oh no... did I melt my zinc WW?

Gitsum · October 24, 2011, 03:32 PM

Im trying my first WW ingot session. I was on about my 3rd handful of WW and the melt started to look like it was clumping together. I stirred it around and it looked fine. I am using a stainless steel bucket that is kinda thin so Im trying to keep the heat low. The next handful of WW clumped immediately so I thought maybe the heat is too low? I turned the heat up a little and stirred again. It went away again but Im worried that the thin bucket is allowing too much heat transfer to melt the zinc WW's? Can anyone tell me whats going on?

**Unclenick** · October 24, 2011, 03:51 PM

Not likely. More likely you're just above the melting point of the lead wheel weight alloy and when you tossed more in it cooled the mix below the top end of the frozen slush range. Zinc weights should float to the top of the melt under that low temperature circumstance.

Best advice is get a casting thermometer. It'll tell you how far above or below critical you are. Lead melts at around 620°F and its alloys usually melt below that. Zinc melts at about 787°F, though a flux or being alloyed with something can cause melting points to depress. Just quickly pick out any wheel weight that floats.

Gitsum · October 24, 2011, 04:00 PM

ok. I have been looking for a thermometer at work (a lab) but have not gotten one yet. I put a rather large handful in to get started so the lead pooled for a few mins until there was enough to float the zincs. I didnt want to keep throwing in more and ruin my ww's. Thanks again Nick.

Gitsum · October 24, 2011, 06:20 PM

Success! After a little initial concern, I managed to cast 46 "muffin" WW ingots and have about 25lbs left for tmrw. I learned that I definitely need to use more than one 10 muffin ingot mould!

GP100man · October 25, 2011, 06:16 AM

I think Unclenick hit ya problem Gitsum.

As I rarely use a thermometer for smelting(but should) ,but do stay rite there with it & if 1 floats just after the oatmeal looking stage it gets dipped out !!

Be very careful adding "cold" metel to the melt as ANY moisture or liquid that gets under the surface will be an explosion of sorts

Chaz88 · October 25, 2011, 07:15 AM

Quote:

Be very careful adding "cold" metel to the melt as ANY moisture or liquid that gets under the surface will be an explosion of sorts

X10! Had some water in the bottom of a bucket of WW and did not realize it tell the water flashed to steam and blew molten lead out of the pot. Scared the heck out of me. I only got one small burn but it could have been a real disaster. I now dump the WW out on the garage floor and make sure they are dry.

GP100man · October 25, 2011, 06:34 PM

I have 2 pot made from 8" pipe with 1/4" plating welded to the bottom & when I pour ingot from 1 the other s on the heat, I let it cool enuff so it does`nt do that !!

chris in va · October 26, 2011, 03:30 PM

I put a lid on my cast iron skillet to keep the heat in. Melts the wheelweights faster.

GP100man · October 26, 2011, 08:39 PM

A lid sure comes in handy doing range lead with an arrant 22lr in it every onceinawhile !!!!!

Gitsum · November 1, 2011, 06:01 PM

I finally got to finish casting my WW's tonight. Total take was 67 muffin ingots out of a full 5 gallon bucket. Im guessing about 2 lbs each? And just about half of a 5 gallon bucket of scrap left over. Next step... "BOOLITS"!

south.texas.dead.I · November 10, 2011, 12:37 PM

Looking good looking good melting the lead is my favorite part about reloading. I think it's cool how heavy a spoonful of lead is

Tapatalk ya

October 24, 2011, 03:32 PM	#1
Gitsum Senior Member Join Date: September 23, 2011 Location: Delawhere? Posts: 146	oh no... did I melt my zinc WW? Im trying my first WW ingot session. I was on about my 3rd handful of WW and the melt started to look like it was clumping together. I stirred it around and it looked fine. I am using a stainless steel bucket that is kinda thin so Im trying to keep the heat low. The next handful of WW clumped immediately so I thought maybe the heat is too low? I turned the heat up a little and stirred again. It went away again but Im worried that the thin bucket is allowing too much heat transfer to melt the zinc WW's? Can anyone tell me whats going on? __________________ Want Some?... GITSUM!

October 24, 2011, 03:51 PM	#2
Unclenick Staff Join Date: March 4, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 21,063	Not likely. More likely you're just above the melting point of the lead wheel weight alloy and when you tossed more in it cooled the mix below the top end of the frozen slush range. Zinc weights should float to the top of the melt under that low temperature circumstance. Best advice is get a casting thermometer. It'll tell you how far above or below critical you are. Lead melts at around 620°F and its alloys usually melt below that. Zinc melts at about 787°F, though a flux or being alloyed with something can cause melting points to depress. Just quickly pick out any wheel weight that floats. __________________ Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle

October 24, 2011, 04:00 PM	#3
Gitsum Senior Member Join Date: September 23, 2011 Location: Delawhere? Posts: 146	ok. I have been looking for a thermometer at work (a lab) but have not gotten one yet. I put a rather large handful in to get started so the lead pooled for a few mins until there was enough to float the zincs. I didnt want to keep throwing in more and ruin my ww's. Thanks again Nick. __________________ Want Some?... GITSUM!

October 24, 2011, 06:20 PM	#4
Gitsum Senior Member Join Date: September 23, 2011 Location: Delawhere? Posts: 146	Success! After a little initial concern, I managed to cast 46 "muffin" WW ingots and have about 25lbs left for tmrw. I learned that I definitely need to use more than one 10 muffin ingot mould! __________________ Want Some?... GITSUM!

October 25, 2011, 06:16 AM	#5
GP100man Senior Member Join Date: August 1, 2007 Location: Tabor City , NC. Posts: 1,969	I think Unclenick hit ya problem Gitsum. As I rarely use a thermometer for smelting(but should) ,but do stay rite there with it & if 1 floats just after the oatmeal looking stage it gets dipped out !! Be very careful adding "cold" metel to the melt as ANY moisture or liquid that gets under the surface will be an explosion of sorts __________________ GP100man

October 25, 2011, 06:34 PM	#7
GP100man Senior Member Join Date: August 1, 2007 Location: Tabor City , NC. Posts: 1,969	I have 2 pot made from 8" pipe with 1/4" plating welded to the bottom & when I pour ingot from 1 the other s on the heat, I let it cool enuff so it does`nt do that !! __________________ GP100man

October 26, 2011, 03:30 PM	#8
chris in va Senior Member Join Date: December 26, 2004 Location: Louisville KY Posts: 13,806	I put a lid on my cast iron skillet to keep the heat in. Melts the wheelweights faster.

October 26, 2011, 08:39 PM	#9
GP100man Senior Member Join Date: August 1, 2007 Location: Tabor City , NC. Posts: 1,969	A lid sure comes in handy doing range lead with an arrant 22lr in it every onceinawhile !!!!! __________________ GP100man

November 10, 2011, 12:37 PM	#11
south.texas.dead.I Senior Member Join Date: February 5, 2011 Posts: 282	Looking good looking good melting the lead is my favorite part about reloading. I think it's cool how heavy a spoonful of lead is Tapatalk ya