which flux is better

[RayinNH]

For those who have tried Marvelux and don't care for it, I am still a recommended disposal facility, and I don't charge for this service!

Now that's what you call a nice guy ...Ray

[rjbishop]

Has anyone tried walnut shells like used for tumbling cases?

Yes- I have used "Lizard Litter" for fluxing compound. It seems to work very well- although it takes a bit longer to fully turn to charcoal. You get lots of teeny weeny sparkling embers for several minutes.

The one thing that I didn't like- I ended up with quite a bit of brown residue on the side of the pot. Could be rust, along with some other oxide which I haven't figured out what it is. It's a bear to clean off the pot.

Franklin Arsenal flux compound? Yuck- I didn't like the "tar" that tends to form at higher temperatures. And I am convinced it causes tin and antimony to "leech" out of the mix and show up as dross.

I prefer paraffin now, as well as pine sawdust.

[mto7464]

just say no to used motor oil. Nasty stinky and smokey. Stay with saw dust charcoal or what ever else.

[armyrat1970]

Yes- I have used "Lizard Litter" for fluxing compound. It seems to work very well- although it takes a bit longer to fully turn to charcoal. You get lots of teeny weeny sparkling embers for several minutes.

The one thing that I didn't like- I ended up with quite a bit of brown residue on the side of the pot. Could be rust, along with some other oxide which I haven't figured out what it is. It's a bear to clean off the pot.

Franklin Arsenal flux compound? Yuck- I didn't like the "tar" that tends to form at higher temperatures. And I am convinced it causes tin and antimony to "leech" out of the mix and show up as dross.

I prefer paraffin now, as well as pine sawdust.

Have read often about sawdust, and kitty litter, and I am sure it works the same as CFF of Oak Leaves. I think any kind of leaf will work. Might even try some Pine Needles as my neighbor has several Pine trees that drop needles all over my yard and in my gutters. They are a pain to deal with. Clog my gutters all the time. If I can find some use for them it might be okay. Pine has alot of sap.
I once left my casting pot plugged in one night after casting with WWS. During the afternoon when at work I remembered that and was in dire straits until I could get home to unplug it. When I got home there were lumps of thick black looking tar like stuff floating on the top. I tried to flux and stir it, over and over back into the melt but got very little done. I am sure it was antimony that seperated from the lead alloy. I finaly just skimmed the rest off as dross. I poured ingots with the remaining alloy and mixed them with more WWS the next time I smelted. Didn't clean my pot as I figured over a period of time whatever remained would eventually melt and mix back in. Won't ever do that again though.

[Junior1942]

I read once that getting tin and antimony out of solution in lead was like getting salt out of solution in water. I haven't fluxed since, and many 1,000s of cast bullets later I am still casting good bullets. IMHO, fluxing is a waste of time. Unless, of course, you like the smoke.

[Shuz]

I read once that getting tin and antimony out of solution in lead was like getting salt out of solution in water. I haven't fluxed since, and many 1,000s of cast bullets later I am still casting good bullets. IMHO, fluxing is a waste of time. Unless, of course, you like the smoke.

You are correct that tin and antimony do not "come out of solution" once mixed. However, I flux to clean the melt of impurities. I've found that stirring the melt while adding flux, causes bits of grit and other impurities to easily float to the top and either be skimmed off, or be incorporated into the kitty litter, to be skimmed away later.

[sheepdog]

Best flux for your pour pot is just a good hardwood stick. If you're fluxing your big melt pot all though free crayons from kids meals work just fine or big ugly candles for 59 cents at goodwill.

[dragonrider]

When I got my new Lee 4-20 pot I have used nothing but sawdust and a stick, it has never had oil, wax, boolit lube or anything but wood. This pot is clean, there is nothing on the sides that has to be scraped off ever. In addition I began useing sawdust and a stick in my older Lee 10 pound pot that had had every kind of crap you can think of for flux, including Marvelux. Since switching to sawdust and a stick that pot has cleaned up and is now pristeen as my newer pot. IMHO sawdust and a stick is the only way to go. Use the species of choice however do not use pressure treated wood for this purpose.

[XWrench3]

i started off using parafin. like many others here. it seems to work just fine. at first, i thought the flames were kind of cool, but after it started singeing my leather gloves, i changed my mind about that. after reading several posts about fluxes, i tried sawdust. the thought of leaving it in the pot at first seemed a little weird. but it works. my family also like is, they tell me it smells like i am roasting marshmallows. i still use parafin sometimes, especially when i am smelting. when smelting i usually flux twice. once with parafin, and once with sawdust. scrape all the junk off, then i pour ingots. my father in law is a carpenter, so sawdust is no problem! last time i was down to his place, he gave me a 5 gallon pail full, and asked if i wanted more. i told him that this should last me a couple of years.

[Ugluk]

I tried charcoal last night. Completely odorless, no smoke, no nuffin. Seemed to work nice.
Would be ideal for kitchen casters.

[Trinot]

I use wax. I have used all different kinds of wax. Stuff from scented candles, colored candles, birthday cake candles, tea lights, etc. I have found my favorite wax to be the unscented, uncolored squares of wax used to make candles, I picked up a bag for a nickel at a yardsale. Although the differences between the different candle waxes is very minimal. I don't see myself using kitty litter or charcoal because I use a nice newish 20# lee bottom pour pot and I would just hate to put that gunk into my pot and have it clog the works up.

I am interested in giving a wooden stick a try though. Do you just throw a piece in there? I heard some people say they stirred with it but that doesn't make since because it seems like you would just be adding more oxygen to make oxidize the metals?

[snaggdit]

No, you stir with it. Lead is so heavy, it stays level with the pot level on the stick. You would really need to whip the pot to get any air down into your melt. The charcoal I use does not add any mess to the pot. It turns to ashes. I do not let it remain as the pot empties of course. Leave until you get down to the last 1/2 to 1" then remove or add more alloy and flux again and leave it. Combustion of sawdust or charcoal or wooden sticks takes oxygen and releases co2 as a product.

[38 Super Auto]

I have used candle wax, marvelux(hydroscopic), pine resin, sawdust, wood stirring stix, high carbon content deceased rodents, and various and sundry magic concoctions.

By far, stearic acid is the most effective for me. It does the best job of cleaning the melt and generates a fine powder on top that is scooped off and discarded.

It smokes like paraffin - you can light it off to eliminate most of the smoke. As most of us have already found out, it's better to light it that to wait for it to flash.

I bought a few lbs. from an online auction site e**Y

Cheers,

rob

[sniper]

I have tried motor oil, lube, Marvelux, (didn't like it or the residue it left on the pot) and finally, PatMarlin's California Flake Flux. Try saying that 3 times really fast! Especially after a beer or three.
I really like the Flake, it smells so nice, little mess, easy, and I stir with a paint stick. They do catch fire fairly regularly, which quickens the pulse till you get used to it. A clean pot, too!
Why make things harder than they need to be? When I run out, I'll order another box.

[fredj338]

I use sawdust in my smelt & stir w/ free paint sticks for HD. When casting, I use old spent bullets w/ lube in them & stir that w/ a wood paint stick. Everytime you add metal, flux a bit to keep things clean.

[rwt101]

I just started to use a paint stirrer. I saw it on here somewhere. It works great. The pot itself is very clean and no smoke or flames.
Bob T

[twally]

I have heard of several materials that people flux their pots with , but I am still unsure of the procedure to use when doing it.

I have only smelted WW into ingots, and what I did was throw in some bees wax and stir a little, I don't know if this is how you do it or not.
Also some guys say to cover the pot with saw dust.

And last do you do it differently when doing the final bullet casting?

Can someone please tell me from start to finish how to do this process? And how much of the stuff do you put in the pot per amount of lead.

Thank you Wally