Washing soda is sodium carbonate (per wikipedia). IIRC, it's what I used to use to raise the PH in my pool years back. I think they called it PH-UP or some such marketing name.
I offer this because it seems like there can be widely-varying prices-per-unit-quantity for the same stuff depending on where you get it. Years back, I ran across some 'magic' rust-inhibitor called 'Extend'. After some research, it turns out it was basically just phosphoric acid repackaged and sold for a lot more than it should have been. I also recall a guy I worked with (who should have known better) spending $20 ($19.95, not available in stores, act now, ...) for a magic thawing tray that would quickly thaw meats laid on it. When he decribed it to me, it was obvious it was just some metal with good heat conduction and some surface area. After a little more discussion, I laughed at him and told him he just bought a way-overpriced slab of aluminum. As an aside, we've got an aluminum griddle that we also use to quickly thaw meats the same way. Not quite its intended purpose, but hey...
I don't know the price-per-pound difference in washing soda from the grocery vs the pool store vs whereever else you trip across it. There's a point where if it's only a few cents and the more expensive store is closer, it might not be worth your drive to go further. When I have choices, I try to avoid sources where the magic goo is intended for human ingestion (especially health-food stores). Hardware and feed stores are usually better (reference the bentonite discussion). I'm not quite sure where pool chemicals fit in the price continuum.
The catch is to be knowledgeable if you can. I don't always win, but I do try.
Jim Ash
-----Original Message-----
From: joel wahl
Sent: Jun 23, 2011 3:14 AM
To: gingery_machines@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [gingery_machines] flux
why do you need to turn your source aluminium, to ingots first before casting?
And where do i find washing soda?
thanks joel
--- On Wed, 6/22/11, Malcolm Parker-Lisberg <mparkerlisberg@yahoo.com> wrote:
From: Malcolm Parker-Lisberg <mparkerlisberg@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: [gingery_machines] flux
To: gingery_machines@yahoogroups.com
Date: Wednesday, June 22, 2011, 7:08 PM
Jim
You don't need a flux when melting aluminium. Use a twist of aluminium foil with LoSalt in it to degas and a twist of aluminum foil with washing soda in it to increase fluidity. Stir in both, one at a time, just before pouring, skim then pour.
Turn your source aluminium, to ingots first before casting.
Malcolm
I don't suffer from insanity I enjoy it!
--- On Thu, 6/23/11, Jim Ash <ashcan@earthlink.net> wrote:
From: Jim Ash <ashcan@earthlink.net>
Subject: Re: [gingery_machines] flux
To: gingery_machines@yahoogroups.com
Date: Thursday, June 23, 2011, 12:56 AM
Somewhere I heard/read about using borax, but then I just saw on the backyard metal casting site somebody's recommendation to NOT use it because it's reactive with aluminum. Can somebody with a better knowledge of metallurgy/chemistry comment on this?
Jim Ash
-----Original Message-----
From: matrice197
Sent: Jun 22, 2011 5:07 PM
To: gingery_machines@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [gingery_machines] flux
I work at a Galvanizing plant, we use ammonium cloride as a flux. Can I use this for my aluminum casting?
Thanks,
Chris
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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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