Rust on wheel weights for casting

[redmist25]

I have been saving lead and getting wheel weights for a while in preparation for starting to cast. I was organizing weights and found some that must have been put in a wet pail and the steel of the weightsuppressor are rusty. What is the effect of rust in the pot? Will it contaminate the mix or will it be skimmed off with the other floating contaminates?

 

[amosfella]

Nothing. Don't worry about it. No effect whatsoever.

 

[Camaroguy]

It will skim off with the rest of the garbage. Just be sure to pull out the zinc weights.

 

[zuke]

Free flux

 

[yomomma]

Only thing i have to add is always process your lead in a different pot than the one you use for casting.

 

[Camaroguy]

Only thing i have to add is always process your lead in a different pot than the one you use for casting.

Excellent advice. Wheel weights have much garbage on them that would love nothing better than to gum up your nice casting pot.

 

[Mightymoose410]

just had the same deal my self, ww are getting hard to find in my area, and i got a 5gal bucket and about half of them where totally rusted. made the zn and fe ones a little harder to spot but got them cleaned out none the less, melted and fluxed just fine. The only thing you should be concerned about is if they are rusted there was obviously good amount of moisture present at some point, make sure they are DRY before they go in you melting pot.
Just my observation from a recent experience

 

[yomomma]

Put ww in a cold pot. They should dry out as it heats up. I always throw on a lid.