Cake444 Posted August 23, 2011 Report Share Posted August 23, 2011 I’ve recently started smelting and casting lead for large shot. I’ve been researching as much as I can into the subject and some of the data seems a little gray (no pun intended) on the melting of lead. Some people state that melting lead will cause other metals within the mix to rise to the surface and be lost? Other people state that you need to use a form of wax to purge the mix of impurities, then skim of the top? I have a load of pure lead so I guess this doesn’t apply so much to that but what I do have is a bucket of wheel weights, and as I understand they are not pure lead. Anybody melt down wheel weights and use them for shot? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sitsinhedges Posted August 23, 2011 Report Share Posted August 23, 2011 This should help http://www.lasc.us/FryxellFluxing.htm Check that your wheel weights are actually lead, I use a sharp blade to nick the soft lead with or look for Pb markings, if they are they are usually so dirty they almost self flux. Zinc is marked Z or Zn and no use. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mudpatten Posted August 23, 2011 Report Share Posted August 23, 2011 I`m sure you already are,but don`t forget to wear goggles or appropriate wrap around safety glases when working with molten lead. It`s is`nt called "blind mans metal" for nothing. A mate of mine lost the sight in his right eye when melting lead for fishing weights. Good luck with the shot making. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hyflier Posted August 23, 2011 Report Share Posted August 23, 2011 Excuse me butting in, and my ignorance: how did he lose his sight, was it splatter or fumes? :blink: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cake444 Posted August 23, 2011 Author Report Share Posted August 23, 2011 This should help http://www.lasc.us/FryxellFluxing.htm Check that your wheel weights are actually lead, I use a sharp blade to nick the soft lead with or look for Pb markings, if they are they are usually so dirty they almost self flux. Zinc is marked Z or Zn and no use. Thanks for that, good to know as load of them didnt melt. They all had ZN on them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cake444 Posted August 23, 2011 Author Report Share Posted August 23, 2011 I`m sure you already are,but don`t forget to wear goggles or appropriate wrap around safety glases when working with molten lead. It`s is`nt called "blind mans metal" for nothing. A mate of mine lost the sight in his right eye when melting lead for fishing weights. Good luck with the shot making. Blimy, did he splat lead in his eye? I usually ware DIY full face goggles and a dust mask (i'm always outside). Its not something i do very much anyway as buying the shot while its available is far easier. Appreciate the safety advice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
utectok Posted August 23, 2011 Report Share Posted August 23, 2011 Gas mask not dust mask I reckon made my dad pretty I'll when he was doing it outside with no mask Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vince Green Posted August 24, 2011 Report Share Posted August 24, 2011 (edited) Thanks for that, good to know as load of them didnt melt. They all had ZN on them. Zn = chemical symbol for zinc. Lead wheelweights are illegal now so the lead ones are disappearing fast. If you are casting shot they will cast well. Edited August 24, 2011 by Vince Green Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Floating Chamber Posted August 24, 2011 Report Share Posted August 24, 2011 Zn = chemical symbol for zinc. Lead wheelweights are illegal now so the lead ones are disappearing fast. If you are casting shot they will cast well. Vince, is there any truth in the rumour that commercial vehicles still have lead wheel weights? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vince Green Posted August 24, 2011 Report Share Posted August 24, 2011 Vince, is there any truth in the rumour that commercial vehicles still have lead wheel weights? I don't know, its the first I have heard of it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fruitloop Posted August 24, 2011 Report Share Posted August 24, 2011 HHi. cake where did you get the molds for large shot from?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cake444 Posted August 25, 2011 Author Report Share Posted August 25, 2011 HHi. cake where did you get the molds for large shot from?? Hey fruitloop, I get my molds from the US, eBay generally. Here is a link below, the molds go fast. I’ve used them quite a bit and there decent. http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?rt=nc&LH_PrefLoc=2&_nkw=buckshot%20lead%20molds&_fln=1&_trksid=p3286.c0.m283 There are a lot of molds on eBay, some vintage, slugs and various other things. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vince Green Posted August 25, 2011 Report Share Posted August 25, 2011 Hey fruitloop, I get my molds from the US, eBay generally. Here is a link below, the molds go fast. I’ve used them quite a bit and there decent. http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?rt=nc&LH_PrefLoc=2&_nkw=buckshot%20lead%20molds&_fln=1&_trksid=p3286.c0.m283 There are a lot of molds on eBay, some vintage, slugs and various other things. Lee do a buckshot mould. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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