Metal Casting Zone

Aren't they copper jacketed and not solid copper?

Lead is about 26% denser than copper.

Actually, for the health minded and conservationist hunter, there are full copper rounds and other un-leaded ammo. Here in NC it's illegal to hunt waterfowl with leaded rounds. Here's a list, put out by Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, listing many un-leaded ammo makers.

dnr.wi.gov/org/land/wildlife/lead2.pdf

I'm looking for molds to pour my own bullets. Just like they do for lead ... but I want to do it with copper. When I actually get around to melting something!

Here here! I also have a large supply of used plumbing pipe and fixtures. I was under the impression that copper needed to be melted in an oxygen free atmosephere. What success have you had. Please share as the pipeing is building up in huge piles and the wife is giving me the disapproving eye.

Aye! Ye must keep the wife happy! Melt the copper and cast it into beautiful shiny copper bracelets and other fine jewelry ... then adorn her with it!

Now that's smart!

But honey!
All of this is for you....
Really!


As she glances from the side of her squinted eyes with a swift retort....
Yeah. Right.

Ive melted and poured copper, unfortunately its still stuck to the bottom of the ingot mold

I would like to know how to make that Naval Bronze if anyone has the recipe. For the seperation of the aloys, you can heat it for a long time. I had a problem melting brass and thought it wasn't melting in fact it was melted underneath. I had it in my crucible so lone the zink about half oxidized out and poured about half an ingot of copper with what looked like brass swirls. I'm still learning my self, but I would think go ahead and melt it the lead in the solder will oxidize out. What dosn't oxidize out won't benough to matter I wouldn't think.

Naval Brass is a 60/40 Copper, Zinc mix, sometimes it has a little Tin 1 to 2%. You would need to melt the Copper and then add the Zinc quickly or it will be too hot and burn off. I don't know if it will have a reaction like a boil so be careful. Melt the Copper with a rich flame, a little extra fuel, to keep the Oxygen low.

I thought a true naval brass had some lead in it too???

Some Lead would probably help with machining, maybe that's what the Tin is for. If you want to make springs, I don't think you would want any Lead in it.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copper_alloy