Question on recycled lead...

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opencountry
Posts: 3236
Joined: Thu Apr 14, 2005 8:26 pm
Location: WA State

Re: Question on recycled lead...

Post by opencountry »

Woody wrote: Mon Dec 28, 2020 6:41 pm I just don't flux. Stir and skim. Discard the scum. The amount of waste is so small, it ain't worth the worry. All fluxing does is to turn the small amount of lead oxide back into metalic lead. I have had the scum tested and it is the same alloy mix as the main melt. Do your research and you will find the same results.

Woody
I’m glad you mentioned the ‘scum’ that accumulates on the top of the melt. I’m pretty new to casting, and I’ve always wondered if I was doing something wrong by removing this burned-looking ‘scum’. This sets my mind at ease. Thnx!
Robert
Beware of the man that owns one rifle.
Perentie
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Location: Queensland, Australia.

Re: Question on recycled lead...

Post by Perentie »

Thats interesting. I thought fluxing was to keep the tin in the mix, and if one did not flux the tin floated and was skimmed off.
Woody
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Joined: Sat Feb 07, 2009 9:02 am
Location: Freetown, Indiana

Re: Question on recycled lead...

Post by Woody »

Nope. Once the tin/lead alloy is melted, it is a true alloy and will not separate. I'm not the chemist, but I have talked to several and researched this. Antimony alloys are not alloys, they are a mechanical mix. The antimony forms a matrix not a alloy, and again fluxing just doesn't justify the mess.

Woody
Richard A. Wood
If you are surrounded. You are in a target rich environment.
opencountry
Posts: 3236
Joined: Thu Apr 14, 2005 8:26 pm
Location: WA State

Re: Question on recycled lead...

Post by opencountry »

Good stuff, Woody.
Robert
Beware of the man that owns one rifle.
mdeland
Posts: 11708
Joined: Mon Nov 20, 2006 1:47 pm

Re: Question on recycled lead...

Post by mdeland »

One of the things that helps reduce lead oxidation when using saw dust as flux is to leave the residue (ash) on top the melt. It's the oxygen in the air at the surface that is causing the lead to oxidize. This method works best when using a bottom pour pot.
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