Tim_Ko

Hello All,
What kind of metal are the headlight buckets made out of? Aluminum or a zinc based potmetal? Has anyone tig'd these on ac with an aluminum rod?

I wanted to ask before I start experimenting - I have a small crack and would rather weld it than use JBWeld or a metal epoxy.

Thanks

MiguelsC2

I believe it's pot metal.

DansYellow66

Pot metal would be my guess also.

Tim_Ko

Thanks guys.

Yeah ... Leadking. That did help a lot. Thanks. I thought I would have to buy an infrared thermometer and then heat the metal and see if anything happened at around 786F. But that would destroy the part and it jsut has a minor crack. But as you said, if you look at and compare the density of the aluminum, zinc and stainless steel for example; Al = 2600kg/m3 (0.098#/in3) - Zinc = 7135 (0.258#/in3) - SS = 7480 (0.286#/in3). Its about 3 times.

So, I think they are aluminum. They would be really heavy if they were zinc or white metal. I have a ton of aluminum and stainless around and when I pick up a piece of aluminum, it is light. But when I pick up stainless, its absurdly heavy in comparison. You know it immediately.

So thanks very much. That was a real good tip.
Tim


Metal or alloy kg/cubic meter
aluminium - melted 2560 - 2640
aluminium bronze (3-10% Al) 7700 - 8700
aluminium foil 2700 -2750
antifriction metal 9130 -10600
beryllium 1840
beryllium copper 8100 - 8250
brass - casting 8400 - 8700
brass - rolled and drawn 8430 - 8730
bronze - lead 7700 - 8700
bronze - phosphorous 8780 - 8920
bronze (8-14% Sn) 7400 - 8900
cast iron 6800 - 7800
cobolt 8746
copper 8930
delta metal 8600
electrum 8400 - 8900
gold 19320
iron 7850
lead 11340
light alloy based on Al 2560 - 2800
light alloy based on Mg 1760 - 1870
magnesium 1738
mercury 13593
molybdenum 10188
monel 8360 - 8840
nickel 8800
nickel silver 8400 - 8900
platinum 21400
plutonium 19800
silver 10490
steel - rolled 7850
steel - stainless 7480 - 8000
tin 7280
titanium 4500
tungsten 19600
uranium 18900
vanadium 5494
white metal 7100
zinc 7135