During the smelting of WW I thought it might be a plan to have some tin or maybe 50/50 solder on hand. Once the WW are molten, fluxed and ready for the ingot mold the appropriate measurement of tin could be added to the mold (muffin tin in my case). This would give a WW + 2% tin alloy. When the ingots are melted for casting the alloy should be correct? No need to play with the alloy of the melt while casting. I haven't been really exact in my addition of tin, so far, so this method may help out in the percentages precision. Just a thought. Does this sound reasonable or am I missing some tech knowledge that would make this a poor idea?
Smelting WW just a thought
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NShunter1254
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Nova Scotia Canada
I use a muffin tin mold for storing cleaned up WW, and find it is easier and cheaper, to simply store WW metal as-is.
I can weigh out a batch when they are cool, to suit my needs, and add a suitable amount of tin when I run a batch.
I mark the muffin tin ingots that are made from the remains of the days batch, with a chisel ("+2") to differentiate them from the straight WW ingots.
Cleaning up wheel weights usually results in a rather mess in the pot, so I do an much of that as I can, then clean out the pot afterwards and then only clean metal goes in. It is after the pot is clean, that I am willing to put the tin ($) in to the mix.
Cheers
Trev
I can weigh out a batch when they are cool, to suit my needs, and add a suitable amount of tin when I run a batch.
I mark the muffin tin ingots that are made from the remains of the days batch, with a chisel ("+2") to differentiate them from the straight WW ingots.
Cleaning up wheel weights usually results in a rather mess in the pot, so I do an much of that as I can, then clean out the pot afterwards and then only clean metal goes in. It is after the pot is clean, that I am willing to put the tin ($) in to the mix.
Cheers
Trev
A bit of tin helps the alloy flow out and fill the mold a bit better.
Some find, anyway.
Jacking the heat up does too.
Cheers
Trev
That's exactly what I do, the only downside is if you use different alloys and or pure lead. But since I only make pistol bullets I do everything during the ww melting phase.
Since I do refrigeration I have a perfect scale to measure down to an ounce in weight.
Since I do refrigeration I have a perfect scale to measure down to an ounce in weight.
Thanks for the replies. CGN has allot of knowledge rich folks. Pistol bullets are the primary needs at this point. .45 acp .357 and 9mm. I have found a small amountof tin helps out in the fill out. I haven't tried to raise the temp as a method for better fill out.
NShunter1254
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Nova Scotia Canada
I have never had a problem with mold fill out.I do cast hot though
I either find some really nice pewter 95% tin or I buy solder that has high tin content.
as yukon said pewter is a good source of tin if you can get it cheap, but most places if they have it mark it as antiques so it costs alot.
i personally got my tin from 95/5 solder which is 95% tin and 5% antimony, i was able to get 10 lbs for $100 from one of the HVAC suppliers i go to.
I buy tin bar(1# bars) from Canada Metal or Purity, and add tin when I melt the wheel weights so that there is a larger batch of exactly the same alloy. I'm convinced that adding a little tin makes better bullets, for rifle anyway.
Grouch
Grouch
Smelting is basically extracting a pure/ purified metal or substance byuse of chemicals/ catalysts from its ore/ alloys exisiting in natural form.
Melting involves phase change from solid to liquid and may or may not include change in chemical composition.
Melting involves phase change from solid to liquid and may or may not include change in chemical composition.
Tin really helps with flow and mould fill out. For narrow rifle bullets tin really helps produce quality bullets. Contrary to what a lot of the internet says tin has very little to do with hardness of lead alloy. For hardness you need antimony and arsenic.
Bill Nye the Science guy and the Language Police get their ascots all knotted about terms like "smelting" and "boolits". They don't understand that these terms have become part of the vernacular of bullet casting and have been embraced by intelligent, informed, litterate people. If their use offends anyone, they are free to use "melting wheeleights, removing waste and pouring into ingot molds" instead of "smelting", and "cast bullets" instead of "boolits". Nagging about it has no effect - ask any husband.
A space is used between words so they can be differentiated from each other. You spelled "existing" incorrectly. And you should have used the apostrophe in "it's".
But even though you made several mistakes in grammar, spelling, and punctuation I still know what you meant. Do you understand what I'm saying or do you require me to "spell" it out for you? LOL
When speaking of melting metal to form ingots for cast bullets, smelting is the term that is used. It may not have been scientifically correct but it has become the common vernacular over many years. You might not understand but anyone who casts bullets does.
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The issue isn't the terminology, but what happens when it is confronted by regulations.
Melting lead is perfectly legal in your backyard. However smelting is extremely rigorously regulated with very high penalties. If someone complains that you are "smelting" in your backyard, it's the equivalent of someone calling in the SWAT team saying you are shooting in your backyard when all you were doing is cleaning your gun. You will be found guilty of something.
You're confusing a terminology issue for a misinformation issue. This is what comes from 30 years of liberal social engineering.
If somebody wants to report you they will intentionally exaggerate by complaining about dangerous storage and handling of hazardous materials in a residential area. The outcome will be the same and it doesn't matter if you call it melting or smelting. You could call it "kissing bunnies" and if your prick liberal neighbor wants to report you he will still lie and call it whatever he wants to.
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A space is used between words so they can be differentiated from each other. You spelled "existing" incorrectly. And you should have used the apostrophe in "it's".
But even though you made several mistakes in grammar, spelling, and punctuation I still know what you meant. Do you understand what I'm saying or do you require me to "spell" it out for you? LOL
When speaking of melting metal to form ingots for cast bullets, smelting is the term that is used. It may not have been scientifically correct but it has become the common vernacular over many years. You might not understand but anyone who casts bullets does.
Sorry I missed the grammatical errors, it was a "cut & paste" job. People with your attitude are what is wrong with the enlish language today. I have been casting for 30 years and I've never used the term "smelting". Just because it is wrong it doesn't make it right. You can stick your vernacular up your @$$.
NShunter1254
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Nova Scotia Canada
