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Old 01-10-2010, 08:47 PM
canoeguy canoeguy is offline
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When melting lead for bullet casting, what is the purpose of "Fluxing"? When melting lead for bullet casting, what is the purpose of "Fluxing"? When melting lead for bullet casting, what is the purpose of "Fluxing"? When melting lead for bullet casting, what is the purpose of "Fluxing"? When melting lead for bullet casting, what is the purpose of "Fluxing"?  
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Default When melting lead for bullet casting, what is the purpose of "Fluxing"?

Well, I recieved all my bullet casting gear, melter, molds, etc,. Built my dedicated casting bench. I'll post pictures of it once I start casting. The only thing that has kept me from casting has been the extreme cold temperatures, I have to cast in the garage and it is unheated, so I'm waiting for temperatures to rise out of the 20's...

Temps are forecast to warm this week, so I'll probably start tomorrow. I've got a handle on how to do everything, just don't understand "Why" the fluxing. Instructions for my lead melter say to melt your pot of lead, then add a pea sized ball of wax to the melted lead, stir it in, then start casting. They call this "Fluxing". What does this fluxing do?
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Old 01-10-2010, 08:52 PM
robertrwalsh robertrwalsh is online now
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When melting lead for bullet casting, what is the purpose of "Fluxing"? When melting lead for bullet casting, what is the purpose of "Fluxing"? When melting lead for bullet casting, what is the purpose of "Fluxing"? When melting lead for bullet casting, what is the purpose of "Fluxing"?  
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If memory serves, fluxing helps the three basic components mix better (lead, tin, antimony). It may also help the **** drift to the top but I am not so sure about that.
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Old 01-10-2010, 08:54 PM
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When melting lead for bullet casting, what is the purpose of "Fluxing"? When melting lead for bullet casting, what is the purpose of "Fluxing"?  
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Let's look at what a flux is expected to do, and how some of the different fluxes work. When we melt a pot of bullet metal, we have a high temperature pool of liquid metal in contact with the air. The oxygen in the air slowly oxidizes the metal at the interface; the hotter the metal, the faster this oxidation takes place. Since this is a heated liquid pool, convection leads to rapid turnover at the surface of the liquid, and the more easily oxidized components of the melt are preferentially oxidized as this mixing takes place. The resulting oxides are almost always insoluble in the molten alloy, so they tend to separate and form a separate phase. In the case of bullet casting alloys, tin is more readily oxidized than is lead, so the tin oxide forms a "skin" across the surface of the melt.

Some of the other metals that may be present as minor impurities are even easier to oxidize, and "follow" the tin up into the "skin" (lead is pretty dense stuff and most all of these oxides are of lower density, so they float).

What we want a flux to do is to remove those impurities that affect the surface tension of the alloy and cause problems during casting (most notable here are things like calcium, aluminum, zinc and copper). In addition, we want to remove any wettable particulate matter that might go on to form inclusions in our bullets. Since tin is so valuable to the bullet caster, it would be helpful if we could slow down, or even reverse its oxidation. These are the things that we ask a flux to do.

http://www.lasc.us/FryxellFluxing.htm

Last edited by OKFC05; 01-10-2010 at 09:08 PM.
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Old 01-10-2010, 08:58 PM
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When melting lead for bullet casting, what is the purpose of "Fluxing"? When melting lead for bullet casting, what is the purpose of "Fluxing"? When melting lead for bullet casting, what is the purpose of "Fluxing"? When melting lead for bullet casting, what is the purpose of "Fluxing"? When melting lead for bullet casting, what is the purpose of "Fluxing"?  
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It allows the tin and other harder than lead alloys(which float to the top and appear as a dull gray scum on top of the shiny silver colored lead)to mix back into the lead.

Last edited by pistola; 01-10-2010 at 09:19 PM.
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Old 01-11-2010, 08:12 AM
canoeguy canoeguy is offline
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When melting lead for bullet casting, what is the purpose of "Fluxing"? When melting lead for bullet casting, what is the purpose of "Fluxing"? When melting lead for bullet casting, what is the purpose of "Fluxing"? When melting lead for bullet casting, what is the purpose of "Fluxing"? When melting lead for bullet casting, what is the purpose of "Fluxing"?  
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Code Broken! Thanks for the replys.

High temps in the 40's today, a little shooting at the range, then some bullet casting....

Canoeguy
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Old 01-11-2010, 10:34 PM
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When melting lead for bullet casting, what is the purpose of "Fluxing"? When melting lead for bullet casting, what is the purpose of "Fluxing"? When melting lead for bullet casting, what is the purpose of "Fluxing"? When melting lead for bullet casting, what is the purpose of "Fluxing"? When melting lead for bullet casting, what is the purpose of "Fluxing"?  
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You'll wind up with cleaner lead and more consistent bullets. Prettier too because no matter how clean you think you've gotten your lead when you smelted it some bits of trash seem to stay in it. Fluxing gives you a shot at getting it out before you pour.
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Old 01-11-2010, 10:54 PM
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When melting lead for bullet casting, what is the purpose of "Fluxing"? When melting lead for bullet casting, what is the purpose of "Fluxing"? When melting lead for bullet casting, what is the purpose of "Fluxing"? When melting lead for bullet casting, what is the purpose of "Fluxing"? When melting lead for bullet casting, what is the purpose of "Fluxing"?  
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Excellent responses.

Now, just what are you using to flux with?

Over on the CastBoolits forum it has been realized that the actual workhourse of fluxing is carbon. That's what does the work. So where do get carbon?

Too easy. A stick, some sugar, even asparagus! Something you put into the pot that will burn (carbonization) will do the trick.

Of course you don't use asparagus. Take a small stick or piece of wood and stuff it down into the melt. Rub it along the sides of the pot, and all around the bottom while you stir.

That will help break loose all the gunk that can tend to stick to the bottom and sides. Lead and lead alloys are so heavy and have such a high surface tension that lighter particles can get stuck submerged.

Even though most everything encounted in ordinary life will technically float in lead, the really small bits can get stuck under the weight. Even rifle bullet jackets.

Or you can spend the big bucks on all the magical fluxing compounds that are sold. Your call.


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Old 01-12-2010, 08:08 PM
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When melting lead for bullet casting, what is the purpose of "Fluxing"?  
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Catshooter View Post
Excellent responses.

Now, just what are you using to flux with?

Cat
I used bits of candles left over from my first wedding. It worked out a lot better than the marriage did.
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Old 01-12-2010, 08:39 PM
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I have a baby food jar full of wax from a wax ring that is used as a floor seal under the comode "indoor potty" . Works well for me.
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Old 01-13-2010, 12:38 AM
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When melting lead for bullet casting, what is the purpose of "Fluxing"? When melting lead for bullet casting, what is the purpose of "Fluxing"? When melting lead for bullet casting, what is the purpose of "Fluxing"? When melting lead for bullet casting, what is the purpose of "Fluxing"? When melting lead for bullet casting, what is the purpose of "Fluxing"?  
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The wax works well in entering carbon into the mix, but you can't scrape the sides and bottom of the pot with 'em.

Plain old wood is the best.


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Old 01-13-2010, 09:54 AM
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When melting lead for bullet casting, what is the purpose of "Fluxing"? When melting lead for bullet casting, what is the purpose of "Fluxing"? When melting lead for bullet casting, what is the purpose of "Fluxing"? When melting lead for bullet casting, what is the purpose of "Fluxing"? When melting lead for bullet casting, what is the purpose of "Fluxing"?  
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Just be certain that wood stick is COMPLETELY DRY. I use a piece of wood dowel, half inch or so, and ocassionally hear a little whistle as moisture escapes. I start with a piece about 14-16" long and I discard it when I feel my hand getting too close to the pot. This usually takes several casting sessions.
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Old 02-23-2010, 02:03 AM
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I found either bacon grease, or bees wax (I used to get it for free, from a man who raised bees) worked the best when I was melting down wheel weights, to get the 'good stuff' to go into the melt, and all the **** to float to the top, so I could skim it off.

I 'mixed and scraped' with my pouring 'scoop'.

YMMV.
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Old 02-23-2010, 09:51 AM
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When melting lead for bullet casting, what is the purpose of "Fluxing"? When melting lead for bullet casting, what is the purpose of "Fluxing"? When melting lead for bullet casting, what is the purpose of "Fluxing"? When melting lead for bullet casting, what is the purpose of "Fluxing"? When melting lead for bullet casting, what is the purpose of "Fluxing"?  
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The pea-sized ball of wax tip is intended for when you are about to pour from your furnace, not when you have a smelting pot full of lots of lead. During smelting, you should use enough wax to cover the molten metal with 1/4" of liquid that will last for one minute as it burns off while stirring.

p. 51, Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook 3rd Ed.

When actually casting bullets, I'm using sawdust to slow down contact with the air and minimize oxidation.
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Old 02-23-2010, 10:52 AM
canoeguy canoeguy is offline
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When melting lead for bullet casting, what is the purpose of "Fluxing"? When melting lead for bullet casting, what is the purpose of "Fluxing"? When melting lead for bullet casting, what is the purpose of "Fluxing"? When melting lead for bullet casting, what is the purpose of "Fluxing"? When melting lead for bullet casting, what is the purpose of "Fluxing"?  
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Thanks, Nitesite, more wax...

This bullet casting thing can be addictive! So far, I have found two great bullets, a .38 caliber LRN, and a 45/70 350 grain. I have cast hundreds of each, and have yet to buy lead! I was given two five gallon buckets of wheel weights, and I melted down a bunch of cast lead 45/70 bullets that didn't shoot good in my Marlin.

Our club has a monthly High Power Rifle Match, the full course shot at 100 yards on reduced targets. I have not been participating, as I didn't want to buy a $1000 AR-15 and spend big bucks on reloading or buying bullets for it, so I intend to compete this summer with my 45/70 Marlin, shooting my cast lead 350 grainers at 1200 FPS, they shoot excellent in the Marlin......

My cost per round should be around .05 cents or so, just the cost of the primer and powder...

Next experiment is to find a good .30 caliber cast lead bullet for my Winchester 30/30.
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Old 02-23-2010, 10:53 AM
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When melting lead for bullet casting, what is the purpose of "Fluxing"? When melting lead for bullet casting, what is the purpose of "Fluxing"? When melting lead for bullet casting, what is the purpose of "Fluxing"? When melting lead for bullet casting, what is the purpose of "Fluxing"? When melting lead for bullet casting, what is the purpose of "Fluxing"?  
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Nothing smells as good as a piece of cedar stirred around in a pot of hot lead. Reminds you of the smell when you were a kid and had the old woodburning kit going.
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Old 02-23-2010, 09:23 PM
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When melting lead for bullet casting, what is the purpose of "Fluxing"? When melting lead for bullet casting, what is the purpose of "Fluxing"? When melting lead for bullet casting, what is the purpose of "Fluxing"? When melting lead for bullet casting, what is the purpose of "Fluxing"? When melting lead for bullet casting, what is the purpose of "Fluxing"?  
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When I don't have old candles for fluxing my wheelweight smelt, I buy a block of GulfWax in the canning section of the grocery store. It works great. In order to get the one-minute burning time I mentioned earlier (so I can stir and scrape the sides) I use about 1/3 of a wax plate (there are four in one box). I've even done it twice if I thought I could still clean up the melt even more before pouring ingots.
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