Folks must be using it differently than I, Marvellux works great and is avail. from Mid South Shooters Supply and is quite reasonable, I have never heard of it smoking, smelling, or bursting into flame, we use it exclusively in our business, some of the others may work okay for bottom pour(borax, sawdust) but definately not for ladle use, which is what we prefer. Borax forms a skim on the surface of the melt which keeps oxygen from melt thus preventing dross from forming, however you break that seal when you add lead or tin or ladle, and acts like glue in that instance, beeswax works but should be burned off if it doesn't do it on its own. Marvellux is probably your best bet.