my bullet casting in an unusual way. I scribble in the funnel gates of my bullet molds if they start to get lead sticking there. If I get smudges of lead on the under side of sprue plates or the top of molds, I scribble them also after cleaning them with heat and a brass brush. This keeps the molds nicely maintained for me.

Gary

[Hardcast416taylor]

Now this is a way to use that dozen or more flat carpenter pencils that people gave me at one time or another. Their being flat means they would stir better than round ones.Robert

[bruce drake]

I sometimes use pencils to stir my Lee 10lb pot. THey work fine and leave a good smell.

I primarily use sawdust and a old metal teaspoon that I inserted into a wooden handle (1" split dowel) with acraglass but sometimes I use a handy pencil if I can't find the flux spoon or my can of sawdust is low.

Bruce

[stainless1911]

popsicle sticks work pretty well.

[gwilliams2]

Paint stirring sticks work great..

[XWrench3]

i steal the wifes wooden spoons. they work quite well, as long as they are dry. the wet ones cause the tinsel fairy to visit.