dlaery Posted March 19, 2006 Report Share Posted March 19, 2006 I bought some metal that looks like antimony, but its not. This was in a place where they work on train cars. This guy thought they used it on brakes. I guess melted it down to make brakes, I really don't know. When I melted it (mixed with some lead), it turned kinda slurpy, don't know how else to describe it. Then the top turned gold in color. After it sets a while the top turns bright purple. I have come across this stuff before. I had some pure antimony and the cross section when broke, looks exactly like this stuff. The antimony I could bust it with a hammer and it would crumble in pieces. I hit this mystery metal with a sledge hammer several times, did not break or even dent this. This mystery metal is in an approx. 4 x 8 sheet, 2" thick. It is as heavy as antimony. Any ideas? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nova Posted March 20, 2006 Report Share Posted March 20, 2006 I don't think they used it to make brakes as it would melt down with the friction heat when the brakes were applied. As far as what it might be, I don't have a clue; but it is interesting. I'm sure that with nearly 3000 members, someone on this site must work with metals for a living. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Delw Posted March 20, 2006 Report Share Posted March 20, 2006 What temp did you melt it at? there are a few metals out there that are low temp melting( under 500-600 degrees) but they usually dent when you hit them with a hammer. We used to use a metal ( I am trying to remember the name) that we would use to modify thread guages with. It was a low temp alloy and very strong and had a very predictable shrinkage rate. it was also hard enough to do some minor polishing of the thread guages when polishing compound was add'd to them Delw Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dlaery Posted March 20, 2006 Author Report Share Posted March 20, 2006 It melted at about 800 degrees. When this guy brought it to me it said that someone else that poured sinkers could not get it to melt. I mix Bismuth (melts at about 560 degrees) and Tin ( melts at about 520 degrees) 60-40 and this alloy melts at 250 degrees. I have another metal, Zinc it melts around 850 degrees. I have not melted any of this stuff yet. It is very hard and that is what I thought this mystery metal was at first, but the cross section when broke off is very fine grain. like a hard bolt. Zinc an lead mixed togeather is a no no. I guess I will melt some of this stuff by it self and see what happens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KcDano Posted March 20, 2006 Report Share Posted March 20, 2006 Dave, take a sample to a scrap yard/metal recycler they have various methods to test metals, ferrous, non-ferrous and exotic alloys. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gonefishindd Posted March 20, 2006 Report Share Posted March 20, 2006 I think the metal might be Babbitt,used for pouring bearing .I know of 2 types ,babbitt 1 and babbitt 5 It a mixture of lead,tin and other alloys. It is header than lead, but more brittle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monty Posted March 21, 2006 Report Share Posted March 21, 2006 I mix Bismuth (melts at about 560 degrees) and Tin ( melts at about 520 degrees) 60-40 and this alloy melts at 250 degrees. is the bismuth you use the same as the bismuth they use to load non-tox shells with? where do you get your bismuth and tin from? do you then mix that alloy with lead? if so how does it pour? and what ratio do you mix this alloy and lead together thanks, Monty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dlaery Posted March 21, 2006 Author Report Share Posted March 21, 2006 Monty I guess its the same as the shells. I don't mix bismuth with lead, because I use the bismuth and tin for lead free. It pours good but takes 5 times longer to get hard. Gonefishindd I don't think it is babbitt, but I have never seen babbitt that I know of. when I mix this with lead it ruins the lead. What I have melted down won't pour in a mold now. I had a babbitt beater once, that's what my dad called it. An old 51 Chevy truck with a 6 cyl. Hey KcDano, will I see you in April? I just talked to someone who is going to take some to KC and have someone up there identify it for me, a salvage-recycler I think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KcDano Posted March 21, 2006 Report Share Posted March 21, 2006 Dave, I am going to be there! Looking forward to seeing everybody again! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
