Lee Loader

Howdy folks, hope everyone's doing well & making the best of insane times!!
Question for the Highly Experienced Silver Stream Gods.
During my short & limited casting journeys, sawdust, usually from Home Depot,
(Yea, I know, bad chemicals?) Is all I have ever used to flux. Now, I have a good bit
of smelting to do & can't get sawdust? But, I do have a good size slab of clean wax.
I have never used wax?? Sure would like to score some clean firewood sawdust but,
wax it is for now. Please educamate me oh great galena geezers & geezetts.. I
I know RD, I know?? Shut up & go back to sleep Larry!!!!!

Hey Larry - How about if I mail you a large flat-rate box of fresh sawdust? I cut down a dead elm tree a few weeks ago and I'll be cutting it into firewood very soon. I'm also going to be cutting some eastern red cedar soon. I can send some of that if you don't like elm. But cedar pops and cracks a lot when it's burned, so that may not be good for flux. I've never tried it, however. I can send some of each too.

Let me know.

I've used wax either candle or canning. It works beware that it will catch and burn off. I've never had it flash over. Right now I'm using a 3 quart cast iron pot on a turkey fryer for all my melting needs and I've been using a couple of kitchen matches or I stir with a paint stir stick. I'd really like to cover the surface with sawdust but since I use dipper I'm not sure how well that would work.

Stay well, be safe, make smoke,

I use sawdust when making ingots and beeswax for the lead pot when making bullets. If you stir it in immediately it doesn't flame. I used to use paraffin wax but it flames quickly and doesn't have the nice honey smell of beeswax. Beeswax candles can be found in most craft stores.

I grab a big bag of store brand votive candles that are made to float. They flame up but I don't really care. I don't flux my casting pot, only my smelting pot.

klr wrote:Hey Larry - How about if I mail you a large flat-rate box of fresh sawdust? I cut down a dead elm tree a few weeks ago and I'll be cutting it into firewood very soon. I'm also going to be cutting some eastern red cedar soon. I can send some of that if you don't like elm. But cedar pops and cracks a lot when it's burned, so that may not be good for flux. I've never tried it, however. I can send some of each too.

Let me know.

Wow, thank you Kir, much appreciated, that would be great..
Don't know a thing about elm but, have "heard" cedar is a great flux due to the oil???
I bet it will smell good?? PM coming.

I use Pine Shavings Ment for Hamster Bedding ...Buy It at the Pet Store....Cheap, Smells Good, and Most Important, DRY!! Use It in My Smelting Pot....
In My Casting Pot I use any kind of Candle Wax...

Is that hamster stuff just saw dust or is it treated with something?

larryw wrote:Is that hamster stuff just saw dust or is it treated with something?

I think you can find it both plain and treated.

Stay well, be safe, make smoke,

larryw wrote:Is that hamster stuff just saw dust or is it treated with something?

Stuff I get is just Plain Pine Shavings, Not Treated with anything...
Again I like It because It's DRY...
Start Stirrin Wet Sawdust into the Melt...You maybe Invitin the Tinsel Fairy for a Visit...