Stick On wheel weight melting

[ticket machine]

Couldn't find anyone asking this so I will. Those stick-on wheel weights that are probably pure lead have a nasty sticky paper and adhesive on them. Other that throwing them in a pot and watching the smoke stink up the neighborhood is there an effective way to get that stuff off prior to melting?

[kevin c]

I remember reading here of folks using various solvents to get it off. IIRC, kerosene and gasoline were mentioned. No personal experience, though.

[Winger Ed.]

I tried solvent, and ended up with a big gooey mess.

My solution was melting them late at night when the wind was blowing and everybody had their windows closed and heater or AC going.

[elmacgyver0]

More fun to stink up the neighborhood.

[ticket machine]

I guess when the wife asks "What the hell are you doing?" I will have to respond that I am applying the latest in mosquito control. She will then respond that she would rather have the mosquitoes.

[Bantou]

Throw some sawdust in with it and light the sawdust on fire. It will help burn off the smoke and cover the smell some.


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[GregLaROCHE]

If you start with some already really hot lead and add them slowly to keep it hot, maybe you can get more complete combustion and less smoke, than starting off cold. If it’s pure lead, no worries burning off tin. Otherwise, gasoline is probably your cheapest solvent, but I think most are glued on with an epoxy and once set up is not easy to break down, except with heat.

[Bantou]

If you start with some already really hot lead and add them slowly to keep it hot, maybe you can get more complete combustion and less smoke, than starting off cold. If it’s pure lead, no worries burning off tin. Otherwise, gasoline is probably your cheapest solvent, but I think most are glued on with an epoxy and once set up is not easy to break down, except with heat.

I hate doing that. I’ve been lucky enough so far to avoid the tinsel fairy and I don’t fancy meeting her anytime soon. Also, I’ve found that normal melting temperatures aren’t enough to fuel combustion on their own. You need either a secondary source of heat on top of the melt (like burning sawdust), or to have the pot entirely too hot for my comfort ~800*F IIRC.


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[MrWolf]

Put them in a covered bucket with acetone, thinners,etc. I just threw what I had remaining in cans and let them sit a few days. Came out great with no adhesives and smelted just fine.

[pjames32]

I just let it stink. I do add sawdust and try to keep it lit.

[mtnman31]

I just toss them in when I am smelting raw weights down into ingots. They smoke and they stink, it is what it is. I personally feel it would be more work and effort to remove the adhesive than it is worth. By the way, I would never toss these into the pot I am casting from. They, along with all the other junk that comes with raw wheel weights will make a mess of your casting pot that is a pain to get cleaned up. I generally only have to smelt once every couple of years. I wait till I have a large collection of lead and do it all at once, setting myself up with enough clean alloy to last me a few years. Good luck and have fun.

[bangerjim]

Three day bath in acetone will release the foam tape and adhesives.

Let them dry in the sun for a few hours B4 throwing them in the pot t make sure all he acetone is evaporated.

Very little smoke and stink after that. Used to do it all the time B4 I quite messing with WW's of any kind 4 years ago.

[smithnframe]

I don't worry about it in the least!

[fredj338]

Put them in a covered bucket with acetone, thinners,etc. I just threw what I had remaining in cans and let them sit a few days. Came out great with no adhesives and smelted just fine.

I do the same but it only takes like 30m to dissolve the glue & the rest just wipes off. I understand gas works too.

[remy3424]

Don't worry about it. Just do all them in their own batch, fill the pot and keep the lid on it, not enough smoke to bother anyone not sitting within a few feet downwind (except when you open the lid). Open it once or twice to keep it filled, but leave the lid on while they melt. I don't think I have ever had much more than 50 pounds of them at any one time, so it isn't anything to worry about for me. I have to assume you do seperate them from the clip-on ones. You might not do it in the parking lot of an apartment complex or inside of a building.

[lightman]

I just put mine in a pot and melt them. When it starts smoking pretty well I'll light the smoke.

[Bantou]

I just put mine in a pot and melt them. When it starts smoking pretty well I'll light the smoke.

What do you use to light it? I haven’t had any luck getting mine to ignite unless I either put something combustible on it like saw dust or have the pot insanely hot.


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[mac1911]

leave the bucket out uncovered for a good while. most of the paper and glue will eventually come off. Really though no easier way than just pot them up and let it burn.

[lightman]

What do you use to light it? I haven’t had any luck getting mine to ignite unless I either put something combustible on it like saw dust or have the pot insanely hot.


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I have a propane torch that uses those 1# bottles. Some sawdust will make it light easier.

[dondiego]

I have a bunch of old book matches, remember them? When I flux, I tear off a match and throw it in the pot with the wax or sawdust. No problem getting the smoke to light. The match flares up in a timely fashion.