Gold Color in Range Lead Melt

[RoadBike]

I've run a few melts of range scrap, and in each one, I've noticed a gold-colored layer atop the melt as I am getting into pouring the ingots. Is this tin?

I've assumed it was and have done my best to stir it in with the ladle as I'm pouring ingots.

[Retumbo]

I'd be surprised if you had that much tin in range scrap. sometimes pure will display a purple-goldish layer

[runfiverun]

it is tin.
your heat is a bit too high. [over 750-f]
easy fix.
throw a chunk of candle on there, and light it on fire after it melts.
stir the tin back in.

[RoadBike]

it is tin.
your heat is a bit too high. [over 750-f]
easy fix.
throw a chunk of candle on there, and light it on fire after it melts.
stir the tin back in.

That's kinda what I suspected, but I am so new at this, I didn't know for sure, and I need all the help I can get. Thanks!

[osteodoc08]

it is tin.
your heat is a bit too high. [over 750-f]
easy fix.
throw a chunk of candle on there, and light it on fire after it melts.
stir the tin back in.

This right here. If you let it get warmer you get other pretty colors.......ask me how I know.

[Retumbo]

I stand corrected. I have never had gold colored ingots other than my pewter.

[RoadBike]

I stand corrected. I have never had gold colored ingots other than my pewter.

My finished ingots aren't gold colored, but the liquid in my (s)melting pot always seems to develop a small gold-colored layer as I'm pouring ingots. Some of the folks at the range where I'm scrounging range scrap shoot cast boolits. I'm guessing that's the major source of the tin.

[DerekP Houston]

My finished ingots aren't gold colored, but the liquid in my (s)melting pot always seems to develop a small gold-colored layer as I'm pouring ingots. Some of the folks at the range where I'm scrounging range scrap shoot cast boolits. I'm guessing that's the major source of the tin.

I've seen the odd colors from high temp as well, and I've seen it develop a hard crust from me leaving it on too long. I started just saving all my skimmings in a separate container and will add it back in when I melt a large back to turn into ingots. With range scrap there is no telling what you will collect, but my theory is if it was bullets before it can be boolits again....

[osteodoc08]

I've seen the odd colors from high temp as well, and I've seen it develop a hard crust from me leaving it on too long. I started just saving all my skimmings in a separate container and will add it back in when I melt a large back to turn into ingots. With range scrap there is no telling what you will collect, but my theory is if it was bullets before it can be boolits again....

There is a good amount of antimony and tin in those skimmings. I also save mine for my next smelting session.

keeping a layer of melted beeswax on the top of your melt prevents oxidation and losing the tin/antimony (better than nothing)