Die Cast - Identifying Zinc VS Aluminum For Casting or Scrapping

[@thubprint]

I know the focus went a little wonky at the end there! It’s not what I wanted 😅 Thanks for watching, and have a great weekend!

[@sierraecho884]

Hey, I am a mechanical engineer and we do use ZAMAC for different car parts in our factories, this stuff is great to cast and very low temp. This was a pretty interesting video.

[@TheUltimateRecycler]

I've always just gone by the "darker colour & noticeably heavier" method! If you handle enough of it over time it becomes very easy to pick.. Thanks for the vid Thub! :)

[@thubprint]

Agreed, once you know then you usually wouldn’t need any tests to do. I was mostly just curious how the tests I’ve been told about would go.

[@jeremyowens7560]

One chemical that works better than CLR and vinegar is copper sulfate, which can be found in root killers. Copper sulfate will change the zinc items black. Use water diluted root killer (copper sulfate crystals) and just scratch off the oxide. Spray the item with the solution and if I does nothing then it is aluminum casting and if it turns black it is zinc casting.

[@E-BikingAdventures]

There is a better way to do that specific gravity test. Use a larger container filled with water that will not over flow when you submerge the test piece. Zero the scale with the container of water, then tie a thread to the test piece and submerge it in the water suspending it by holding it by the thread and make sure the piece does not touch the inside of the container at all while completely submerged. The scale will read what the displacement is. No need for the syringe.

[@danielheckel2755]

I'm not 100% sure I understand how that would work out.

[@E-BikingAdventures]

@@danielheckel2755 . What I described is the proper way of doing it. there are videos on youtube showing how to do it. you divide the actual weight of the object by the displacement weight.

[@danielheckel2755]

@@E-BikingAdventures Thanks bro

[@fredwild190]

Great video. I found that muriatic acid gives a quick and clear answer. Zinc (or zinc alloy) foams immediately. Aluminum has a delayed but then violent reaction, producing heat. Thank you.

[@wesh388]

Very nice video, I figured the density test would be best. Thanks for confirming.

[@StellanLarsson]

I come back to this video alot. Its after all the most hard thing to know. Since I am a chemestry teacher I made a similar movie and added an explosion. Used Zink toys and hydrochloric acid to make hydrogen. Cold times for scrapping so I made a workchop inside my classroom. Have a great weekend! /Stellan

[@peteraubery1977]

I'm just starting my scrapping/melting journey ad this has been invaluable! Cheers mate

[@thubprint]

Well then you’re gonna love this week’s video 😉👌

[@peteraubery1977]

@@thubprint can't wait! :) keep up the excellent work

[@Inthebeatenzone]

Love your videos man, especially these ones! You present information in a very clear/concise manner.

[@thubprint]

Thank you! These are my favourites to make 👌

[@artynb2360]

I'm going to paint my airsoft gun which is mixed parts from many of sources by the method of anodizing and powder coating, but I can't identify which parts are aluminum alloy or zinc alloy, I researched for a while until I watched your video which helped me a lot, thank you so much.

[@MissCanadian]

Thank God I know the difference from scrapping over 20 year of experience good video

[@thubprint]

Yeah, you definitely start to see it without having to test! I kinda figured there were some folks out there interested in doing casting at home so this was partially made for them.

[@kovko69]

For the specific gravity test, you don't have to use a syringe. A measuring cup or beaker with mL will do. Fill it up say, halfway with water, and see how much the water level rises. That difference tells you the water displaced by the metal in question.

[@kevinsturgess1475]

Thanks for the heads up on that.

[@scrappirateroberts]

I have found this to be reliable. Hardware store for some liquid root killer. Put a small amount (half an ounce?) in an old pill bottle. Use an eyedropper or my favorite, a cotton swab. File or grind a little shiny spot on mystery metal. This stuff is caustic by it's nature, so only use a drop. And use outdoors. Touch swab to liquid apply to metal surface. No reaction- aluminum. Instant blackness- some alloy with zinc. It is much faster than drowning your scrap and doing calculus. 😉 🏴‍☠

[@redhm1989]

I second this...I use a powdered version (copper sulfate pentahydrate), mix a tablespoon?ish amount with water in a spray bottle. File a piece, spray it on, same results. No reaction, aluminum, Instant black, zinc.

[@scrappirateroberts]

Yep! I find it to be fast and accurate.🙂 🏴‍☠@@redhm1989

[@joemendyk9994]

Thanks, guys! I only have basic math skills. His density section lacked information I needed to grasp it. Your methods I get!

[@johnchristie1423]

Glad you tried the water displacement test.

[@thubprint]

It was pretty clearly the winner 😉👌

[@johnchristie1423]

@@thubprint Dr. Poof taught me that when he isolated a white metal platinum from Al. He actually blew out the windows at the University twice, someone that thinks out of the box. Beats the jack-in-the-box from popping.

[@ItsMe-io5bl]

@@johnchristie1423 think i get ya👍 surely it only works with things that float?

[@johnchristie1423]

@@ItsMe-io5bl No, weight vs water displacement using the atomic number charts

[@ItsMe-io5bl]

@@johnchristie1423 Yes, for things that float, it must have some part of the object still above the water line, otherwise all you`re doing is measuring its volume, not weight. The periodic table will tell you how dense a material is, but you have to know what it is first (obviously). i thought it was about telling what it is, zinc or ally

[@1MrRacecardriver]

Zep root kill will let you know the difference in aluminum and die cast got that trick from a former youtuber. I would like to find out more about bronze I tore an electrical motor apart today and the bushing on each end I think we’re bronze looked like that anyways it didn’t look like brass or red brass it’s a possibility it’s red brass or bronze if you could help find out lol

[@thubprint]

Root killer? Didn’t come across that one in my research, kind of a shame! Would have been fun. I know the bits you’re talking about and I’ve wondered myself. I just put them in the brass bin, though they could actually be bronze. I don’t get enough of them to make a difference.

[@josinora]

Sodium aluminate is also formed by the action of sodium hydroxide on elemental aluminium 👍 which is an amphoteric metal. The reaction is highly exothermic once established and is accompanied by the rapid evolution of hydrogen gas. The reaction is sometimes written as: 2Al + 2NaOH + 2H2O → 2NaAlO2 + 3H2 The bubbles are a result of 3H2 gas. Very good you used gloves and hopefully safety glasses, too - because of the exothermic reaction. By the way, you get the same reaction when using drano, a piece of aluminium foil or a yoghurt lid made of aluminium. Drano is more enviromental friendly than copper sulfate and easier to get. I always enjoy watching your explaination videos a lot. Stay safe and blessings.

[@thubprint]

Sounds like I could use your help making some of them! 😊 was my assessment correct, I just needed a stronger acid to test for zinc? Yes I was wearing eye protection 😆 though now you’ve got me thinking about heating the garage with drano and aluminium lol

[@josinora]

@@thubprint Yes a stronger acid is helpful. If you can get hydrolic acid in concentrated form and just a tiny little bit of zinc. But be careful that gas H2 is flamable. See this youtube video : Reaction Of Zinc with Hydrochloric acid | Chemistry demonstration It is well explained in this youttube video. But he does not wear gloves that are aid resistend. The correct equtation for this reaction: Zn+2HCL->Zncl2+ H2.

[@randystone6781]

Wow Thub, you blinded me with science... 😀

[@thubprint]

I apologize! Put some ice on it? 😆

[@CarloCalica]

Wow. I need this info for tomorrow and this just shows up in my feed. Amazing. Thanks! Subscribed.

[@thubprint]

Heck yeah, happy to help!

[@chipurmunki]

Thank you thank you thank you! I have buckets of questionable stuff and now you have removed at least some of the guesswork. Cheers mate

[@thubprint]

I KNEW I wasn’t the only one with zinc questions!! I just wish the common acids had been more effective, I don’t really want a jug of muriatic acid chilling in the garage 😅

[@slythdreams]

Thank you, Thub!

[@Nas_Atlas]

Thanks, I had a thick heavy gold plated deadbolt cover plate i was trying to identify. It cut easily with a hacksaw revealing a silvery white metal. It was non-magnetic. Hence I conclude it is a zinc alloy. Let's see if the scrap metal yard will take it as aluminum or something else.

[@thubprint]

Mine always buys it as heavy dirty aluminium, but you might get a better grade than me!

[@ethancharlie7916]

I collect strip the plastic off of and melt hot wheels. Yes the toy cars I get the bags at goodwill or for free from people and I melt them although the burning paint smells horrible sometimes if it’s unpainted it barely stinks at all and I do it with a propane torch too and it works great and I have about 5 pounds of it include a big 2 pound and 4 ounce bar of it that I casted in a steel mold

[@thubprint]

Cool! I imagine you’ve got a good idea which ones are “rare and collectible” though? Be a kick in the pants to find out one was worth a few hundred after the fact lol

[@mollynakamori]

SUPER info. Thanks for all the research!

[@thubprint]

Thanks for your help 😊

[@gojorakuenstudio-8320]

exactly what I needed, thank you :-) Powder coating on zinc alloys is nightmare while it is a charm on aluminum.

[@MisterDivineAdVenture]

Hey - that was great. I like the revolving octagon on the outro.

[@gravitybear]

Now this is info I can use. I know I've got them confused in the past, since the buyer at the scrapyard will often move some items from one bin to another when I'm selling them. Prices are so close, though, that it doesn't really matter to me.

[@thubprint]

That’s the funny thing, a lot of scrapyards really don’t seem to care!

[@silverlicious2086]

Interesting video. I was waiting for a big puff of smoke to happen and when it clears that foxy babe from Weird Science was sitting next to you. Thanks for posting.

[@thubprint]

I wouldn’t question it! But I guarantee you she’d be in the thumbnail 👌

[@silverlicious2086]

Haha.. And that would be some epic click bait. Have a great evening.

[@jackpotdigger834]

Impressive research and knowledge good job I really like your videos latly even a scrapper like me learn new stuff Keep doing the thing

[@thubprint]

I’m having a lot of fun exploring these research projects!

[@LeanneRende]

This is a great informative video, love it! Keep doing the thang dude ☺️👍🙋☕💃😻

[@thubprint]

And I loved doing it! The next one is gonna be good 😉

[@williammikell2210]

I learned something today, thanks.

[@thubprint]

Me too!

[@eldonjanzen9822]

Use a test tub and glass dropper. Use some real acids, HCl, and H2SO4.2H2O. the quantitative chemical analysis is crude but might have better results with stronger acids.

[@scottherridge9497]

I've seen a video or two where they use copper sulfate to tell the difference, zinc will turn black and aluminum will not react. Zep root killer was what he was using diluted with water and spayed on a fresh ground area..

[@thubprint]

I SHOULD HAVE TRIED THAT 😳

[@livvyweimar7362]

Love the informative videos. Keep the knowledge coming 🙂

[@thubprint]

They’re pretty fun to do, so I think I will 🙂

[@ralphkleyer9324]

1 teaspoon of copper sulfate to 8 ozs of water put in spray bottle file a little piece spray if it turns dark it is zinc or zinc alloy if it does not it is aluminum or something else

[@edgeeffect]

Yeah... the crystaline one is a dead giveaway... I made a crappy pot-metal casting once that broke whilst I was machining it... after I got over the disappointment and self-recrimination I noticed that the fracture line was "ooooh! Pretty!"

[@TomTheEnglishPicker]

Greatt video. I’m in the process of trying to work out a mystery metal Ingot I got from an art school where they did casting. It’s soft but not lead, maybe pewter or tin.

[@thubprint]

That would be my guess for sure. Not many soft metals around!

[@CoolKoon]

If they used it for casting then it's much more likely to be pewter than pure tin.

[@kaysay716]

As always great content!

[@thubprint]

Thank you!

[@HeavyDKC1]

Hey I like your peg board with no pegs. Whats it called? Is it a treasure score?

[@dr.a006]

I guess it depends on who helps me at the scrap yard. The same items have gone either way for me, but I’m getting more edumacated lately.

[@richavic4520]

Sometimes temperature affects the intensity of the reaction. Was the temperature of your "lab" a little lower than room?

[@markbean832]

Hey Thub, You should really start thinking of opening your own business. Now is the time You have all of the knowledge and skills.

[@thubprint]

Like my own scrapyard? I wouldn’t mind setting one up in a smaller town maybe!

[@maryanngallagher8052]

I agree.But have you thought of becoming a science teacher?I think you would be excellent at it.Grds 6-8 need teachers. (i know all grds need more teachers).l really enjoy listening to you speak. I was watching the yard sale vid you did with Wub the other day and and it was great how the 2 of you interact with each other.well enough of that.anyway keep on doin the thing and please be safe out there.signedtheoldladyinArcadia,Fla.take care.

[@reprocessors]

Who are you scrapper or a scientist?? Great video by the way 👍👍👍

[@thubprint]

😂Ty!

[@davea5150]

This guy siunds like a professor at a high school or college 💯💯

[@SwapPartLLC]

Exactly what I was looking for! Thank you!

[@dizzolve]

thanks for this video. I wanna try that displacement test. Would muriatic react with both aluminum AND zinc?

[@vinecat8451]

Man I’m so jealous of where you live. Over here stuff as dumpster diving is technically legal, yet they fine hefty amounts as if it were illegal :(

[@thubprint]

Maybe that’s just based on which store it’s at?

[@vinecat8451]

@@thubprint But alas, it doesn't matter where, and even if the shop lets you pick in their trash it's still frowned upon and fined. Even though our laws clearly state that if you throw something out with the intent of getting rid of this item you lose all of your ownership rights and this item becomes available to all, somehow you still get in trouble if you take something that's worth anything (such as scrap metal, for example).

[@joemendyk9994]

Divide the mass by the volume was too vague for those of us that don't use this type of math. Be precise. What mass. What volume.

[@williamslee9379]

WOW Love this!

[@xenderlord892]

I have been waiting for this vid 🤣

[@thubprint]

And I have been waiting to make it! (Apologies for the fuzzy focus at the end 😂)

[@CandSMINING]

Very interesting video brother. I think I have been selling zinc as cast aluminum 🤔🤔😲😲Thanks for sharing.😎😎⛏⛏🔥🔥

[@smoxen]

Enjoyed this very much,.., + I learned a Lot......Thanks again !

[@thubprint]

I did my best! Just wish I knew about the zep root killer first lol

[@francescodicampi5213]

I usually recognize Al from Zamak by the weight and the different sound that they do when you throw in the ground them. Zamak is an interesting material, easy to melt, 100% recyclable and quite strong.

[@thubprint]

I’m looking forward to doing some projects with it!

[@CoolKoon]

"Zamak is an interesting material, easy to melt, 100% recyclable and quite strong." - No, it's anything but strong, not malleable at all (in fact it's fragile and breaks very easily) and next to impossible to repair. It's every repairman's nightmare.

[@stickyfox]

If you dissolve zinc in hydrochloric acid you'll get aqueous ZnCl2 which reacts with aluminum but not zinc.

[@SynapticTransmission]

Really great info! Thanks!

[@thubprint]

I really enjoyed figuring this one out! I just wish I heard about using stumpout to test zinc before I finished the vid lol

[@SynapticTransmission]

@@thubprint Stumpout reacts well to zinc? Isn't stumpout mostly potassium nitrate? And yeah OF COURSE finding the holy grail happens after making the video.

[@thubprint]

@@SynapticTransmission oop, just read through the comments again to be sure: not stumpout (sodium metabisulphate) but actually zep root killer (Copper II sulphate pentahydrate)

[@HaciendoCosasRaras00]

Vinegar "bites" on zinc but not in aluminum, in the other hand, drain cleaners leave its mark on aluminum, but not on zinc. Regards!

[@wnytrashtrucks]

I always just threw it all has cast and most of it usually went for Zinc

[@kokodin5895]

you don't need the siringe if you use pure water and just use metric system :P just zero the scale with a plate on and count the grams from empty plate and plate with water, you get pretty close to how many grams and therefore mililiters of water there is but still i would like to find the lowest melting point aloy i could use in my train models instead of lead and hunting for zamak is probably my best bet

[@ravgolemonos9711]

stopped a movie in netflix in order to watch your video

[@thubprint]

😂 well thank you! It’s just a short one, but I think it turned out alright 👌

[@ravgolemonos9711]

my pleasure man. waiting on the next bottle picking session

[@TheFatPeguinBand]

Great job!!!

[@bigdipper620]

Um...how does water displacement caused by VOLUME not DENSITY..?

[@MrMazza1998]

Wish scrap was as available here. Would definitely love to spend some free time and earn a quick $$

[@thubprint]

Yeah, I am pretty fortunate in a lot of ways, I do my best to remember that 👌

[@tubesurfer4331]

Can you make 7050 aircraft aluminum alloy Please!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@thubprint]

I... don’t know? 😅

[@julieb.2868]

I think you should do a couple gaming videos. Just as a thumbprint extra.

[@thubprint]

I tried that once... I might stream some games just to hang out with people, but the videos would do more harm than good

[@seanl.7088]

Great video!!!! i would love to see you make a steering wheel for the other car you are working on.... i know its a big item but would be super cool.... would be equally happy with a cup holder or cool tool holder for the truck... just ideas. thanks

[@thubprint]

Those would be totally cool!! The car is just to flip so I think a custom steering wheel might be a little polarizing, but I will be aiming to come up with some cool casting projects somewhere 👌

[@mehowshorts]

👍👍 Awesome

[@thubprint]

Thanks!

[@adamdaley8090]

👍

[@johnb58]

Hope you are staying safe Drake.

[@thubprint]

Can’t be in much danger staying home!

[@johnb58]

@@thubprint ya but ppl need to go out and get food.

[@stevesrt8]

I melt zinc in my wood stove with a cast iron pot. Cheers

[@thubprint]

Nice! What do you cast?

[@stevesrt8]

@@thubprint just ingots with zinc right now. I got some vids of aluminum castings. have had problems with zinc getting in the mix and burning up. eventually want to try making custom molds for die casting..

[@hossamslime9354]

Nice nice video

[@kevvyg04]

Cool video - but did you know you sound like Agent Smith in ‘The Matrix’ - go on say it !! - ‘Hello Mr Anderson’ Kind regards, Kev from UK

[@jaypezewalters4420]

Zinc WAS higher than aluminum...until today, November 22, 2021...aluminum went up .40 cents today, a historic 33% in one day...pick up them cans peeps!

[@muriaticacid7004]

Thumbs Up

[@shescraps9788]

Now let’s mix it all together and💥 🤯🧯glad you do the experimenting. I would probably blow up my garage or light my head on fire.😆

[@thubprint]

😆 well I’d like to think I’d be careful if I had anything flammable! Although I suppose the hydrogen bubbles would be. Maybe I should’ve tried lighting them!

[@amethystwinter1977]

☺

[@markandrade7547]

Don't forget that pennies are 97.5% zinc. So heads or tails see a penny pick it up and forget the bad luck just add it to your zinc collection.

[@thubprint]

😆👍

[@WINPHCHANNEL]

Very nformative

[@littlehills]

flea bay search term 8X 10ml Pipettes Droppers Plastic Pipette

[@burhansecvr7665]

Here because I accidentally made an aluminum zinc alloy

[@andrewcannon587]

zinc are great as anti covid

[@thubprint]

Wouldn’t have guessed that lol

[@andrewcannon587]

@@thubprint hi thub. I' love your on the job videos. I wonder if u can give me an advice on selling motherboards and video cards. I live in the same city as u too. I know selling circuit board in C is not easy.

[@dufus7396]

If it weighs more than aluminium and price is the same then put it in aluminium pile $$

[@davea5150]

Change the coat once in a while. Do you take a shower at least once a week??💩💩

[@davea5150]

The hair dew is uwe. He looks dirty.

[@davea5150]

Yuppers

[@davea5150]

Thub get your hair cut. Your not a bad looking guy. The hair makes you look well what can I tell you

[@davidchelson8069]

If you can’t be nice keep your feces in your pocket.

[@davea5150]

@@davidchelson8069 💩💩💩💩💩💩💩💩💩have some!! Eat Up!!!

[@carljohns46]

Wtf did I just watch I'm dumber now

[@josephmccarthy1725]

Why do Americans say 'a scale' instead of " scales " which is what they are...!?

[@skampp]

Check the Global Corpus of Web-based English. Both are correct. I'd be more concerned about not being able to match single and double quotes. ;-) Also in the scientific world it's neither "a scale" or "scales", it's "a balance". The more you know.

[@dougiejohnstones9664]

Zinc is poor mans lead

[@thubprint]

But it isn’t poisonous, so that’s a plus!

[@dougiejohnstones9664]

@@thubprint yeah you can get zinc poisoning I think its over 200mg can be harmful if ingested everyday...i do be believe

[@davea5150]

CLR IS CRAP!

[@petergeorge6114]

I substituted to watch you dumpster dive & street scrap, oh well I unsubscribed

[@wnytrashtrucks]

see ya later

[@nathansmith7153]

I just dunk the parts in a stock tank and measure the weight with a spring gage. Weight divided by (Weight - weight in water) should be 2.7 for aluminum

[@nedstarkravingmad1799]

it's all "cast aluminum" at my scrap yard