[ohman11]

What do you guys use to flux with in your production pot?

[Griz44]

I use bullet lube or candle wax. I have to use about twice as much wax as lube to get the same results. Guess the lube has more carbon in it. I see you are in Arlington. What part of Arlington? I am in the North side near Fielder.

[Galil5.56]

Crayola crayons and canning wax burned off while working. Tried Marvelux several times over the years, but always got rusting of my elec pot, and dipper regardless of what Brownell's says.

Also didn't like the gray foaming dross Marvelux creates.

[ohman11]

Griz we must be close.....Park row and Fielder.

[ants]

Bullet lube. It's cheap enough, always on hand, and perfect for lubricating the pivot and pins on the mold. Be careful to keep it out of the mold cavity itself.

[Griz44]

Interlochen.
Where do you go shoot? We need to get together and load/shoot compare notes.

[ohman11]

Well I go to Alpine mostly, what about you?

[Griz44]

Alpine and Elm Fork mostly, when weather is bad to Winchester Gallery or Dallas GC.

[ohman11]

What is elm fork

[.38 Special]

Paraffin wax is the "standard" and is what I use. It works fine, but does burn off. I re-flux every half hour or so, and whenever adding alloy to the pot.

[Griz44]

Elm Fork (http://www.elmfork.com/index.html)

Great place, shotgun Clays, stands, rifle, pistol, classes, etc....

[ReloaderFred]

In the 150 pound smelting pot, I use saw dust, but in the 20 pound and 40 pound casting pots, I use Marvellux. I haven't had a problem with it and it does a good job.

Hope this helps.

Fred

[1944jimh]

Find some talow. Just take a piece about the size of a half a dominoe chip and drop it into the top of your furnace. The talow will proably melt and smoke(don't worry the house will smell but your lead will now be clean) now you will notice a slag on top of your melt. Take something like a teaspoon to skim off the top of your melt. After removal the top should have a silver look. Congradulations your lead is clean.

[ohman11]

I am not sure where to get tallow, also does the Paraffin flame when you add it?

[ohman11]

Griz, I would like to get together sometime. I cant believe I have not heard of Elm Fork, it looks like a great place.

[1944jimh]

Talow is fat off a deer or beef animal, usually looks like a fatty deposit white in color. If you can't find talow just use Cristo. Buy it in the grocery store, about a half a teaspoon dumped into the lead will clean up your melt - don't worry if it lights up, it will burn out fast.

[ohman11]

Well I have tried several things but most want to flame up before I get it stirred in.

[38 Super Auto]

I use paraffin because it's pretty cheap, although it has gone up about 60%+ in the last few months. I suggest flaming it to burn off the vaporized paraffin.

[Zeke/PA]

Beeswax

[ants]

If you use Crisco, be careful of its water content. It works, just be cautious with it.

[ohman11]

I am going to try the crisco.......Maybe a teaspoon in a 20 pound pot?

[lordgroom]

wax from a toilet ring and motor oil.

[dmftoy1]

Paint "stir sticks"

Let's me "stir" and flux all the way to the bottom really easily. I can't prove it but I think it lets me scrape the sides of the pot pretty effectively as well.

Hint: If you've got a ventless propane heater in your garage/casting space then store your paint stir sticks in an ammo can with a dessicant .. .otherwise they absorb moisture and you can get a visit from the mini tinsel fairly when you dip them all the way to the bottom of the pot . . .not that I would now from experience or anything . .nobody would be THAT stupid. :O

[.38 Special]

FWIW, there are an awful lot of different fluxing methods, and good results can be had with most of them. I would simply pick one of the more common ones and forget about it.

[David Wile]

Hey folks,

I have always used wax paraffin in any form such as old candles or new blocks. I also deliberately get it to flame by getting some melted material on the pouring ladle, catching it on fire and then firing the wax in the pot. The flame keeps the smoke down and is not a hazard to me. I just work in the wax flux while it burns and skim off the dross after the flame goes out.

Best wishes,
Dave Wile

[454PB]

Marvelux or Ivory soap. Put a bar of Ivory in a quart freezer bag, then mash it up with a hammer. No flames, fluxes very well, and little smoke.

[Hunter0924]

Wax toilet rings. They are cheap and many supply houses will have some that are damaged for even cheaper.