Smelting copper

[TES]

I know this isn't the perfect place for this question.....but...I have a rather large stash of copper jackets from my smelting and was wondering if there was any interest in fresh copper ingots? Might make the investment if there is enough folks that want them, oh, and if you do what sizes and or shapes would you want them in?

Let me know,

TES
Montana Foundry & Munitions

[williamwaco]

What would you do with the ingots that you can't do with the jackets.

Either way they are just scrap copper.

Or are they?

[TES]

well they are not just scrap...What people want to do with them after cleaning and casting is up to them.

[el34]

Google says copper melts at 1983 F. Can you do that? If so, maybe you could make silver boolits (1761F).

[clodhopper]

A rolling mill could take ingotized scrap jackets, melt it add what is needed either in zinc or copper to make a consitant alloy and roll the material into sheet. Cut into strip, the material could be used to make bullet jackets.
Problem is they need to buy low when dealing with unknown alloys.
Few bullet jackets are made from pure copper. Most are made of guilding metal, which is 95% copper 5%zinc.
It looks like copper but is really brass.

There is a couple of people in the bozo area thinking along these lines.

[dilly]

I've wondered about this project myself because I can't seem to get anything for scrap from them. If you do get into it, you may want to look into what it takes to get it into either sheet or wire form. It may be more valuable that way. You would have a lot of people to sell you jackets on this forum if you were able to get a setup.

[el34]

The scrapyard I get lead from pays me over $2/lb for jackets. What's cool is I bought the range lead for 65c/lb and took back the jackets.

[swheeler]

Wouldn't they be brass ingots or gilding metal ingots, copper and zinc?

[bangerjim]

Most people on here have ABSLOUTELY NO WAY to melt and pour copper! I can, but hearing all the people that are limping along with old surplus and junkstore Coleman white gas stoves.....Holy Melter Batman.

If I were you, I would just check with a scrap yard locally and just sell them as scrap copper. You have got all the lead out you want. Anything gained from them would be extra money in your pocket.

I would see no need for copper ingots here.

bangerjim

[el34]

I would see no need for copper ingots here.

bangerjim

How 'bout for making counterfeit pennies?
'82 or earlier of course.

[TES]

A rolling mill could take ingotized scrap jackets, melt it add what is needed either in zinc or copper to make a consitant alloy and roll the material into sheet. Cut into strip, the material could be used to make bullet jackets.
Problem is they need to buy low when dealing with unknown alloys.
Few bullet jackets are made from pure copper. Most are made of guilding metal, which is 95% copper 5%zinc.
It looks like copper but is really brass.

There is a couple of people in the bozo area thinking along these lines.

Yea..I was also thinking about that.

[lup]

I'm buying scrap jackets for my own projects.

You can definitely get them to melt but it requires a lot more then just an open flame.

You'll need a partially enclosed refractory lined vessel and something inside to hold your jackets(crucible)

You then need some intense heat,

Propane weed eaters are popular.

Good luck with your projects.

[clodhopper]

TES and I live in the same area, the scrap dealers here have a low opinion of jackets.
Anybody who gets good copper prices for their jackets, good for you. I used to get it too.
In my eyes, bullets are the most valuable thing to be made from scrap jackets.
Melting large quanities of guilding metal for alloying, and the rolling mill are a steep expense.

[MaryB]

Smelt, cast into rounds and get a stamping machine to make copper art rounds. 1 oz rounds can sell for $5+ on ebay

[Hickory]

How 'bout for making counterfeit pennies?
'82 or earlier of course.

At the current price of copper, they would have more value then what the government is producing.

[btroj]

TES and I live in the same area, the scrap dealers here have a low opinion of jackets.
Anybody who gets good copper prices for their jackets, good for you. I used to get it too.
In my eyes, bullets are the most valuable thing to be made from scrap jackets.
Melting large quanities of guilding metal for alloying, and the rolling mill are a steep expense.

Same here, I got .12 per pound. Not worth messing with in my opinion. In the future I will be putting them with the recycling.

[Greg5278]

Right now the Yard I deal with will buy them for $2.65 per Pound.
The cores end up in the lead pile.
Greg

[mold maker]

If your making a trip to the scrap yard for lead, it cost nothing to take them along. I get dirty red brass price for jackets, and that buys more lead. I can always find some other junk to sell to pay for the trip.

[Miata Mike]

There was a guy on another forum that would pay a certain amount for a medium sized USPS flat rate box with clean jackets (no junk). It might have been on Thehighroad.org I haven't mined enough to bother melting the lead, but I would definitely save what I have until I find the right price.

[boltaction308]

Copper ingots have value, just look on ebay.

I have been saving the jackets in a separate can for the same reason. So yes, there is interest.