I am a plumber and have the old propane burner and pots I used 40 years ago when we still poured lead joints. I am used to it and it works great for melting WW etc and casting the ingots. I flux with beeswax because I have a lifetime supply and stir with my old ladles, then skim with them before casting. The problem I would like to solve is how to get the last 5% of junk skimmed off the top. I can get 95% of it but with the ladle I just can't get the last little bit. How does everybody do it? I keep thinking there got to be a better way!

While I'm asking questions I have another. A freind who works in some kind of lab has offered me a bunch of antimony. Should i take him up on the offer and how to I add it to my alloy mix? Doesn't it have a high melting point?

Thanks everybody ahead of time for my continuing education. Mike B.

The problem I would like to solve is how to get the last 5% of junk skimmed off the top. I can get 95% of it but with the ladle I just can't get the last little bit. How does everybody do it? I keep thinking there got to be a better way! Thanks everybody ahead of time for my continuing education. Mike B.I can't get 100% of the dross off the top but I can get about 98%. Use an old steel spatula, skim over the top and around the sides of the pot to push the dross into a ball and scoop it out. IMHO, it doesn't matter if you can't get all the dross out of the ingots since you will be fluxing and skimming again when you melt the ingots into your casting furnace.

Ditto what Marshal posted....
If memory serves, antimony melts at over 900 degrees..well up into the range where lead fumes become a serious problem.

Try adding some sawdust with your wax. The extra carbon helps the flux and also gives the crud something to latch onto. I use a slotted stainless spoon for removal. Motor oil mixed with sawdust is a premo fluxing agent for turning WW's into ingots.

Try adding some sawdust with your wax. The extra carbon helps the flux and also gives the crud something to latch onto. I use a slotted stainless spoon for removal. Motor oil mixed with sawdust is a premo fluxing agent for turning WW's into ingots.

I'll have to check the Kitchen drawer when my wife's away, I bet something in there would work better than the ladle with only the little pour spout. thanks mike B.

Ditto what Marshal posted....
If memory serves, antimony melts at over 900 degrees..well up into the range where lead fumes become a serious problem.
Guess I better do some homework before telling him I'll take some, It might not be worth the effort. I just thought if it's free and I knew how to use it I could get a hard alloy cheap. ( I am Scotch! ) thanks Mike B.

Get in touch with Mr. Bill Ferguson. I should warn you that a phone call won't be cheap, but it will be worth it.
http://www.theantimonyman.com/

Bye
Jack

Get in touch with Mr. Bill Ferguson. I should warn you that a phone call won't be cheap, but it will be worth it.
http://www.theantimonyman.com/

Bye
Jack

Thanks! It's looks like the right place to start. Mike B.

I believe that is why bottom pour furnaces are the way to go.
You will never get it all! Get what you can and let the rest float on top for the next time.
Cheezywan

I "smelt" the same way...a plumbers pot and home made casting/ pouring pot. I always dump the dregs out for waste at the bottom of each pot. Most guys want to leave a small amount in the bottom of the pot to speed melting, but I think it produces cleaner ingots doing it my way. You'll be surprized to see how much dirt hides in the bottom of the pot. If you really want to squeeze every ounce of lead, at the end of the session, put all the dregs back in the pot to remelt.

By the way, antimony melts at 1166 degrees.