Pure Zinc - any use?

[SlimTim]

The local scrap yard owner pointed out some globs of something to me, said it was zinc, it had been attached to the bottom of boats to help fight corrosion. Is it likely this stuff is pure zinc? Is there any good use for it, perhaps cannonballs?

TIA,
SlimTim

[letsmeltlead2693]

You can make anodes for corrosion protection on steel objects, cannonballs like you mentioned, lead free weights, zinc boolits, zinc sinkers, or anything you can imagine.

[SlowSmokeN]

boat anchor

[leadbutt]

pennies

[JohnFM]

Couldn't really see the sense of spending the time and energy needed to melt down zinc.
Haul it off to the scrap yard and sell it as is for what you can get.

[Jim]

You can make..... zinc boolits.....

So, tell me, LML.....

What experience do you have making zinc bullets?

[SlimTim]

Thanks, thought I saw someone selling Zinc ingots in the Swappin' section, and wondered if I couldn't put someone on to these if particularly desired. Sounds like it's unloved.

SlimTim

[idahoron]

I have made sturgeon fishing sinkers with zinc. Ron

[Charlie Two Tracks]

zink fishing sinkers can be sold quite easily. That's what I'm saving mine up for.

[plmitch]

I have been using zinc for my pyramid and drop sinkers and slinkies, works great.

[badbob454]

i ingot mine up and sell em on evil bay get at least a buck a pound ..

[shotman]

does good for rifle boolits dont need gas checks . BUT dont cast in an aluminum mold. they run light but Ihave good results. I dont know about small cal but 30 up is fine
the 2 problems is Al molds dont hold the heat and also zinc runs at a higher temp so you are going to get a bonding to the Al.
As many know I like kroil it dont stay on a steel mold very long at the high temp so you need to used a good seasoned mold.
The 03 2 groove loves them with no GC and the lee TL

[dRok]

I just throw all my steelies and zincs in a bucket and sell them at the scrap yard as 'wheel weights'.

[dbarnhart]

i ingot mine up and sell em on evil bay get at least a buck a pound

Include the word 'vintage' and get 5 bucks/pound ;-)

[Lead Freak]

I read a post a few weeks ago that said a few zink wheel weights in a pot while smelting would contaminate the entire pot of Pb. I can see how it may affect the hardness of the batch, or possibly the melting temperature of the finished ingots, but how could it contaminate it?

[TheDoctor]

It increases the surface tension of the metal, which makes it harder for a mold to fill out properly. There might be other issues too, but that's the one I know of.

[Thompsoncustom]

I really have never had much of a fill out problem with zinc bullets. If your gonna make zinc bullets the zinc wheel weights don't work but pure zinc does, tho it's not a very friendly bullet to cast but it can be done. Also adding some aluminum to the mix will help with fill out and yes aluminum will dissolve in the liquid zinc.

Here's a link for my zinc bullets: http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=136800

oh and another thing if your using an aluminum mold watch your heat as of now I have wrecked one making zinc bullets. I would say cast them as low as you possible can and you'll have to be lightning fast to cut the sprue before it hardens.