bullseye308
Member
I have started casting some lead balls and might have run into a problem. I am using a Lee 4# pot with the temp set on 7, and lead from 1/2" sheet that is real soft(should be pure). When it melts I get the rainbow like I like but can't get it to go away and it starts to build up. After a few min it gets clumpy and fluxing with beeswax doesn't seem to make it wanna be one with the lead again. I skim it off and it seems to come back faster than the last time. After half an hour of this it starts turning colors in the ladle as soon as it comes out of the pot and leaving a skim in the ladle.
I have tried stirring with a fireplace match, piece of paint stick, dropped walnut shavings from a planer in it, and fluxing with beeswax. I have even tried combinations of these with the same results, lots of crap wanting to be skimed off. Is this normal, is it just me, if I need to keep that stuff in there how do I do that?
BTW, this lead is from a sheet that was 24"x8"x1/2" and was 35#. It was used in a business that made things from pure lead and this was left over. The few balls I did get cast are nice and shiney with no inclusions and the sprues are rainbowed nicely.
I have tried stirring with a fireplace match, piece of paint stick, dropped walnut shavings from a planer in it, and fluxing with beeswax. I have even tried combinations of these with the same results, lots of crap wanting to be skimed off. Is this normal, is it just me, if I need to keep that stuff in there how do I do that?
BTW, this lead is from a sheet that was 24"x8"x1/2" and was 35#. It was used in a business that made things from pure lead and this was left over. The few balls I did get cast are nice and shiney with no inclusions and the sprues are rainbowed nicely.