Question About Using WW's to Cast Bullets

40s-and-wfan · January 23, 2011, 08:53 PM

Okay, here's my question: I was casting bullets today and found that I have an abundance of tape-weights, the kind that stick on with that heavy-duty foam double-sided tape. When I put these in my melting pot I find that they smoke like crazy and they wanna sometimes catch fire in the melting pot. Am I the only one who has this problem? Do you know any way to prevent this or how to get the stuff off the weights before I put them in the pot?!

armoredman · January 23, 2011, 11:18 PM

No really, but I have been told most of the stick on type are pure lead, not alloyed. Don't know for certain, sorry.

GP100man · January 23, 2011, 11:40 PM

Stay upwind !! I tried scrapin, pressure washing , even soaking em in gasoline still smoked like crazy so the last batch I lite the burner & backed off until the smoke cleared !!!

Most of mine check 7-8bhn 30, 40-1 maybe , they have a little tin in em !

I either use mine for smoke pole bullets or for cutting a blended alloy.

There good for blending with clip on weights to strech em out in a dry spell.

& there`s some nasty paint on some of the isotope containers I`ve smelted also !!!

You do smelt in a different pot besides the 1 ya cast from ????

40s-and-wfan · January 23, 2011, 11:43 PM

I've noticed some funky paint on the clip-on weights too that smokes like hell and then sits atop the lead in the pot and sticks to the spoon when I scoop it out.

Rangefinder · January 24, 2011, 01:44 AM

1st, the stick-ons ARE soft lead---might not want to dilute your clip-ons unless you're going for a softer alloy. 2nd, smelt your ingots in a separate pot--otherwise you'll make a serious mess out of your casting pot. As for the burn-off, it's free flux!

Enjoy it up wind when your neighbors aren't home.

zippy13 · January 24, 2011, 10:45 AM

Quote:

As for the burn-off, it's free flux!

Ah, there's an optimist in every group.

I use the tape-on-weights for black powder lead, too.

One of the benefits of inhaling all that smoke is it lets you see all sorts of fascinating colors and patterns, and you forget why you are smelting.

maggys drawers · January 24, 2011, 11:16 AM

You might want to give them the side cutter test before you throw them in the pot. The last couple batches of weights I have gotten have had some that would not melt at 750 degrees. I fished them out, let them cool and they were harder than a regular stick on. Zinc ?

AlaskaMike · January 24, 2011, 11:20 AM

Quote:

You do smelt in a different pot besides the 1 ya cast from ????

This is important--it's best to melt down your wheel weights into ingots using a different pot than the one you cast from, especially if you cast with a bottom pour pot. I use a 10 qt. cast iron dutch oven (which I've dedicated to melting lead and will never use for food again) and the burner from my turkey fryer.

Like most others, I separate my stick-on weights from the clip-ons, and melt them down separately. Then later when I want to cast some softer bullets I'll just drop one of those nice, clean, pure lead ingots into my casting pot to mix in with the other wheel weight alloy.

Stick_man · January 24, 2011, 09:44 PM

maggys, the stick-on weights come in Zn, Fe, Pb, plastic, even some kind of heavy foamlike stuff that I won't even try to melt down. Most of the Zn and Fe weights are marked that way, but not always. The Pb ones you can easily bend with your fingers.

Same generally holds true for the clip-on type, except they are not as easily bent with fingers. I use a side cutter on them or some pliers. The "useable" ones will mark pretty easily. The Zn and Fe ones won't.

DiscoRacing · January 24, 2011, 09:49 PM

Ive tried to scrape the adhesive from the back before melting them... didnt work worth a crap...

... Just let em smoke and it will burn off...

..I have found that if you turn em with the sticky side up in the pot..that as soon as they heat up the adhesive will start to melt..and you can scrape it off then...instead of just letting it burn the whole time in the pot.

Sky Master · January 25, 2011, 02:27 PM

Keeps the bugs away, not to mention the wife too.

Edward429451 · January 25, 2011, 05:59 PM

Stick ons smoke too much? Ha! be glad the plumbers dont give you old lead bins from remodels. My neighbors wish I only melted stick ons!

Old lead drain lines are pure lead too, add some shot to harden it up or trade it as is to a CAS for his Wife...

wildphilhickup · February 2, 2011, 10:02 PM

Do you know any way to prevent this or how to get the stuff off the weights before I put them in the pot?!

Don't use them. Get some Lyman #2 alloy.

Soak them in goof off.

Rangefinder · February 3, 2011, 01:24 AM

Quote:

Don't use them. Get some Lyman #2 alloy.

If that's the case, send 'em to me---I have NO problem burning them off in a smelt.

GP100man · February 3, 2011, 10:00 AM

That`s the general consensus now , as states outlaw using lead Wheel weights we`re gonna get a mix of em !!!!

The last bucket I smelted down I sorted out 37# of zinc !!!

Just keep ya smelting down to a sane level , don`t just fill the pot then turn the heat wide open !!Med. heat & paying attention & you`ll see the zinc/steel weights come to the top! as stated try to keep it `round 650-700f.

I sort mine but still miss a couple on every bucket !!!

At times I`ve mix 50/50 clipon & stik on to extend my WW supply !

Most handgun ammo will work with 10-14bhn , especially when the bullet fits .

If super speed is what your after then it`ll take waterdropping or heat treating straight WW or some linotype/monotype & if this is added to the alloy in any amount your back to the cost of jacketed , almost !

January 23, 2011, 08:53 PM	#1
40s-and-wfan Member Join Date: March 14, 2009 Location: North-Western Montana Posts: 58	Question About Using WW's to Cast Bullets Okay, here's my question: I was casting bullets today and found that I have an abundance of tape-weights, the kind that stick on with that heavy-duty foam double-sided tape. When I put these in my melting pot I find that they smoke like crazy and they wanna sometimes catch fire in the melting pot. Am I the only one who has this problem? Do you know any way to prevent this or how to get the stuff off the weights before I put them in the pot?! __________________ In a crisis you don't rise to the occasion but rather default to your level of training. Forgiveness is between them and god, it's my job to arrange the meeting! -John W. Creasy (Man on Fire)

January 23, 2011, 11:40 PM	#3
GP100man Senior Member Join Date: August 1, 2007 Location: Tabor City , NC. Posts: 1,969	More heat !!! Stay upwind !! I tried scrapin, pressure washing , even soaking em in gasoline still smoked like crazy so the last batch I lite the burner & backed off until the smoke cleared !!! Most of mine check 7-8bhn 30, 40-1 maybe , they have a little tin in em ! I either use mine for smoke pole bullets or for cutting a blended alloy. There good for blending with clip on weights to strech em out in a dry spell. & there`s some nasty paint on some of the isotope containers I`ve smelted also !!! You do smelt in a different pot besides the 1 ya cast from ???? __________________ GP100man

January 23, 2011, 11:43 PM	#4
40s-and-wfan Member Join Date: March 14, 2009 Location: North-Western Montana Posts: 58	I've noticed some funky paint on the clip-on weights too that smokes like hell and then sits atop the lead in the pot and sticks to the spoon when I scoop it out. __________________ In a crisis you don't rise to the occasion but rather default to your level of training. Forgiveness is between them and god, it's my job to arrange the meeting! -John W. Creasy (Man on Fire)

January 24, 2011, 01:44 AM	#5
Rangefinder Senior Member Join Date: August 4, 2005 Posts: 2,017	1st, the stick-ons ARE soft lead---might not want to dilute your clip-ons unless you're going for a softer alloy. 2nd, smelt your ingots in a separate pot--otherwise you'll make a serious mess out of your casting pot. As for the burn-off, it's free flux! Enjoy it up wind when your neighbors aren't home. __________________ "Why is is called Common Sense when it seems so few actually possess it?" Guns only have two enemies: Rust and Politicians.

January 24, 2011, 09:49 PM	#10
DiscoRacing Senior Member Join Date: December 19, 2008 Location: milton, wv Posts: 3,640	Ive tried to scrape the adhesive from the back before melting them... didnt work worth a crap... ... Just let em smoke and it will burn off... ..I have found that if you turn em with the sticky side up in the pot..that as soon as they heat up the adhesive will start to melt..and you can scrape it off then...instead of just letting it burn the whole time in the pot. __________________ Desert Eagle Alliance Group Launcher Extraordinaire ______ ----Get Busy Live'n.....Or....Get Busy Die'n......Red -------They call me Dr. Bob,,,, I have a PhD in S&W

January 23, 2011, 11:18 PM	#2
armoredman Senior Member Join Date: May 22, 2007 Location: Arizona Posts: 5,297	No really, but I have been told most of the stick on type are pure lead, not alloyed. Don't know for certain, sorry.

January 24, 2011, 11:16 AM	#7
maggys drawers Senior Member Join Date: March 4, 2006 Posts: 178	You might want to give them the side cutter test before you throw them in the pot. The last couple batches of weights I have gotten have had some that would not melt at 750 degrees. I fished them out, let them cool and they were harder than a regular stick on. Zinc ?

January 24, 2011, 09:44 PM	#9
Stick_man Senior Member Join Date: October 18, 2008 Location: Salt Lake City, Utah Posts: 241	maggys, the stick-on weights come in Zn, Fe, Pb, plastic, even some kind of heavy foamlike stuff that I won't even try to melt down. Most of the Zn and Fe weights are marked that way, but not always. The Pb ones you can easily bend with your fingers. Same generally holds true for the clip-on type, except they are not as easily bent with fingers. I use a side cutter on them or some pliers. The "useable" ones will mark pretty easily. The Zn and Fe ones won't.

January 25, 2011, 02:27 PM	#11
Sky Master Senior Member Join Date: May 30, 2009 Posts: 136	Keeps the bugs away, not to mention the wife too.

January 25, 2011, 05:59 PM	#12
Edward429451 Junior member Join Date: November 12, 2000 Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado Posts: 9,494	Stick ons smoke too much? Ha! be glad the plumbers dont give you old lead bins from remodels. My neighbors wish I only melted stick ons! Old lead drain lines are pure lead too, add some shot to harden it up or trade it as is to a CAS for his Wife...

February 2, 2011, 10:02 PM	#13
wildphilhickup Member Join Date: January 2, 2011 Posts: 37	Lead Do you know any way to prevent this or how to get the stuff off the weights before I put them in the pot?! Don't use them. Get some Lyman #2 alloy. Soak them in goof off.

February 3, 2011, 10:00 AM	#15
GP100man Senior Member Join Date: August 1, 2007 Location: Tabor City , NC. Posts: 1,969	Lookin out for zinc !! That`s the general consensus now , as states outlaw using lead Wheel weights we`re gonna get a mix of em !!!! The last bucket I smelted down I sorted out 37# of zinc !!! Just keep ya smelting down to a sane level , don`t just fill the pot then turn the heat wide open !!Med. heat & paying attention & you`ll see the zinc/steel weights come to the top! as stated try to keep it `round 650-700f. I sort mine but still miss a couple on every bucket !!! At times I`ve mix 50/50 clipon & stik on to extend my WW supply ! Most handgun ammo will work with 10-14bhn , especially when the bullet fits . If super speed is what your after then it`ll take waterdropping or heat treating straight WW or some linotype/monotype & if this is added to the alloy in any amount your back to the cost of jacketed , almost ! __________________ GP100man

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