Discovery?

[pondoro]

I was casting a nosecap (my firts) and I had a "short pour". I fluxed the surface of the cast metal and then heated it and repoured. Later on the "in the white" barrel I found a nicely browned patch. It was where the flux had touched it and removed 100% of any coating (dirt, oil, whatever) from the barrel. Browning was the next step so in a whim I fluxed the entire barrel, heated it with a torch, wiped the greasy flux residue off with rubbing alcohol ( I was afraid to heat the barrel too hot so some flux remained). Then I left the barrel in my humid garage overnight. This AM it was nicely and cheaply browned. I will take a picture and post it. I am not claiming to be the first person to do this but it worked for me. The brown is a little blotchy but I wanted a used look, so I am OK with that.

 

[streetsniper]

Just curious, What type of flux did you use. I'm open to new(?) ideas. Cheap works too.

 

[pondoro]

The flux was "Oatey's Flux for all lead free solders." I was pouring a home brew pewter made from 97/3 Tin Antimony solder to whick I had added maybe 15% lead. The flux worked great on the second pour - the browning was a pleasant suprise.