Quick test to sort WW Zinc vs lead?

alloy · December 12, 2010, 10:20 AM

Is there an easy test/way to cull zinc weights?

IllinoisCoyoteHunter · December 12, 2010, 10:27 AM

The BEST and FASTEST way is to buy a thermometer and make sure your smelt does not get much over 700 degrees. IIRC, zinc melts at just under 800 degrees (787*????) Lead generally melts around 650 ish. The Zinc WWs will float to the top of the molten lead and can be scooped out. Easy. SURE beats going through all those WWs and testing their hardness. Some people will go through and use wire cutters and gouge the lead. If it gouges easily you know it is lead. If it is substantially harder to gouge or you cant gouge it at all then it is zinc or steel. Good luck!!

alloy · December 12, 2010, 10:35 AM

Bookmarked thread, thanks!

zxcvbob · December 12, 2010, 10:42 AM

That works if you heat the lead slowly enough. If there's lots of steel and zinc and crap in the pot and you heat it too fast, you can get to 800 degrees at the bottom before the top is melted (zinc melts at about 780.) Don't ask me how I know that.

alloy · December 12, 2010, 10:49 AM

Quote:

Don't ask me how I know that.

Ok...but how do you determine it now?
Slow heating/melt?

zxcvbob · December 12, 2010, 10:55 AM

I hand separate them somewhat; pull out the obvious Zn and Fe weights, put obvious lead weights at the very bottom. Heat slowly, and stir occasionally, and watch once there's a puddle of lead in the bottom.

The only time I got burned was when I was melting down stick-on weights and I assumed they were all soft lead. There were a *lot* of steel weights and zinc weights in there, so it just looked like it wasn't melting. Now I know better. And I have about 5 pounds of zincked lead -- too much to throw away and not enough to try to purify by fluxing with sulfur.

alloy · December 12, 2010, 11:02 AM

Ok, I guess I can handle this.

Now that it's cold and too rainy for the range, I'm getting back on track with the whole casting thang.

The guidance is appreciated.

GP100man · December 12, 2010, 07:20 PM

Melt slow & be there ready to flux as soon as possible ,the zinc will float .

Contrary to belief a few casters of pure target shooters prefer 2/3% zinc , it makes very hard shiney bullets, just the corners not filled out sharply !!

zxcvbob · December 12, 2010, 08:35 PM

Can I safely try my zinc-lead in a Lee bottom-pour furnace (to cast some hard lead balls) or will it clog up the spout? Or poison the melter for all future alloys?

December 12, 2010, 10:27 AM	#2
IllinoisCoyoteHunter Senior Member Join Date: December 23, 2008 Location: Southern Illinois Posts: 1,527	The BEST and FASTEST way is to buy a thermometer and make sure your smelt does not get much over 700 degrees. IIRC, zinc melts at just under 800 degrees (787*????) Lead generally melts around 650 ish. The Zinc WWs will float to the top of the molten lead and can be scooped out. Easy. SURE beats going through all those WWs and testing their hardness. Some people will go through and use wire cutters and gouge the lead. If it gouges easily you know it is lead. If it is substantially harder to gouge or you cant gouge it at all then it is zinc or steel. Good luck!! __________________ ~~IllinoisCoyoteHunter~~ ~NRA LIFE MEMBER~ ~NRA CERTIFIED INSTRUCTOR~

December 12, 2010, 10:42 AM	#4
zxcvbob Senior Member Join Date: December 20, 2007 Location: S.E. Minnesota Posts: 4,720	That works if you heat the lead slowly enough. If there's lots of steel and zinc and crap in the pot and you heat it too fast, you can get to 800 degrees at the bottom before the top is melted (zinc melts at about 780.) Don't ask me how I know that. __________________ "Everything they do is so dramatic and flamboyant. It just makes me want to set myself on fire!" —Lucille Bluth

December 12, 2010, 10:55 AM	#6
zxcvbob Senior Member Join Date: December 20, 2007 Location: S.E. Minnesota Posts: 4,720	I hand separate them somewhat; pull out the obvious Zn and Fe weights, put obvious lead weights at the very bottom. Heat slowly, and stir occasionally, and watch once there's a puddle of lead in the bottom. The only time I got burned was when I was melting down stick-on weights and I assumed they were all soft lead. There were a lot of steel weights and zinc weights in there, so it just looked like it wasn't melting. Now I know better. And I have about 5 pounds of zincked lead -- too much to throw away and not enough to try to purify by fluxing with sulfur. __________________ "Everything they do is so dramatic and flamboyant. It just makes me want to set myself on fire!" —Lucille Bluth

December 12, 2010, 07:20 PM	#8
GP100man Senior Member Join Date: August 1, 2007 Location: Tabor City , NC. Posts: 1,969	Melt slow & be there ready to flux as soon as possible ,the zinc will float . Contrary to belief a few casters of pure target shooters prefer 2/3% zinc , it makes very hard shiney bullets, just the corners not filled out sharply !! __________________ GP100man

December 12, 2010, 08:35 PM	#9
zxcvbob Senior Member Join Date: December 20, 2007 Location: S.E. Minnesota Posts: 4,720	Can I safely try my zinc-lead in a Lee bottom-pour furnace (to cast some hard lead balls) or will it clog up the spout? Or poison the melter for all future alloys? __________________ "Everything they do is so dramatic and flamboyant. It just makes me want to set myself on fire!" —Lucille Bluth

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