The UK's Finest Independent Forum for Shooters and Gun Owners. Est 2010.

No, oomans, NO! NO ZINC ! You're mad and sick enough as a species already....

Trust us, don't play with melting zinc. It's quite a potent neurotoxin. If you absolutely insist on melting down brass (which is an alloy of copper and zinc), or casting lead that may contain zinc, do it outdoors, remain upwind of the melt and try not breathing for a few hours.

Are we talking from experience here?

It would explain a lot if you were.

Cast zinc bullets are very popular in the states, so that might explain a lot too.

Me I'm quiet happy with lead, however I'm sure on occasion I have smelted the odd zinc wheel weight in error.

Such is life, regardless of what the H&S people say and regulate we will never be absolutely safe.

I would take heed though if anyone is seriously thinking of zinc casting.

Bell founders' ague

"The signs and symptoms are nonspecific but are generally flu-like including fever, chills, nausea, headache, fatigue, muscle aches, joint pains, lack of appetite, shortness of breath, pneumonia, chest pain, blood pressure change, and cough. A sweet or metallic taste in the mouth may also be reported along with a dry or irritated throat which may lead to hoarseness. Symptoms of a more severe metal toxicity may also include a burning sensation in the body, shock, no urine output, collapse, convulsions, shortness of breath, yellow eyes or yellow skin, rash, vomiting, watery or bloody diarrhea or low or high blood pressure, which require prompt medical attention. Flu-like symptoms will normally disappear within 24 to 48 hours. It often takes one to three weeks to fully recover."

Tekkernickally, it's the zinc oxide you really have to worry about. If you're vacuum casting it's not a problem.

You can get the same from welding galvanised sheet. It's very unpleasant, and yes, that is speaking from experience!

meles meles wrote:Bell founders' ague

"The signs and symptoms are nonspecific but are generally flu-like including fever, chills, nausea, headache, fatigue, muscle aches, joint pains, lack of appetite, shortness of breath, pneumonia, chest pain, blood pressure change, and cough. A sweet or metallic taste in the mouth may also be reported along with a dry or irritated throat which may lead to hoarseness. Symptoms of a more severe metal toxicity may also include a burning sensation in the body, shock, no urine output, collapse, convulsions, shortness of breath, yellow eyes or yellow skin, rash, vomiting, watery or bloody diarrhea or low or high blood pressure, which require prompt medical attention. Flu-like symptoms will normally disappear within 24 to 48 hours. It often takes one to three weeks to fully recover."

Tekkernickally, it's the zinc oxide you really have to worry about. If you're vacuum casting it's not a problem.

I have all these....thought it was because I'm fat clapclap

Blackstuff wrote:Hello all,

I thought i'd finally get my backside in gear and start loading my own shotgun slugs and would start by churning out a ton of slugs before sourcing hulls/powder etc. So today i just happened to be driving passed a scrap merchant (a large chain type one) and thought i'd drop in the see what scrap lead i could scrouge/buy, only to be told that private individuals can't buy scrap lead from scrap merchants??

Now i don't know if its because i was in a suit and thought i was a poorly disguised inspector of some sort or what but is that true? And if so where are you supposed to get it from? I can't imagine buying new rolled lead from DIY/roofing stores is going to be particularly cost effective

Mark are you at Harlotford this weekend? I'm not but if you are I have loads of lead I should be able to get someone to take there.
You will of course owe me beer.
Geoff

I've not got my passport in order at the moment so can't go passed Middlesborough!

Thanks for the offer, if you are coming up norf any time soon please let me know and i'd gratefully buy you a beer (while at the same time alleviating you of the lead )

Divers weights on the bay

I am shocked at the price of lead when buying from a scrapyard. When we had to hand in all pistols, as there no payment due for lead and alloys, I kept all I had. Thank God for linotype metal, scrap white metal and surplus solder sticks.

I am interested to know how copper [II] sulphate is used to clean up zinc contaminated alloy mixes.

Just bung it in the melt, stir and scoop off, needs to be done in the open and I would recommend an appropriate particulate mask.

It has been done to death over the years on Cast Boolits, here is a link to one of the many threads on the subject: http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthr ... fur-Report