Effectively melting zinc

[needcoffee]

I have an idea for my scrap zinc WW. I want to make a drag anchor for my drift boat. An 8x8x8 pyramid will weigh roughly 40#'s. Is there a good way to smelt and pour zinc WW? I understand that Zn melts at 790* or so. What type of flux or additives might be neccessary to ensure a smooth pour?

Regards,

[docone31]

Zinc doesn't need fux in that application.
You will need a lot of BTU's.
You could use a coffee can for an anchor, with zinc.
Watch getting it too hot. Foundry disease. It goes away, with no ill effects from what I have read. Feels like the flu. Comes from getting zinc too hot.
When it is too hot, it will make white deposits on the edge of the melting pot.

[sagacious]

If the melt is maintained properly, zinc does not dross heavily. Pouring should not be a problem at all, especially such a large casting. Good luck and stay safe.

[Crusty Deary Ol'Coot]

Yes, watch the temp and do not over heat.

During the welding process of zinc coated metals, the zinc burns off.

The gas from the burning zinc can give you a bad head ache among other bad things. So don't over heat and as with lead alloys, keep well ventalated.

Back when much younger and even more shy on smarts, I gas welded a fair bit on galv. pipe.

Dumb.

Keep em coming!

Crusty Deary Ol'Coot

[Blacksmith]

When welding Galvanized drink milk it minimizes the effects.

Blacksmith

[DLCTEX]

Drinking milk soothes the throat after breathing zinc fumes. It does little if anything to remove the toxins from your body. It's best to avoid intake by good ventilation and/or a respirator. Getting a headache from fumes is your brain telling you that what is coming to it is harmful.

[needcoffee]

What type of respirator? Will a mask with the correct cartridges work? Or do I need to go with a positive pressure system?

Thanks for the comments.


Jeff

[docone31]

Just bringing zinc to a melt will not make it fume.
It is when you use a gas torch, or in my case a furnace melting brass to bring out the white precipitate.
Once you have a melt, you have enough. Flaming over a melt is not needed.
As usual, use the head.
I only got foundry disease when I melted brass for a casting. I have not gotten it melting zinc in my pot.