Concerning zinc wheel weights

[Eric F]

There was a thread here months ago and I cant find it but it had a way to tell zinc from lead wheel weights, any one know how to tell the diffrence?

 

[ants]

Two methods.

When you drop zinc on a hard surface (like concrete) it goes 'tink'. When you drop lead it goes 'thunk'. If you think you won't tell the difference between a tink and a thunk, try it sometime. You won't mistake the two.

Zinc melts at a higher temperature and is lower in density. Melt the lead with moderate heat and the zinc will float unmelted.

Do both methods to be double sure.

 

[armoredman]

Some are marked ZN, IIRC

 

[Crownless]

I use a pair of dikes and snip them if it appears that they are zinc. The lead will cut, the zinc wont. Works well for me.

 

[RustyFN]

I throw everything into the pot. Whatever doesn't melt below 700 degrees gets scooped out with the clips.
Rusty

 

[dmftoy1]

+1 on Rusty's method.

I tend to set aside any that I have doubts about and throw them in when I've got an inch or two of molten lead ..if they float then I skim them back out.

 

[sniper7369]

Zinc weights usually have rivets on the back, rather than having the clip cast into the weight too. I pick out the ones I notice and just scoop out the ones I miss with the rest of the clips.

 

[DaveInFloweryBranchGA]

Lead melts at 725 degreees F. If you'll run your smelting pot at 725-750, you'll be well under the zinc melting point and you can simply scoop them out with the steel clips.

Regards,

Dave