Mystery Metal

[palabman]

Hey All

I came across some homemade downrigger weights that I assumed were made from wheel weights. After melting them down they are definitely not from wheel weights. The melting temp is around 460 degrees and after casting a 200g boolit it weighs out at ~140g. It can't be zinc cause the melting temp is near 800 degrees right? Could I have pure tin here?

[wiljen]

Sounds like Tin or lead free solder or maybe a pewter alloy. All are 90-95% tin or better.

Melt some and pour it on an old cookie sheet or something where you can make it into a stick shape. Let it cool and then bend it. if it cracks or sings when bent it is nearly pure tin.

[palabman]

Thanks wiljen, I'll give that a try.

[I'll Make Mine]

Your density is just about right for tin or zinc, but as you noted, if that was near pure zinc (as it would have to be to be that light) it would melt around 780º F or a bit higher. Most likely you've got around 80-90% tin there; looks like a score if you got it for scrap lead price.

[palabman]

Your density is just about right for tin or zinc, but as you noted, if that was near pure zinc (as it would have to be to be that light) it would melt around 780º F or a bit higher. Most likely you've got around 80-90% tin there; looks like a score if you got it for scrap lead price.

What is tin going for these days?

[338RemUltraMag]

Rotometals tin is $17 per Lb