First one done

[RustyFN]

The weather was great today and I had my first smelt. I think it went good but I think I might need a few tips on fluxing. I use wax. I add the wax after I scoop out all of the clips. After about 15 seconds it catches fire. After the fire dies out I clean the top and then stir, then clean the top again. Does that sound about right? I forgot the most important part, it was a friggin blast. I can't wait to make some bullets. Here are a few pictures and thanks for everybody's help so far, it is greatly appreciated.

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b8db32b3127ccec44ec44a00f000000010O00DZOGblm4Yg9 vPhI/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D560/ry%3D300/

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b8db32b3127ccec44f2219209c00000010O00DZOGblm4Yg9 vPhI/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D560/ry%3D300/

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b8db32b3127ccea82300ffe1d500000016100DZOGblm4Yo

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b8db32b3127ccec44fb99be1fb00000010O00DZOGblm4Yg9 vPhI/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D560/ry%3D300/

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b8db32b3127ccec44f731ae11f00000010O00DZOGblm4Yg9 vPhI/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D560/ry%3D300/

The ladle is supposed to hold four pounds of lead. Each ingot was two ladles of lead but not full to the top so I am guessing around seven pounds per bar.
Rusty

[TwoShot]

Looks good to me.
Also nice boots

[AdamN]

Will those ingots fit in your pot???

They look real good. Sounds like youre fluxing just fine and the ingots look real clean. WW usually have so much crap on them they kind of self flux anyway

[RustyFN]

Will those ingots fit in your pot???
Now you bring that up. I sure hope so.:rofl:
Rusty

[cohutt]

I drop the flux in and stir in in really well, scraping the sides and agitating as much as possible. I scrape with a big spoon then stir with a charred broomstick. I let it sit a little then skim.

Drop another wax pea in and let it sit, don't stir just leave it alone and sit for a while. I'm always surprised by how much oxidized crap ash appears after a few minutes, the really fine mostly brown stuff.

I got this from cast boolits or maybe the lasc site, not sure but my lead is squeaky clean when done.

I prolly flux more than i need to at the smelt but i figure it saves me some time when I cast


Note broom stick tip on DO top, seen better days i think:

http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m284/cohutt/bermining%202/misc013.jpg

[RustyFN]

Thanks Cohutt I'll try that next time. Adam, the bars do fit in the pot. Thanks again for the pot.
Rusty

[Anvil]

Note broom stick tip on DO top, seen better days i think:


You've got to have something to stir the pot with. A broom stick should not be used as a lead stiring flux pole. That's why I harp about the long crowbar.

Rusty, your results look fantastic! Now you don't have much lead there do you. You need to smelt ALOT MORE!

Smelting can be it's own hobby if you're not carefull.

[Steve Koski]

Isn't it customary to wear fuzzy pink open toed slippers to your first smelt?

[jawjaboy]

Good show Rusty! Congrats. :thumbsup:

[cohutt]

A broom stick should not be used as a lead stiring flux pole. That's why I harp about the long crowbar.

.
crow bar stirs and can lift pot lid but isn't a fluxing material.

the broom stick serves as flux as well as a stir tool which is why i use it at time of flux. the point is to add additional "oxidizable" material to melt, the the slow burning of the tip serves this purpose. I have a couple ancient DRY ones i am using for this.

i use a metal poker to move around clips etc during the melt to make sure all weights have hit the melt.

[Steve Koski]

Sweet pics Rusty. Makes me want to cast, almost.

[AdamN]

Ive never used a crowbar. I have some heavy welding gloves that I wear to remove the lid, I stirr with a wooden dowel or the skimmer.

[jawjaboy]

Sweet pics Rusty. Makes me want to cast, almost.

I thank you a castin already, 'n jes too ashamed ta fess up myself. That what I thank. Me.

[cohutt]

Ive never used a crowbar. I have some heavy welding gloves that I wear to remove the lid, I stirr with a wooden dowel or the skimmer.

I see we add another rogue to the aneat avatar gallery

http://www.glockpost.com/forums/image.php?u=39&dateline=1210804385 (http://www.glockpost.com/forums/member.php?u=39)

[AdamN]

I see we add another rogue to the aneat avatar gallery

http://www.glockpost.com/forums/image.php?u=39&dateline=1210804385 (http://www.glockpost.com/forums/member.php?u=39)

Read this, someone believed the little guy resembled me for some reason :sifone:
http://www.glockpost.com/forums/showthread.php?p=33857#post33857

[TwoShot]

Damn right ,thats my storie and i 'am stickin to it.

the hair ,the glasses, why if ya look close you even see little burn marks on his fingers from smelting too much lead. :biggrinjester::patriot:

[jawjaboy]

Radical move Adam. I understand. :supergrin:

[RustyFN]

I just put all of the ingots in a bucket and weighed them. It weighed 110 pounds. That averages out to five pounds per ingot. During the smelt I kept the temp at close to 700 degrees.
Rusty

[Glooooock]

RustyFN

We all go with the fort Knox gold brick ingot , but the smaller size cools quickly. Here is a common pan 3.6 " long pie slices 2LB - the cup cakes are 1.75 " 8 oz..http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v475/Helitech/KFD_2599-1.jpg

[Steve Koski]

Lead pie ROCKS!

[cohutt]

i've got about 10 diifernt ingot shapes in the stash, 3 or 4 muffin sizes, 3 diffent small ingot sizes, coca cola can clunkers, bricks.

went to the fort knox or "chernobyl defense brick" cuz i was running out of containers and the bricks take up less space.

[Glooooock]

I run my little Lee 10 lb "drip-o-matic " on the patio a lot , the smaller ingots melt quickly and are easy to transport . My favorite is the long angle iron molds , the thin bar can be broken by bending it . It melts into any pot , like cooking pasta with 10" sticking out as it sinks into the molten soup.

[AdamN]

I like the 5lb bricks; because when youre smelting 1000 pounds its easier pouring 200 5 pounders than 1000 one pounders.

I do pre-heat my ingots before I add them once Im casting. 5lbs cold will put a chill in your pot

[chewy]

I want some man shape ingots so's I can play caveman vs volcanic lava while I'm smeltin' ( make my own sound effects of course). Oh yea, thanks for the Harbor frieght Dutch oven tip Rusty. Picked one up that same weekend.