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3/3/2017 11:38:33 PM EDT
I remember seeing a wheel weight sorting guide thread somewhere but can't find it... anyone know where it is?
3/4/2017 12:48:46 AM EDT
[#1]
The way I do it is with a set of Diagonal Cutters.  If I can cut all the way throught them they are lead


If not I throw them out.  I do know many of the lead ones I found were marked with a P on the back.
3/4/2017 2:05:19 AM EDT
[#2]
Drop on cement froor and its clear whats lead and what isnt. Kick them into 1 of 2 piles.
3/4/2017 2:19:17 AM EDT
[#3]
Steel doesn't really matter cause they float to the top, but they're always painted, usually marked FE, normally the ends are abrupt not tapered, and the clips are never cast in. Rings when dropped on a hard surface.

Zinc is typically shiny/metallic, and angular in shape, very often marked Zn, and you will not do more than a minor indent if you try to cut with pliers and minor force, clips are cast in. Doesn't so much ring, but a pretty standard knock when hit on something hard.

Lead is soft, it bends, it cuts, it might be painted, raw it's typically dark grey, they are often slightly rounded, but not always, clips are cast in. Thuds when dropped on a hard surface.

The "P" means nothing. It's just a series/profile of weights, there are many, "P" and "T" seem most common available in all alloys.
3/4/2017 2:47:10 AM EDT
[#4]
Here
3/4/2017 9:36:20 AM EDT
[#5]
The lead ones are easy to mash with wire cutters.  That's really all you need to know for starters.

And if it hasn't melted by the time the soft lead stick-on wheel weights have melted, it's time to fish it out of the pot.
3/4/2017 1:35:56 PM EDT
[#6]
Thanks for the help... I have a bunch to sort and start figuring out this whole casting thing.
3/4/2017 5:53:58 PM EDT
[#7]
When smelting, try and keep the pot temp as close to the meting point of lead as possible. I shoot for 625-650(no more than 700!!). By doing this, the bad stuff will float and can be easily skimmed out.

The metal you really don't want melting is the zinc, IIRC that's about 750-800 degrees...
3/4/2017 8:45:43 PM EDT
[#8]
A good thread over at Cast Boolits.
3/6/2017 2:13:48 AM EDT
[#9]
Sort??? Throw it all in the smelting pot and fire it up. Zincs melting point is almost 800° (787) and steel is over 2700°, so WW's, whose melting point is less than 650°, melt WAY before zinc or steel and WW's made of either of those materials float to the top as soon as the lead melts and way, way before they have time to melt. I've done it dozens of times and it works every time.
3/6/2017 4:36:23 PM EDT
[#10]
Quote History
Quoted:
Sort??? Throw it all in the smelting pot and fire it up. Zincs melting point is almost 800° (787) and steel is over 2700°, so WW's, whose melting point is less than 650°, melt WAY before zinc or steel and WW's made of either of those materials float to the top as soon as the lead melts and way, way before they have time to melt. I've done it dozens of times and it works every time.
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