Solder and Flux Sources

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Mad Trapper
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Re: Solder and Flux Sources

Post by Mad Trapper »

I bought this little rd ball mold for making small game loads for the 30-30 and the 30 carbine.
Image
https://www.trackofthewolf.com/Categori ... LD-BAG-310

It makes a .310 rd ball at 45 grains.
basically making 00 buckshot.
add a primer and a dusting of bullseye, like making a 22 lr cartridge.
I wrapped the handles with a leather lace, and it tucks right into my reloading bag, and takes up little room.
It turns my 94 and 30 carbine blackhawk into a little squirrel hunting combo.
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Re: Solder and Flux Sources

Post by Mad Trapper »

Closest walmart is in London, KY, about half an hr one way.
when I go in I will check on the candles and cedar.
I usually keep birthday candles around for fluxing.
If I place an order with brownells I may add the flux to my cart.
First stop is walmart, stock up on flour,coffee,beans, check the ammo shelves for prices and see what is and isnt selling.
Next is the farm store, 200 lbs of feed, scratch, check prices, maybe a pair of carhartts, etc.
Then stop at lowes at look around, tools, solder,etc.
Last is the gun shop in Corbin, another 20 minutes.
See whats going on, talk a bit,have some coffee, check prices, used gun rack,(thats where I found the 94 30-30 new,unfired,made in 1956).
I ask them what is selling and what is not.
Big sellers in ammo have been 308, 243, 270, then maybe 30-30.
Amish are flooding into this area, have been for the past 5 years or so.
And they buy a lot of 270 ammo.
I believe that is their caliber of choice.
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Re: Solder and Flux Sources

Post by CavScout »

Mad Trapper wrote: <snip>
Thinking about using the pure lead but will have to harden it up some.
I will check my lyman cast bullet manual for a recipe.
<snip>
Lyman #2 Bullet Metal is 90% Lead - 5% Tin - 5% Antimony

Unless you buy pure components, you're kind of stuck with experimenting with junk metal.

I've been pretty lucky with assuming there is enough Antimony already in Wheel-Weights.
I would add your Pure Lead and pure Tin to your Wheel-Weight ingots.

Make small batches... just enough to get a good flow in your Lead Pot.
Keep a record of metal portion weights to translate for larger batches.

Increasing the Tin percentage will improve mold fill-out, and reduce bore leading.

You can make a "Poor Man's" Hardness Tester with a small "C" Clamp and 1/4" Ball Bearing.
Put the bullet base on the clamp anvil. Capture the ball bearing with the screw-cup, over the bullet nose.
After taking up the slack, turn the handle enough to make a measurable dent, and record the handle arc angle that was turned.
Measure the width of the dent for a "relative" hardness guide. Harder alloy = smaller dent.
Or... if money is no object, buy one of these:
https://www.brownells.com/reloading/bul ... 42977.aspx

Choice of bullet lube will make a big difference in bore leading as well.
Before I switched to SPG I used to get good results with Toilet Ring Wax. The bore looked like it had been wiped with an oily patch!
The down side is that lubed bullets don't store well when it gets hot in the Summer... and get "sticky" to handle.

To get around that, I would lube just enough bullets for my current loading session. Once loaded, the lube grooves are sealed within the case.

Beeswax could be added to Toilet Ring Wax for a firmer lube.
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Re: Solder and Flux Sources

Post by Mad Trapper »

Thank you CavScout, excellent information.
I use to pick up a toilet wax ring from time to time and just put back for future use.
Ive got some lyman ideal stick lube that can also be used for fluxing I believe.
Last Fall I mixed up some 45/45/10.
I think I will take some pure lead rd balls, then add tin, everything being weighed and recorded.
Ive got some wheel weights that havent been melted down yet.
may weigh and add some, if i cant get any antimony.
I would probably water quench also.
I use to mix bees wax and crisco for 45-70 BPCR.
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Re: Solder and Flux Sources

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Mad Trapper wrote:Thank you CavScout, excellent information.
I use to pick up a toilet wax ring from time to time and just put back for future use.
Ive got some lyman ideal stick lube that can also be used for fluxing I believe.
Last Fall I mixed up some 45/45/10.
I think I will take some pure lead rd balls, then add tin, everything being weighed and recorded.
Ive got some wheel weights that havent been melted down yet.
may weigh and add some, if i cant get any antimony.
I would probably water quench also.
I use to mix bees wax and crisco for 45-70 BPCR.
I had tried both black and orange stick lubes, and were next to impossible to function the piston in my Lubersizer without heating its base! We often get down to freezing at nights, even in the Summer (4311 feet in arid Central Oregon)! Thus my search for a more fluid lube.

Wheel Weights have no standard alloy to conform to... they just need to hold shape. That's why I consider them Junk Lead.
In fact, there is a hardening element in some Wheel Weights that will turn your pot mix into shiny Cornmeal Mush! Fine for fishing weights, but not what we need!

I learned the hard way to NEVER use conventional lube for BPC!
I was running late getting prepped for a CAS Shoot, and grabbed some LaserCast bullets to load my .44 Russian... FOOLISHLY thinking I would just be facing extra fouling cleaning when I got home.
WRONG! Toward the end of the five stages, my shots were missing clangers!
Residue had built up mid-bore so thick, it was restricting bullet passage... and developed a slight bulge on the side of my beautiful S&W .44 Russian barrel! :o :oops:
Fortunately, the collector I sold it to wasn't concerned about shootability! :oops:

I've kept SPG in my Lubersizer ever since!
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Re: Solder and Flux Sources

Post by GasGuzzler »

I will continue to use "junk" alloy because it's free and works. I built an automated base heater because my lube is stiff but works.
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Re: Solder and Flux Sources

Post by Mad Trapper »

Ive got a few boxes of laser cast put back.
If i use them for BP i take out what i need, stand them up in an old cake pan then heat over the stove till the lube runs off, then relube with BP lube.
Lowes doesnt carry tin solder, didnt think they would.
Wiil check a plumbing supply warehouse or just buy online.
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Re: Solder and Flux Sources

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Re: Solder and Flux Sources

Post by CavScout »

Mad Trapper wrote:

Great find!

Free Shipping is an extra Plus!

Thanks for the links!
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Re: Solder and Flux Sources

Post by Mad Trapper »

Thank you CavScout.
Be good to get both bars in tin and antimony, I can break off pieces, weigh and mix with the pure lead.
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