Wheel weights 1st time user questions

[rayg]

I picked up a bunch of wheel weights and sorted thru them using a screw driver to scratch for hardness and only found a few that I thought were too hard for lead and also a few steel ones. Now I probably may have missed some of the harder zink ones and my question is, if these get melted along with the lead, how does that effect the lead/bullets?

Also any tips or suggestions in using them? Ray

[Dutch4122]

You do not want zinc in your casting alloy. It will ruin your boolits.

When you smelt the wheelweights down to get rid of the steel clips just keep the heat under 700* and 650* will be plenty of heat.

The zinc wheelweights won't melt and you can skim them off the top of the melt with the clips.

Also, don't forget to flux real good after skimming off the steel clips and before pouring your alloy into ingots. Stir whatever you are using for flux down into the melt real good; then skim off all the crud that comes to the surface when fluxing. That will keep a lot of junk out of your casting pot and the boolits you make.

Hope this helps,:Fire:

[rayg]

Thanks Dutch, generally are wheel weights pure lead or is there some tin in them.

[454PB]

When I render WW's, I don't add flux. There is usually plenty of grease on them to get that done!

Most WW's have 1/2% tin in them. Here is an excellent web site to tell you all you want to know:

http://www.lasc.us/CastBulletNotes.htm

[Three44s]

The zinc weights will float and thus keeping the heat on the low side prevents them from melting until you skim them off.

Three 44s

[rayg]

Thanks everyone and great site 454, Ray

[runfiverun]

and save those zinc ones for later............

[rayg]

:?::?: I don't understand. Save it for what? Ray

[KYCaster]

For when you can't get lead!!! :sad:

Jerry