Just as the title says. Can shavings be used as well as sawdust?
Just as the title says. Can shavings be used as well as sawdust?
Sawdust, yes. As long as its not from treated wood. Chemicals. I’ve been using sawdust from white wood/cabinet shop. Works for me.
They will both work. Untreated pine is the best.
Smaller/thinner chips burn off faster and easier.
”We know they are lying, they know they are lying, they know we know they are lying, we know they know we know they are lying, yet they are still lying.” –Aleksandr Isayevich Solzhenitsyn
My Straight Shooters thread:
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/show...raight-shooter
The Pewter Pictures and Hallmarks thread:
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/show...-and-hallmarks
I use pine shavings from Tractor Supply. They seam to work fine. $5. Worth goes a long way.
Table saw,jointer.planer,chain saw,Have all worked for me.I agree pine is best.
Last Sunday I used some pine chips from my spiral head planer (not fine dust) along with candle wax. I really like how it fluxed the pot better using both verses one or the other. The pine was some Nebraska beetle killed pine that was over 10 Years old but still a little sappy when I went to work it. The chips didn’t appear to be sappy at all.
I have a barrel full of oak and one full of walnut (walnut fine) figured I try them next.
I prefer dust over chips, but it all works, but dust works better.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“If someone has a gun and is trying to kill you, it would be reasonable to shoot back with your own gun.”
― The Dalai Lama, Seattle Times, May 2001
Brownells magnaflux or Frankfort Armory flux has worked fine for me for over 20 years.
Art
”Only accurate rifles are interesting”
——Townsend Whelen
In a time of universal deceit , telling the truth is a revolutionary act
—- George Orwell
+1 on the table saw and jointer leavings. Do NOT decide to use green treat sawdust! Learned that one the hard way after putting in the wife's chicken coup!! I don't believe the smell is completely gone after 4 years.
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I use pine shavings that are sold as pet bedding.
Pine that’s “pitchy” would be even better. Pitch acts like rosin and more aggressively fluxes the melt.
Three44s
Quote Originally Posted by Bret4207
“There is more to this than dumping lead in a hole.”
Any organic matter that is carbon-based will work, as long as it does not have other chemicals in it like treated lumber does. I even used dried leaves & small sticks in the back yard.
A fluxing agent is NOT limited to just pine wood!!!!!!!!
If using a bottom pour pot it can clog the spout and cause inclusions in your bullets. Burned stuff collects in the alloy and hard to get it all out. I just use candle/bees wax.
Whatever!
My great grandfather's method for his sinkers and bullets (and toy soldiers for us....) was dried horse manure - from a young horse preferably. I do still use that on occasion.
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”We know they are lying, they know they are lying, they know we know they are lying, we know they know we know they are lying, yet they are still lying.” –Aleksandr Isayevich Solzhenitsyn
My Straight Shooters thread:
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/show...raight-shooter
The Pewter Pictures and Hallmarks thread:
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/show...-and-hallmarks
If a 41 won't stop it, I wouldn't bet my life on a 44.
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