Identifying Wheel Weight Types

junker · December 31, 2011, 04:40 PM

I posted this on cast boolits but I figured I would toss it up here too in case it might help someone, and since this forum is where I got my start...

I set out some of the common types of wheel weights I have encountered, here is a picture that may help others differentiate between types.

Also a video but the picture is clearer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oeOz63v4eYM

Another video about hand sorting WW: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZxa43_9C9M

I'm fairly new to this stuff too but hopefully this info can help some people just starting out.

GP100man · January 1, 2012, 09:59 PM

Good pic !!!

& info !!

TXGunNut · January 1, 2012, 11:19 PM

Wow, quite the assortment. Not finding much zinc but more & more steel. Don't forget to recycle the zinc & steel!

jrsaw27 · May 6, 2012, 02:48 PM

How can you tell the difference between lead and zinc ww? After seeing this it worries me Ive been using a ton of zinc!

junker · May 6, 2012, 02:55 PM

The lead is soft and can be nicked with wire cutters, zinc can't.

See this video for instructions... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZxa43_9C9M

Rangefinder · May 6, 2012, 03:27 PM

Also notice that Zinc is marked with "Zn" in most cases. As long as you run your smelt below about 750 degrees, the zinc will float rather than melt, and can be pulled off with all the clips. If you have contaminated a melt with zinc, there will be NO question--the skimmed melt will look and act like silver oatmeal--chunky.

Besides the side-cutter test, you can also give it the concrete floor "drop" test. Lead allow will be pretty flat when dropped on-end. Zinc will have a crisp ring to it. Special note--lead alloy WW's will ring a little if you drop it on the clip.

The easiest way I've found to handle a smelt is to sort clip-on from stick on--nothing more. Smelt at 700 degrees, and skim off everything that floats. Sorting individually is time consuming and redundant so long as you keep your smelt below the melting point of zinc. With literally thousands of pounds of lead alloy I've smelted over the years, the ONLY smelt I have ever contaminated was the one I did intentionally in order to see early-on exactly what it looked like and how it reacted.

Hawg · May 7, 2012, 12:35 PM

Another thing, those lead stick on weights are close enough to pure lead to use in muzzle loaders. They have a BHN of 6 and pure lead is 5. The clip on weights will run around 12 BHN.

Dave P · May 7, 2012, 12:40 PM

"The clip on weights will run around 12 BHN. "

Agree.

Your picture in the middle is deceptive. Those clip on weights (alloy) are perfect to use as is - at least that is what I do. The stick-on kind (in the middle) are lead.

December 31, 2011, 04:40 PM	#1
junker Member Join Date: January 10, 2011 Posts: 65	Identifying Wheel Weight Types I posted this on cast boolits but I figured I would toss it up here too in case it might help someone, and since this forum is where I got my start... I set out some of the common types of wheel weights I have encountered, here is a picture that may help others differentiate between types. Also a video but the picture is clearer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oeOz63v4eYM Another video about hand sorting WW: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZxa43_9C9M I'm fairly new to this stuff too but hopefully this info can help some people just starting out.

January 1, 2012, 09:59 PM	#2
GP100man Senior Member Join Date: August 1, 2007 Location: Tabor City , NC. Posts: 1,969	Good pic !!! & info !! __________________ GP100man

January 1, 2012, 11:19 PM	#3
TXGunNut Senior Member Join Date: January 16, 2010 Location: If you have to ask... Posts: 2,860	Wow, quite the assortment. Not finding much zinc but more & more steel. Don't forget to recycle the zinc & steel! __________________ Life Member NRA, TSRA Smokeless powder is a passing fad! -Steve Garbe I hate rude behavior in a man. I won't tolerate it. -Woodrow F. Call Lonesome Dove My favorite recipes start out with a handful of used wheelweights.

May 6, 2012, 02:48 PM	#4
jrsaw27 Junior Member Join Date: January 16, 2010 Posts: 9	How to ID zinc WW? How can you tell the difference between lead and zinc ww? After seeing this it worries me Ive been using a ton of zinc! __________________ -The reason I carry a gun is because I cannot fit a cop in my pocket. -Some say people who carry guns are paranoid, I say if I have a gun, what in the heck to I have to be paranoid for?

May 6, 2012, 03:27 PM	#6
Rangefinder Senior Member Join Date: August 4, 2005 Posts: 2,017	Also notice that Zinc is marked with "Zn" in most cases. As long as you run your smelt below about 750 degrees, the zinc will float rather than melt, and can be pulled off with all the clips. If you have contaminated a melt with zinc, there will be NO question--the skimmed melt will look and act like silver oatmeal--chunky. Besides the side-cutter test, you can also give it the concrete floor "drop" test. Lead allow will be pretty flat when dropped on-end. Zinc will have a crisp ring to it. Special note--lead alloy WW's will ring a little if you drop it on the clip. The easiest way I've found to handle a smelt is to sort clip-on from stick on--nothing more. Smelt at 700 degrees, and skim off everything that floats. Sorting individually is time consuming and redundant so long as you keep your smelt below the melting point of zinc. With literally thousands of pounds of lead alloy I've smelted over the years, the ONLY smelt I have ever contaminated was the one I did intentionally in order to see early-on exactly what it looked like and how it reacted. __________________ "Why is is called Common Sense when it seems so few actually possess it?" Guns only have two enemies: Rust and Politicians. Last edited by Rangefinder; May 6, 2012 at 03:35 PM.

May 6, 2012, 02:55 PM	#5
junker Member Join Date: January 10, 2011 Posts: 65	The lead is soft and can be nicked with wire cutters, zinc can't. See this video for instructions... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZxa43_9C9M

May 7, 2012, 12:35 PM	#7
Hawg Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 16,188	Another thing, those lead stick on weights are close enough to pure lead to use in muzzle loaders. They have a BHN of 6 and pure lead is 5. The clip on weights will run around 12 BHN.

May 7, 2012, 12:40 PM	#8
Dave P Senior Member Join Date: August 16, 1999 Location: North Florida Posts: 1,346	"The clip on weights will run around 12 BHN. " Agree. Your picture in the middle is deceptive. Those clip on weights (alloy) are perfect to use as is - at least that is what I do. The stick-on kind (in the middle) are lead. __________________ I think this country is screwed.

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