I melted zinc into my lead!!

When I did my first ever melt, I had one batch that got some zinc in it. Nothing I did would make the moulds fill completely. Every single bullet had a piece missing out of it somewhere. Those look pretty darned good Ruger. I don't think you had much zinc in the batch you did if you're getting those results. Carry on, and have fun !!!!
 
I didn't read all the posts here so forgive me if this is a repeat, but apparently you can use powdered sulpher to flux out the zinc. there is a sticky on it over at castboolits.com in the "lead and lead alloys" forum, and apparently it works like a charm. Keep in mind it looks rather dangerous and use caution if you think of attempting it!

Here's a quick link;
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=63082
 
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mikeystew said:
I didn't read all the posts here so forgive me if this is a repeat, but apparently you can use powdered sulpher to flux out the zinc. there is a sticky on it over at castboolits.com in the "lead and lead alloys" forum, and apparently it works like a charm. Keep in mind it looks rather dangerous and use caution if you think of attempting it!

Here's a quick link;
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=63082
Click to expand...

THAT is the first I've every heard about anyone successfully pulling zinc out of lead !!!! THANK YOU for posting it !!!!!!!
 
The sulfur method of zinc removal from lead has been known for a long time, since zinc first showed up as tire weights in the late 80's. I have an NRA publication with test results before and after the sulfur treatment.

Do it outdoors with a respirator on in a big pot, it is going to smell like hell so you need to have a strong wind and somewhere that people are not going to smell it. First time I did it was in my backyard and with the sulfur burning the next door neighbor that there was a natural gas leak somewhere. :)

Trick is to go thru every WW before it goes into the pot, keep the pot temp at 600-650 deg and you should be just fine.
 
Another thing to remember is that in the process of removing Zinc from you alloy it also removes most of the tin so you will need to add some back in to aid in mold fill out.

I've never tried the Sulfur removal technique,never had the need to but I have experience with heating and burning sulfur and it's very noxious and there is no way you can breath the fumes when around it.
 
Good tip, using sulfur to flux out zinc.

Not that it has ever happened to me in refining about 500 lbs of WW through my Lee 20 lb bottom pour melter.

Just kept the thermostat to between #7 - #8. The zinc weights would just float.
 
easyrider604 glad you have had great success,one thing of note is that the Lee pot is designed differently that most other Lead pots. The numbered setting is mainly for reference only and the pot temp can vary depending on the ambient temperature around the pot.

I use a different setting which I set by mold and lead thermometer readings when casting with Lyman or Lee molds there is about a 100 to 125 degree difference and it can also vary between summer and winter since I cast outside. Your situation may be different than mine,my cast iron mold don't require as much heat to cast good bullets as the Aluminum molds do which generally require a temp right at the Zinc melting point.

Check out the smelting pot a friend of mine made it's a 4 part series. http://www.youtube.com/user/spinesales#p/u/14/L9750wd9tZE
 
easyrider604 said:
Good tip, using sulfur to flux out zinc.

Not that it has ever happened to me in refining about 500 lbs of WW through my Lee 20 lb bottom pour melter.

Just kept the thermostat to between #7 - #8. The zinc weights would just float.
Click to expand...

Done a couple similar 'production' set-ups with my 10 pound Saeco pot. I think it's 10 pounds, anyways.

Just keep dumping weights in, skimming clips and the odd zinc weight, and draining off ingots as you go. Over the course of an afternoon, the ingots pile up, and the garage gets a much needed cleaning.

I'd rather have an electric, electronic controlled pot, that I could do large batches in, but this will do for the now. Not fast, but not real high stress either.

As long as I didn't leave the stuff to simmer too long, the zinc weights and iron ones too, were intact far longer than the lead ones, so they were easy pickings with the skimmer.

Cheers
Trev
 
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