Smelting Zinc

Gazengine

8 Track guy stuck in a digital world
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I used this "snow" day to sort about 5 gal of WW's. I am starting to get another pile of Zinc WW's collected.
Has anyone melted these and sold as pure alloy? I have read on other casting forums that all equipment has to be kept separate from the lead stuff. I really hate selling them back to the scrapyards if they will bring more $$ some other way.
Also I am gathering supplies to powder coat some bullets. Is it worth it to just cast the zinc into bullets and PC?
 
Elvis Ammo has about 4 video's on the subject casting for his 300 BO. Basically it can be done but there are several things that are different from your run of the mill cast lead bullet. In general your bullets are going to be around 40% lighter an in the high 35+ BHN range,you have to run higher temp on the melt pot and cut the sprue very quickly.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqq2Xh4H4VnMjZemwjTLW0w/search?query=zinc
 
In our organization (North South Skirmish Association), yes, cannon balls for howitzers and mortars are generally cast from zinc but...... not all of them.

We compete with Civil War era weapons up to and including artillery. Can't just bebop over to your lgs and get ammo, so casting is very much a "thing" with us.
 
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Elvis Ammo has about 4 video's on the subject casting for his 300 BO. Basically it can be done but there are several things that are different from your run of the mill cast lead bullet. In general your bullets are going to be around 40% lighter an in the high 35+ BHN range,you have to run higher temp on the melt pot and cut the sprue very quickly.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqq2Xh4H4VnMjZemwjTLW0w/search?query=zinc
Hmm, cheap Lee mold for 150ish bullet, ends up 90ish, wonder if it would be frangible...
 
I've got a pile of zinc wheel weights that I've sorted thru. My plan is to get a small pot for zinc only and a fishing weight mold. Will keep my lead for bullets and zinc for fishing since I live on the coast.

CD
 
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I just throw them in the trash. I may need to re-evaluate that practice. Had a lot of zinc in my last 5 gallon bucket.
 
The anti corrosion pads some folks attach to outboard motors are zinc. I have also cast shotgun slugs from zinc. These are smooth, hollow base slugs and I would NOT shoot them in a rifled barrel.
Zinc fumes are toxic, but so are lead fumes. Caution and safety measures are warranted in both cases.
 
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