Melting lead - The Firearms Forum

TheGunClinger · 02-27-2011, 05:10 PM

This afternoon I got bored laying by the pool so I decided to do something about my lot in life. It only got to 80 degrees today, not quite warm enough to swim in the pool but perfect for warming things up around here by melting some lead just in case I might actually need to cast my own bullets. So, I got the pot all heated up and added a bunch of lead sinkers, tarpon jigs, and a bunch of other misc. lead including wheel weights that I have come across. After meltng a load of lead I was skimming the slag off when I noticed that a wheel weight was floating high and dry.WTH? I have always thought that weight meant weight??? As I didnt have a Bessemer furnace I just put that wheel weight in my slag pile. Didnt wheel weights used to be made of lead?

retired grunt · 02-27-2011, 06:54 PM

Now that the PC crowd has failed with everything else your wheel weights will be lead free in NY at least. Zinc I believe

RustyFN · 02-27-2011, 07:50 PM

The floater is either zinc or steel. Just scoop it off and get rid of it.

JLA · 02-27-2011, 08:17 PM

keep your temps below 700 so the zinc wont melt and you be OK

02-27-2011, 05:10 PM	#1
TheGunClinger Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: SW Florida Contributor Posts: 2,401	Melting lead This afternoon I got bored laying by the pool so I decided to do something about my lot in life. It only got to 80 degrees today, not quite warm enough to swim in the pool but perfect for warming things up around here by melting some lead just in case I might actually need to cast my own bullets. So, I got the pot all heated up and added a bunch of lead sinkers, tarpon jigs, and a bunch of other misc. lead including wheel weights that I have come across. After meltng a load of lead I was skimming the slag off when I noticed that a wheel weight was floating high and dry.WTH? I have always thought that weight meant weight??? As I didnt have a Bessemer furnace I just put that wheel weight in my slag pile. Didnt wheel weights used to be made of lead? Attached Images __________________ New England Patriots Rule Next year. -->

02-27-2011, 06:54 PM	#2
retired grunt V.I.P. Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Northern NY Posts: 416	Re: Melting lead Now that the PC crowd has failed with everything else your wheel weights will be lead free in NY at least. Zinc I believe

02-27-2011, 07:50 PM	#3
RustyFN Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: West Virginia Posts: 598	Re: Melting lead The floater is either zinc or steel. Just scoop it off and get rid of it.

02-27-2011, 08:17 PM	#4
JLA TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Heart Of Texas Contributor Posts: 17,407	Re: Melting lead keep your temps below 700 so the zinc wont melt and you be OK __________________ It takes 43 muscles to frown, 17 to smile, and 3 for proper trigger squeeze. The latest caliber or gear is no substitute for experience and skill. Rifles and cartridges don't make hits -- shooters do. Fact of life: After Monday and Tuesday, even the calendar says WTF!