strange alloy

[gojo41]

its been several years since I have melted down a bucket of wheel weights, did so the other weekend, doing nothing more than skimming the top with a spoon that had holes in the bottom and making 1/2 lb ingots.I did some casting last night and the top 1/2 to 1" of material in my lee 10ld bottom pour pot was just like soft ice cream, I tried to flux it with parrifin and it wouldn't mix in and turning the temp up did no good.I don't have a thermometer , pot seemed to be cycling on and off as it should.what the heck do I have going on???

[BPT]

I have run into a similar issue while melting down bullets pulled from a berm at the local range. I haven't done very much casting, but do have a friend who has done alot over the years. When I talked to him about it, he said that it was probably zinc. That was my first thought with the second thought being that is might be tin. I could not confirm the temp that I was getting the lead to melt at so I cannot say for sure what the other metal is. Since you did turn the temp up, I am going to say it is probably zinc as it does have a much higher melting temp than most other metals that would be found in WW. If that is the case, you will probably want to just skim all of the floating "ice cream" off.

Anyone else have a thought/suggestion?
BPT

[runfiverun]

soft ice cream sounds like slush from cold alloy.
zink is more like not quite floating oatmeal but generally clumps up in the center of the pot.

[gojo41]

my old electric pot could be going south, I'll fire up the campstove when I get some time and see if temp was the problem

[sqlbullet]

This is why I think a $10 barbecue thermometer is worth while. Won't help you nail down a accurate casting temp, but tells you about where you are.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/t/203127942?storeId=10051&langId=-1&catalogId=10053&productId=203127942&R=203127942#.UUHPUltAS9Y

[Jim]

This is why I think a $10 barbecue thermometer is worth while. Won't help you nail down a accurate casting temp, but tells you about where you are.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/t/203127942?storeId=10051&langId=-1&catalogId=10053&productId=203127942&R=203127942#.UUHPUltAS9Y

That thermometer tops out at 600. You figurin' on workin' at temps below that level?

[WILCO]

Had the same problem when my hotplate cr*pped out. Bought a new hotplate for smelting and a LEE self tapper for casting. No problems since.