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Boolit_Head
03-08-2015, 12:37 PM
I scrounged a couple of ballast plates and I thought they were coated with something. When I cut into them it looks like they are this black colour all the way through. They feel like lead and sound like lead but what have I got on my hands?

133253
Yodogsandman
03-08-2015, 01:02 PM
Zinc anode??
Boolit_Head
03-08-2015, 01:19 PM
I am starting to wonder. At least they were free.
boltaction308
03-08-2015, 01:45 PM
Looks like a counter balance weight from a fork lift or tractor.
Boolit_Head
03-08-2015, 01:50 PM
I know for sure it is from the marine industry and what it's use was, just not the composition. We thought it was some coated lead but I am seeing it appears to be black through and through.
bangerjim
03-08-2015, 03:20 PM
Get some hydrochloric acid and test it.

banger
CastingFool
03-08-2015, 05:34 PM
You can also use muriatic acid to test for zinc. Muriatic acid is just another name for hydrochloric acid, just labeled differently.
Yodogsandman
03-08-2015, 05:44 PM
Any chance of getting a side shot photo?
Boolit_Head
03-08-2015, 08:53 PM
You can also use muriatic acid to test for zinc. Muriatic acid is just another name for hydrochloric acid, just labeled differently.

I am hazy, if it reacts to acid it contains zinc?
Boolit_Head
03-08-2015, 08:54 PM
Any chance of getting a side shot photo?

Just shows the plates are about 2 inches thick with rounded edges, nothing real informative there.
Yodogsandman
03-08-2015, 11:02 PM
Is the back side covered with some sort of adhesive with trowel marks? If it is, just toss it, no lead, just plastic. Toxic to try to melt!
bangerjim
03-08-2015, 11:17 PM
I am hazy, if it reacts to acid it contains zinc?

Remember you HS chemistry class:

Zn reacts with HCl. Sn, Pb, and Sb do not.

HCL is the best acid for the test and it reacts very well and VERY fast. If it bubbles up, you got Zn.

bangerjim
Boolit_Head
03-09-2015, 12:25 AM
Is the back side covered with some sort of adhesive with trowel marks? If it is, just toss it, no lead, just plastic. Toxic to try to melt!

Front and back appear the same. In fact I believe the picture shows the back, the front appears to be covered with some marine crustaceans. These pieces came from a salt water environment.
crawfobj
03-09-2015, 12:26 AM
Sure sounds like a zink anode.
Boolit_Head
03-09-2015, 12:29 AM
I'm starting to think the best use of these would be to scrap them out and use the cash to purchase lead from a known source.
scottfire1957
03-09-2015, 01:27 AM
And, how are we supposed to know? We see a picture of a block of something. It has some holes in it.

Test it yourself or have it analyzed.