Ogajiga Posted December 25, 2009 Report Share Posted December 25, 2009 Altho this had been discussed, I think a "sticky" would be of value especially to beginning lead casters. I recently found out the hard way how zinc contamination can mess up a melt, and since then noticed that every batch of wheel weights, without exception, had a few "zincers" mixed in. With "sagacious" help, the problem was identified and keeping WW melt temps as low as possible and postponing melt fluxing till after steel clips and non-lead floaters were skimmed out seems to have avoided zinc issues. To repeat "sagacious" observation, a primary symptom of a zinc contaminated melt would be an "aggressively forming" floating sludge that requires continual skimming and won't respond to fluxing. Pouring quality might be negatively affected. The zinc WWs are difficult to sight distinguish from lead ones, and will generally float on top of a melt with the steel WWs & clips until the melt temp rises sufficient to melt them. The amount of lead containing sludge waste that evolves from zinc contamination is alone enuf to take measures to avoid. Reposting pic of zinc WWs & skimmed sludge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ogajiga Posted December 26, 2009 Author Report Share Posted December 26, 2009 Heres the original post thread. http://www.tackleunderground.com/community/topic/16835-wheel-weight-melt-sludge/page__st__-20__p__4__hl__sludge__fromsearch__1entry4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Maxwell Posted December 28, 2009 Report Share Posted December 28, 2009 (edited) Prior to melting any wheel weights I break the wheel weights using 2 par of pliers. This make them fit in my melting ladle better anyway. If they don't break easily they don't make it to the ladle. Not sure that this weeds out the zinc etc. but have not had concerns with melting & pouring. Good luck. Tony Edited December 28, 2009 by Tony Maxwell Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
