Boat anchors

waco

Springfield, Oregon
What are they made of? Wheel weights?
Pyramid shape. 25 pounds.
Just melted down 4 of them.
Thanks.
Walter.
 

Brad

Benevolent Overlord and site owner
Staff member
Probably whatever was cheap and on hand. If on the older side wheel weights are a likely source.
I would try casting with some and see what you get for weight, BHn, and casting quality. If it casts well then all else can be adjusted.
 

waco

Springfield, Oregon
As I was writing this, I just threw in my last anchor. After it melted, 3 metal WW clips floated to the top. Guess this answers my question.
 

Brad

Benevolent Overlord and site owner
Staff member
Hope you fluxed well, I don't think they did?
Face it, they wanted a weight, casting quality wasn't really an issue.
 

Ben

Moderator
Staff member
As I was writing this, I just threw in my last anchor. After it melted, 3 metal WW clips floated to the top. Guess this answers my question.

Yes, I'd say that you're onto something with your observations.

Ben
 

Ian

Notorious member
I see your luck is like mine...the Clue Bird did fly by, but waited until the last second. I'd still be a little cautious of Zamak weights having been introduced by the operation that made them anchors, depending on how long ago they were made. If you have trouble making bullets out of them there are some things you can do to salvage the alloy, so don't get carried away with adding any tin until zink contamination is determined. Do you know the hydrochloric acid trick for detecting zink in the alloy?
 

Brad

Benevolent Overlord and site owner
Staff member
Any clue how old they are? If old enough zinc is a less likely issue. If you can cast good bullets with good fill out then all is good.
Try casting some in the 315 mould. If all those bands fill out sharp I would call it good.
 
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fiver

Well-Known Member
when I was super actively scrounging the free to cheap ww's along the Wasatch front I quickly learned to avoid the I-15 corridor.
there was an outfit that come down from the North West coast in a big 'ol truck and collected everything they could get clear to Las Vegas [maybe even LA at that time then went back up the coast to their starting point]

they were making scuba belt weights out of the ww's.
 

waco

Springfield, Oregon
The ingots looked good. The melt looked good in the pot. I'll cast with some today or tomorrow and see how they look.
Thanks guys.
 

waco

Springfield, Oregon
IMG_1576.JPG IMG_1575.JPG IMG_1574.JPG The bullets cast out right at .312" and the nose is dead on .302" all four cavities are real consistent.
 

waco

Springfield, Oregon
100 plus pounds of Anchors/ fishing weights/ down rigger balls. $45
From my brothers neighbor.
Can't complain.
 

waco

Springfield, Oregon
Malcom. They looked very new, not beat up, but haven't been used except to hold down tarps over show cars. I think they are older.