Re: refurbishing a Unimat?
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Excellent find! Not what I was reading back a few years, but supports what I remembered...? That's not something I can always count on these days! Bill in OKC William R. Meyers, MSgt, USAF(Ret.) Aphorisms to live by: Good judgement comes from experience. Experience comes from bad judgement.? SEMPER GUMBY! Physics doesn't care about your schedule. The only reason I know anything is because I've done it wrong enough times to START to know better. Expect in one hand, expectorate in the other. See which one gets full first.
On Friday, May 24, 2024 at 11:36:24 PM CDT, John Dammeyer <johnd@...> wrote:
I found this: ? ? From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Charles Kinzer
Sent: May 24, 2024 9:11 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [Unimat] refurbishing a Unimat? ? Yes.? On the zinc pest, so folks can see what one incarnation looks like, this is from a Varney (notable model railroad manufacturer of yore) diesel switcher that was NOS and still originally wrapped.? When I unwrapped it, I found this.? It was so swelled up that the wheels would not turn. ?
? Charles E. "Chuck" Kinzer ? On Friday, May 24, 2024 at 08:36:59 PM PDT, Dave Seiter <d.seiter@...> wrote: ? ? My father had a diesel engine model from the early 50's that incorporated the motors in the trucks (bogies?).? ?I found the engine in the mid 70's, but by then the "pest" had done its' work.? The frames of the trucks were basically power with a few chunks mixed in.? It was one of the first things I sold on ebay (years later), for quite a lot, because so few of them had been made to begin with, and most were thrown out in the mid-sixties when the pest hit them hard.?? ? -Dave ? On Friday, May 24, 2024 at 07:48:48 AM PDT, Charles Kinzer <ckinzer@...> wrote: ? ? Being pedantic again, magnesium is generally considered a sufficient percentage (although low) to be considered one of the primary alloy elements of Zamak (zinc, alumininm, copper, magnesium).? Iron is not generally considered one and is instead viewed as a trace as is silicon, lead, cadmium, tin, and nickel. ? Zamak (or Zamac - both names are used but Zamak is more correct) is just a quality version of pot metal.? Pot metal being a zinc allow with often random and uncontrolled amounts of other things thrown in. Zamak alloys have consistent specifications.? This makes consistent results and if not contaminated, helps prevent "zinc pest."? Many model railroaders are aware of this where, over time, a "Zamak" casting (which might not be from the most reputable alloy source) can crack, crumble, warp, or swell with age.? I haven't heard of this problem with Unimats so they were probably careful where their alloy came from.? (Although it is possible it has happened on bases or accessory parts somewhere and I'm just not aware.) ? Charles E. "Chuck" Kinzer ? On Friday, May 24, 2024 at 07:10:27 AM PDT, Andrei <calciu1@...> wrote: ? ? Zamak has 5 incarnations that I am aware of. They all contain roughly 3-4% aluminum, 1% Copper, traces of Iron and Magnezium and the rest is Zinc.? ? If you need Zamak for playing with, find some broken down Cuisinart stand mixers. Their entire body is made of Zamak 5. It melts at about 725F so you can smelt it easily at home.? ? From: [email protected] <[email protected]> on behalf of Charles Kinzer <ckinzer@...> ? Just to be a bit pedantic, Zamac (and similar) are zinc alloys, not aluminum although there is some.? Roughly 96% zinc, most of the rest aluminum, and a smattering of magnesium and copper. ? Charles E. "Chuck" Kinzer ? On Friday, May 24, 2024 at 06:35:01 AM PDT, OldToolmaker via groups.io <old_toolmaker@...> wrote: ? ? Joel, |
Bill in OKC too