I just started casting yesterday, and I noticed a colored film on the top of the lead. (See picture below) I tried stirring it in, I tried scooping it out and it would not go away. Every time I would try to scoop it out, it would just fill back in. Had a skin like consistency on top of the lead. The source is WW lead and the lead was fluxed prior. I also noticed that the colored stuff would transfer to my ingot mold in a small area or two nand remained the same rainbow color afer it had cooled. Any help is appreciated.


7112

Was it mostly shades of straw to blue to gray? That is Silver oxide. All Lead contains trace amounts of Silver to varying degrees. The Silver oxidizes to various colors depending on temperature. If you believe Oregon Trail's propaganda this is quite positive. It's completely normal.

Yup, happens to all of us. Just go on casting and ignore it. It makes good bullets in case you run into any vampires.

Thanks. I was afraid that I was doing something wrong or something was in the mix that wasn't supposed to be.

purple = lead
gold= tin
blue-silver