Pot of melted lead.

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larryw
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Pot of melted lead.

Post by larryw »

Need some help from any & all experienced casters.
What would cause a pot full of wheel weight + 2% tin, to turn into
something resembling small curd cottage cheese ??
Pot was clean. Alloy was clean, running between 675 & 700 degrees.
Any & all responses greatly appreciated.
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Re: Pot of melted lead.

Post by Ranch Dog »

Stick on wheel weights (zinc, composite, or plastic)?

Did you try adding a flux like sawdust? I cut strips of cedar fencing to use as my stir sticks but a simple wooden paint stick works just as well.

A picture would be nice.
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Re: Pot of melted lead.

Post by larryw »

Yea, fluxed with saw dust, & I use paint sticks. I'll try for some pictures later
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Re: Pot of melted lead.

Post by Ranch Dog »

larryw wrote:Yea, fluxed with saw dust, & I use paint sticks. I'll try for some pictures later
So it has to be the alloy then.
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Re: Pot of melted lead.

Post by larryw »

Couldn't get the picture to upload from my computer so I did the Photo Bucket
thing, I hope it works??? I'm going to empty the pot & toss it, Just can't figure
it, I was using the same ingots & cast up about 500 148gr button nosed wad cutters,
Filled the pot again (same stuff) fluxed, cleaned off dross, turned off????

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Re: Pot of melted lead.

Post by Ranch Dog »

Well, that is sure enough different. I'd toss it too.
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Re: Pot of melted lead.

Post by HankRearden »

is your pot hot enough? The temp control on mine went bad.
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Re: Pot of melted lead.

Post by larryw »

HankRearden wrote:is your pot hot enough? The temp control on mine went bad.

675, 700 degrees, I'm lucky enough to have a thermometer that's half way accurate.
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Re: Pot of melted lead.

Post by larryw »

Ranch Dog wrote:Well, that is sure enough different. I'd toss it too.
Yea I'm gonna toss it, sure hope I don't have any more like that.
It for sure is contaminated with something but, I sure would like
to know what ?
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Re: Pot of melted lead.

Post by horseman »

Larry Is the melt like that all the way to the bottom of the pot or is it a thick "film" on top. As best I can tell from the picture it does look like a Zinc contamination but you're not hot enough to melt Zinc. :oops: I'm an idiot, that's probably why it looks like oatmeal...
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