natenaaron Posted September 30, 2015 Share Posted September 30, 2015 I've been reading for a couple days and cannot find the answer to this question.Always wanted to melt and cast metal. Figured I might as well give it a go, since I am awaiting hardener, and have a garbage can filler with copper. I have been reading a lot about it. I keep reading reference to putting flux, or charcoal, or other stuff on top of the molten metal. Why are they doing this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted September 30, 2015 Share Posted September 30, 2015 Molten copper has a powerful affinity for oxygen and oxidized copper is junk so it's really important to either keep oxy away and or deoxidize it. Flux in a crucible does two things, it floats impurities to the surface and makes an air tight cover, a prophylactic oxy barrier.Adding charcoal is a deoxidizer it's one of the few things that has a stronger attraction to oxy than copper does.I'm not a caster but that's the general purposes of the two additives to the process. If you join a casting forum you'll have better info available. There are good casting books available as well.I'm sure I'm not telling you something new when I say molten metal is dangerous in the extreme and not something to be taken up casually.Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
natenaaron Posted September 30, 2015 Author Share Posted September 30, 2015 Thanks. Frosty. I just saw the casting/foundry forum and this should have been posted there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted September 30, 2015 Share Posted September 30, 2015 May I commend to your attention backyardmetalcasting.com a forum dedicated to foundry work; whereas this one is slanted towards blacksmithing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
natenaaron Posted September 30, 2015 Author Share Posted September 30, 2015 Thanks for the direction to the Backyard sight. Once my hardener gets here I will be asking more blacksmithing questions but as of now It is off to find info to build the foundry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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