Metal Casting Zone

Hello folks.

NOTE: I am reposting this as my posting seems to have crashed, likely the "&" sign was not compatible with the forum software. Anyhow I retyped it here.

Next week I will be buying about 8 pounds of 281 low melt alloy (58% bismuth + 42% tin). I have had great luck this month working with the one pound sample I received from Rotometals. The sample of 281-338 was interesting but not as useful to me do to surface frosting, cooling much faster etc.

The other two samples, one pound each were not labeled but were supposed to be their pewters, AC and R98. I was impatient on a Sunday and figured the working characteristics would differentiate them. But apparently they were the same metal and who knows what they actually are.

I called Rotometals and they said if I had not melted them they would of sent a prepaid label to send back for identification but now that it was melted they couldn't help me other than a sincere "I'm sorry about that."

The whole shipment was less than $100 so I see their point. But half of the first shipment being worthless does not bode well for the future.

Hallmark Metals makes a clear point that all their consumer metals are primary melts, no remelts. Cost is OK as their $16 per pound matches Rotometals. But with S&H from east coast USA added as there is no $100 order free shipping like Rotometals. Price for me on this is not nearly as important as consistent working characteristics and end result castings.

So my question is have any of you folks tried 281 at both of these vendors? Any comments in general on what I said?

Blob