gonna try this casting thing

[janobles14]

hey all.

i have come into what basically amounts to an endless supply of wheel weights so i am gonna attempt some casting action.

questions:

1. the sticky tape stuff on the flat weights is a pain. can i just melt the lead and the tape will just burn off or do i need to break out the lighter fluid? also, what about the plastic coating on some? can this be fluxed out too?

2. how do i tell for sure if some of these things are zinc? i know to look for clips that are rivoted onto the weight. these are probably zinc. i also was told that you could rub them on concrete and if it trails then lead...if it scratches the concrete then zinc. any sure way to tell?

thanks in advance!

 

[bullseye308]

the sticky tape stuff on the flat weights will burn off, no problem.
Zinc weights will sound different when dropped on concrete. Also if the temp is just high enough to melt the lead, the zinc will float when all the lead is melted telling you to remove the zinc weights with the metal clips.

 

[RugerBob]

+1 with what bullseye308 said. Just a opinion, but I would cast ingots from a different pot then your bullet mold pot. Ecspecially if your using a bottom pour,don't want to junk it up.

 

[lordgroom]

Lead WW's land with a thud when dropped and Zinc makes a very different sound. You do not have to take the tape off. Just put them in the pot. Bullseye308 has it right. Smelt your Wheel Weights at a temperature between 700 and 750 and skim off anything from the top. What remains at that temperature is the clips, what is left of the burning stems, or zinc. After removing the solids, flux. I have been using wax from a toilet ring and motor oil to good use.

 

[nicholst55]

If you don't have a lead thermometer, buy one. Wheel weight alloy should melt at 650 F or just slightly higher; zinc takes about 775 F to melt. Run your smelting pot at 650-675, and skim off everything that floats.

When you're sorting through all the crap that comes with your wheel weights, look for any marked 'Zn' or just 'Z.' Also any that look strange. Separate them and spend some additional time sorting later. 'Fe' marked weights are iron/steel.

I also suggest joining the Cast Boolits forum and doing a bunch of reading. It can save you a lot of time and frustration! There's a ton of info available there for the asking; many, many threads on wheel weights in general and zinc in particular.

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/

 

[472x1A/B]

janobles14 if your statement of " what ammounts to an endless supply of wheel weights " is true, you should seriously consider hording as much as you can get. This is space permitting of course. I might be all wet but I think we'll see these wheel weights go away in 10-15 years. Can't stand in the way of progress.

 

[armoredman]

Endless supply? Would you like to sell some ingots?

 

[janobles14]

how do i get them here in the barrels? they weigh a friggin ton! i have a storage unit that can hold a good bit but they are all so heavy.

1. can i pay someone to move 55 gallon drums packed with lead? will the cost be worth it? there are 10-15 of them.

2. why will they go away? is everything moving to the zinc ones?

 

[janobles14]

sure ill sell some ingots. i first have to figure out how to mold them. i have no idea whether or not to mix the flat ones and the ones with clips. i have been reading on the castboolits site and am getting more of an idea.

 

[Floppy_D]

A solid gallon of lead is right around 95lbs. If your drum were 75% full, it'd be right around two tons. If you sold the scrap lead (between a quarter and 40c a lb), you'd proably get between 500 and 700 a drum, conservatively. So yes, it you have room and a forklift (or a miracle, or a mastodon) then you're in good shape. Were it I, I'd take it all and find a way to keep it.

Get a big pot and a burner and start ingoting.

 

[janobles14]

i can have all of it that i want. but thats what im saying...i have no mastadon! my storage unit is indoors so that rules out the forklift. i just assumed i would have to hire someone with special equipment.

i could just sell off some of the drums though and have people come pick them up. didnt think of that!

 

[bullseye308]

Where you located, maybe one of us will help for a percentage.

 

[janobles14]

im in north alabama. the barrels would have to be moved maybe 10 miles or so. i might be willing to trade helping move these things in return for a few barrels.

 

[Hunter0924]

Here is an article I wrote for the m1911.org ezine on casting.
I am no expert but it may help you.
http://ezine.m1911.org/casting_frame.htm
You should also check out the cast bullet forum.