How Do You Tell Zinc WW From Lead?

[kend]

I have a bucket of WW and in the process of melting them to pour ingots I noticed that some of them didn't melt, reckon they're Zinc? How can you tell? I ran the temp to 650-675.

[lwknight]

If they did not melt at 650 degrees , they are not lead.
Zinc is very hard. Cut some lead WWs with side cutters and then cut into some that you think are zinc. When you find zinc , you will know in no uncertain terms what the difference is.

[*Paladin*]

The letters Zn are almost always on zinc WW's. Cutting works, cut known zinc and lead and you'll see the difference. I usually just whack suspect WW's against my vise on my bench. Lead will dent and "thump", zinc doesn't dent and makes a "tink" sound, similar to steel/FE weights....

[Trapaddict]

What Paladin said.

Jeff

[home in oz]

If you get them in the pot, they float on the molten lead....

[leadman]

They will float until the temp gets just a little higher than what you are at now, then they melt. It is best to sort them out first to avoid possible contamination. Looks for the Zn on the weight and use cutters on the suspect weights. not all zinc is marked.

[Matt_G]

Clip on WW"s will melt at roughly 550 to 575 F. I take it up to 625 max and anything that isn't melted by then gets skimmed off and trashed.
Don't have to worry about Zinc contamination because Zinc melts at 787 F.

[Lizard333]

Zinc WW's are also almost always riveted to the clip. They look like the iron weight but with rivets, most of the time, they will sometimes be marked with Zn on the them.

[bumpo628]

Zinc WW's are also almost always riveted to the clip. They look like the iron weight but with rivets, most of the time, they will sometimes be marked with Zn on the them.

good tips, thanks.

[GP100man]

By NO means is this a complete compilation of weights , but will give ya an idea what to look for .

http://i746.photobucket.com/albums/xx110/GP100man/102_0287.jpg

[canyon-ghost]

Take note, too, of any that have that epoxy paint coating. Most Zinc are coated that way in the stick-ons. I've found some, if you are suspicious of a wheelweight, just don't throw it in the pot, throw it out.