The cause of Zamak turning to dust is "LEAD" not Iron or steel. Zamak requires a little copper. During the Korean war copper was not available. So they went to the junk yards and got the old car radiators and tossed them into the mix. Problem! Old radiators had solder on them = lead and bingo zamak dust after a while. Bowser trims his die cast parts in his own shop. He also casts lead. The scrap dealers would not buy his Zamak scrap because of the lead in his shop. They were afraid lead may have got mixed into it. Thank you Larry Jackman Boca Raton FLsolider [EMAIL PROTECTED]
On Dec 19, 2006, at 4:34 PM, Rollain Mercier wrote: > and he notes - > > Zamak (aka 'diecast') was first used in the automobile trade back in > the 20s to replace cast brass and bronze fittings such as door > handles and hood decorations. Contamination wasn't a problem as cars > (as a rule) didn't last 20 years anyway. Most Zamak items made before > WWII production were subject to iron contamination from the casting > ladles and steel molds and Lionel and Gilbert used the same process > for their die cast line with pretty much the same idea in mind. - > Little Leroy would destroy the toy a generation before it crumbled. > > The process was refined by General Motors during the War for defense > contracts and all but eliminated the problem. But who knows what the > Koreans used when these gearboxes were made and better yet are the > newer units made in China for SHS & AM any better? Nothing can be > done to stop the crumbling except replacing the castings. > > The ideal solution would be lost wax brass castings. Probably a lot > cheaper than a diecast version, tooling and low volume taken into > consideration. My opinion, of course. Maybe Don Thompson could > address the problem. > > Raleigh in breezy Maine > See my videos at http://www.emporiumpictures.com/ > email me for new releases: Emporium Pictures <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > > > > > > > At 03:20 PM 12/19/2006, Bob Werre wrote: > >> Friends, >> I don't know how many of you folks have some of the original Alco >> Models models of Alcos--(trying saying that 3 times!), but as several >> have found out, there is trouble in River City. When those units >> arrived we were in Heaven, finally a brass diesel that wasn't a crude >> kit! However, one of our local members, Bill Green who had two >> different styles painted for the ATSF noticed problems several years >> ago. He noticed the truck/gearbox castings were starting to distort >> eventually jamming the whole mechanism. etc. > >> Bob Werre > > > > > Yahoo! Groups Links > > > Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/S-Scale/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/S-Scale/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
