Home Forums Reloading Bullet Casting What are you using for fluxing and why?

I'm planning to get serious about casting bullets for my own use. I did some casting many years ago with success, but I'm looking for more info. I used to flux my lead with Gulf wax because that's what the guy who I bought my equipment from said to use.

In an effort to making sure I'm doing things right, what are you using for fluxing and why?

Thanks

Bruin

I use old candles, old canning wax, new canning wax, defective cast bullets with bullet lube on them.
I've read about people using lard, bacon grease, saw dust...
I use what ever I have on hand.
The scented candles add a certain ambiance to the casting experiance.

Jim

Thanks, Jim.

I've read of people using all sorts of different stuff for fluxing. I've read of using kitty litter, sawdust and a couple other things I can't remember right now.

Sounds like I wasn't doing wrong by using the Gulf wax.

Scott

I obtained a large supply of industrial flux sticks, about 6" long and an inch in diameter. I whittle off a chunk and add it to the mix, and ignite the fumes. Works very well. Prolly only got about 100 years supply left.

+1
I steal my wife's candles-sshh- don't tell her! haha

A friend's sister is a nun and she get us the leftover alter candles! So my flux is blessed and free. Also used the bag of funny smelling green stuff but all of the boolit shot High!!In my smelt pot I use sawdust, used motor oil, candle and any thing carbon. Clint

I use bees wax, just because I have some. I don't believe there is anything special 'bout it.

Thanks for the responses, guys.

Clint, when you say smelting pot are you referring to a pot other than the one you cast your bullets from?

Another vote for misc wax. I've used old ski wax, crayons, candles etc.

As to a smelting pot, if you're using wheel weights they are fairly filthy and it's best to melt them down on an old pot over a burner to turn them into ingots. Then you'll have clean ingots to run through your casting pot.

Thanks for clarifying that for me. I thought that's what Clint meant.

I picked up an inexpensive stainless steel stock pot for smelting wheel weights, but haven't done any smelting yet. Can i just use simple wax for smelting just as I've done in my casting pot or would something else work better?

bruin if you want sometime you can come down and I'll help you smelt some down and we can cast a few to help you remember and get restarted in the cast addiction!! Clint

wax, wood chips, sawdust, stuff that burns works good.

I have gotten by using a pine stick to stir the pot and flux at the same time.

I use old sawdust mainly due to it's benefits I read here in the last paragraph.

http://www.lasc.us/Fryxell_Book_Chapter_4_Fluxing.htm

Thanks, I just read that info earlier today. Sounds like the way I'll be going, too.

Nothing works better than sawdust, you need to go over to the castboolits forum & see the sticky by Glen Frexyell.

Dick

Make sure it's not from pressure treated wood.

I use sawdust or oak leaves and sir with a wood stick. be sure it is dry or it will spatter. I drop a green leaf in my muffin tin ingot mold to mark alloy that has tin added to my usual wheel weights.

Yep, sawdust for me too. I started using it about a year ago after reading Fryxell's book at LA Silhouette Club's website. That guy is the best thing to happen to bullet casting info in years.