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 Post subject: Re: Metal question
PostPosted: Tue May 10, 2022 3:02 pm 

Joined: Tue May 14, 2019 11:09 am
Posts: 483
Isn't that the same material used in the base of classic Hot Wheels cars? I had some drive rails stump me a while back until I snapped them. Zinc has that distinct porous look when broken. I think my Dad used to call it "pot metal"


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 Post subject: Re: Metal question
PostPosted: Tue May 10, 2022 5:36 pm 
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Potmetal is a very specific class of alloys. Very soft low melting point metals.
Tin and lead is most common (pewter) but with addition of chrome (skunk), aluminium (Alsoft), copper (various bronzes), or silver (silveride).

The term comes from automotive metal casting. Low melt scraps were literally melted together in a clay or iron ‘pot’ cauldron. A great early method of industrial recycling.

With that pointed out, hot wheels are not and have never been potmetal: which is why they are so highly valued by collectors over other micro replicas. For most of their life they were clean die cast aluminium. Though in the mid 80s for an undetermined length of time the body was made of an aluminium and nickel alloy.
Based on terracycle (If I recall correctly) info on a prior collection program Today they’re made from recycled automotive aluminium. Body panels and rims. Making it “irony aluminium”. Hence them being ever so slightly magnetic.

Matchbox on the other hand has always used soft-ish alloys. Lead and aluminium prior to the mid 70s. Tin and aluminium after. With most of the bod stamped steel and later plastic as well.

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 Post subject: Re: Metal question
PostPosted: Fri Jun 03, 2022 9:25 am 

Joined: Fri Feb 14, 2014 3:42 pm
Posts: 227
Location: Troy, NY
When in doubt, most reputable coin stores have some type of XRF equipment.
Have them scan it for you, it'll at least tell you what the outside composition is, down to a percentage.
Or use your scrap money to buy an XRF gun, they're only like 20-40k lol.


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 Post subject: Re: Metal question
PostPosted: Fri Jun 03, 2022 11:30 am 
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Quote:
they're only like 20-40k lol.


It’s not all that bad.
Some like ValTek start around $2000 though they’re on the low end of quality.
Evident hand scanners are in the $10-$25k range.

The. Again large stationary units cost millions.

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 Post subject: Re: Metal question
PostPosted: Fri Jun 03, 2022 10:33 pm 

Joined: Sat Nov 29, 2014 9:44 pm
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Too bad companies just can't be required to mark all their materials or something... :D Love seeing Mg and ZA-8 and such on things, no need to test.

Hey lost, sent you an email, figured you were busy but maybe it got buried over the holiday weekend?

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 Post subject: Re: Metal question
PostPosted: Fri Jun 03, 2022 11:57 pm 
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Rather tied up busy week heading into another of the same.

I cover your and all other emails when I have more than a moment of pause.
I’d rather be helpful, useful, and accurate, than just quick.

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 Post subject: Re: Metal question
PostPosted: Sat Jun 04, 2022 7:29 pm 

Joined: Sat Nov 29, 2014 9:44 pm
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Location: I'm right here :D
No worries!

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 Post subject: Re: Metal question
PostPosted: Wed Mar 29, 2023 2:35 pm 
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Joined: Tue Dec 08, 2015 1:48 pm
Posts: 17
Location: california
lostinlodos wrote:
It appears to be popular in round bases. I’ve found it in the Lux iMac, lamps, and some small round base TVs.
Old desktop tape dispensers and portfolio staplers as well.
The base of old manual calculating machines and registers.
Anything that needs to be heavy-enough but not too-heavy.

You find a lot of it in garden and irrigation though as well. It costs less than aluminium and holds up better than lower coating stainless as it expands and contracts better in high and low temperatures.
It holds it’s shape quite well at extreme heat into the 200• range making it popular for rack systems and server equipment. And it doesn’t stress under inconsistent temperature. Meaning the 250• power supply won’t cause the whole tray to sag in the rack with an ambient 140-150•

A useful metal, for sure. With a melting point above 700F there isn’t much electronic wise it can’t be used for.

Oh, and in micro-particle form in a suspension it’s a great lubricant!


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 Post subject: Re: Metal question
PostPosted: Wed Mar 29, 2023 11:25 pm 
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Zinc is one of those metals that, like titanium, we are only beginning to understand how useful it can be.

High performance rims for racing are now being tested. Aluminium deforms under heat and friction, slightly,
Changing the aerodynamics enough to be noticeable.

Hugh end crypto miners are also switching to zinc sinks and cases. It doesn’t transfer heat quite as well as aluminium… but like copper it will bend towards the heat, not away like aluminium does. Meaning in extreme systems you actually get better cooling on par with copper. For a much lower cost. Which is why it’s long been used in thermal pastes.

Zinc is also making a comeback for low end wire mesh. As covers for battery packs in electric vehicles, the uses are endless.

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