cat litter

10 February 2004, 18:26

nelsonted

cat litter

Why do people spread cat litter on their alloy?

10 February 2004, 18:29

waksupi

Being organic, the kitty litter is flux, itself. Some use no other flux at all.
Plus, it gives an insulating layer on the top of the melt, keeping the alloy at a more consistant temperature.

10 February 2004, 21:36

aladin

Primarily to keep air off the melt and prevent oxidation and separation of the elements.

10 February 2004, 23:02

Bad Ass Wallace

Depends whether the bloody cat is still in it!

11 February 2004, 18:37

photonII

I cast a bunch of bullets this past weekend, using kitty litter for the first time. It worked great! Previously, I used sawdust, which also works well. The kitty litter doesn't burn and smoke like sawdust and it keeps the metal from oxidizing. The price is super too. Two bucks worth should last a decade or two.

PhotonII, aka Turbo

11 February 2004, 23:42

BAShooter

Does anyone knows which are kitty litter basic components that produce fluxing action?

I would like to try it but I doubt kitty litter sold here has same components as kitty litter sold in USA.

BA Shooter

12 February 2004, 02:05

aladin

BA Shooten the stuff is just a form of clay well dried. Forget the exact type.

Wood ashes work too.

If you've the time and inclination, I think a post on shooten from your region might be interesting.

12 February 2004, 05:08

courtney plater

Unscented kitty litter is Bentonite clay. Sometimes sold as "oil dry" to absorb oil from auto repair shop floors.

12 February 2004, 14:11

Dutch4122

How much of the litter do you spread on top of the melt?

12 February 2004, 14:48

hammerhead

I thought cat litter was nothing but diotomatious (sp) earth. I know that's probably not how it is spelled but any way bentonite clay is used in drilling oil and gas wells and is a fine powder. The cat litter is chunky and doesn't look the same. Of course I could be very wrong about the cat litter. Hammerhead

12 February 2004, 14:59

hammerhead

I use this stuff exclusivly when casting. Just put a layer about 1/4 to 1/3 inch thick on the melt and be sure to let it heat up good before adding metal to the pot. If you don't you will have molten lead every where and that's not a pleasant experince. Now when I melt down my sprues and reject bullets or am doing a big batch of new alloy I add old bullet lube and stir the heck out of it and I don't use the casting pots. Hammerhead

13 February 2004, 04:43

courtney plater

Quote:

I thought cat litter was nothing but diotomatious (sp) earth. I know that's probably not how it is spelled but any way bentonite clay is used in drilling oil and gas wells and is a fine powder. The cat litter is chunky and doesn't look the same. Of course I could be very wrong about the cat litter. Hammerhead

Diatomaceous earth is the skeletons of diatoms, tiny aquatic creatures, and is mostly calcium carbonate. Bentonite is a type of clay that has many uses. Kitty litter is just a more granular form.

13 February 2004, 05:09

BAShooter

Aladin:

Quote:

I think a post on shooten from your region might be interesting

Thanks for the invitation but there is no much Cast Bullet activity here.
Although I am a"pistolero", (I reload pistol bullets only), I do not see much activity in the Rifle Range. Rifle competitors of Military Rifles and Bench Rest Rifles use jacketed bullets.
IPSC shooters used plain lubed cast bullets four years ago, for training and, jacketed bullets for Competitions.
Currently , cooper plated bullets and painted bullets have substituted both.

I know a couple of commercial casters of plain cast bullets for hundguns, they want an easy life by using hard alloys based on plumber scrap lead and linotype, lubed with 50% Lithium Grease/50% beeswax.
One advantage, plain cast bullets are offered in several sizing diameters, to optimize fitting, cooper plated bullets offer only one standard diameter for each caliber

BA Shooter

13 February 2004, 06:05

carpetman

Using cat litter is a no-no. You have the embarrassment of standing in line at the grocery store and people thinking you have a cat. You have to explain to all that see you that you don't. The ONLY advantage is you do get a target as most of it comes in a bag with a cat picture on it. Go to auto parts house and buy the oil absorb stuff---same stuff and cheaper and you don't have to suffer the embarrassment.

13 February 2004, 09:50

BAShooter

Glad to hear you Carpetman !!!!

Really, I do have two German Shepard dogs, two males, so I must stand in the line you mention , but for different reasons.
Cats are not welcome in my backyard.
(This is a point for one of your humoristic/ingenious comments, we miss them a lot)

For all of you, thanks for your answers regarding kitty litter for fluxing, let me ask only one more thing.

I got Bentonite in an specialized drug store, for industrial-cosmetic-candle makers.

This Bentonite is an impalpable powder, like flour, odorless, light brown color,it costs nothing. Vendor told me it is highly higroscopic, it can absorb 5 times its volume of any liquid,(oil dryer).This powder is also mixed with some liquids and used in cosmetic, as women mask for the skin .

My doubt is because I did not perceive any reaction when put this Bentonite into the melted lead, no fizzles, no pops, no cleaning activity.

So my question is Does Kitty Litter react enough with melting lead, for cleaning a pot with scrap plumber lead or wheelweights?
If it affirmative , USA Kitty Litter is a different stuff from the Bentonite I got.

If Kitty Litter does not produce any cleaning reaction , Bentonite available here could be a similar stuff and could be used as Hammerhead recommends , 1/4inch thick layer on top for casting bullets.
But first, some active stuff(bullet lube,for example)for cleaning new impure alloys.

Thanks for your advise

BA Shooter

13 February 2004, 11:21

aladin

Hello C-man!

Actually I have a stradegy for the litter purchase at the store. It seems a goodly number of 'lovies' also have kats so cruising that aile is somewhat a enjoyable recreational pursuit IF you can stand some of the new 'pre-fumes'. Course I'm well attached but if I was a Tom on the prowl I'd be buying k-litter more often than I cast...

13 February 2004, 11:29

grumble

You wanna meet the chickies? Here's something I learned the hard way.

Get two baskets at WalMart. Walk down the aisles and fill them up with household items, like sleeping cushions, pots & pans, and a bedspread. Trust me, you'll never make it to the checkout counter.

13 February 2004, 14:20

bfrshooter

Hey bad, it's not the cat but what he deposited in the litter!

13 February 2004, 16:16

Ricochet

Quote:

Diatomaceous earth is the skeletons of diatoms, tiny aquatic creatures, and is mostly calcium carbonate.

The diatoms' skeletons are made of silica, not lime. here's one reference: http://www.eap.mcgill.ca/Publications/eap4.htm Diatomaceous earth has been used a lot as a polishing abrasive. It's harder than steel, which is important if it ends up in your bullets. A fire-lapping compound, of rather fine grit.

14 February 2004, 06:41

courtney plater

I stand corrected. At least I was half right.

14 February 2004, 08:39

carpetman

Actually, I encourage everyone to buy several bags of kitty litter and find as many uses for them as possible. It's a good oil absorbent on driveways for example. If everybody went out and bought a bag,possibly a shortage could be created and the cats would either get beat to death for messing in the house or they would get constipated and blow up.

14 February 2004, 11:13

Ed Barrett

Watch out if you hit one of those constipated cats, could be messy.<G>

14 February 2004, 12:09

Oldfeller

Now Ed, that is a real visual.

<kick> Yewrrrrrow!!!

:::

op:::: (pew!)

?
?
?
?

"Honey !!! Come look what your stupid cat just did !!
All over the rug, the wall, my shoe ... you'd better come clean this stinking mess up before it soaks into the rug !!"

<g> Oldfeller