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Another ID question: I pulled these pieces out of an old computer keyboard. They are about 1.5" X 1" and weigh about 4 oz each. Magnet test negative. Tried to scratch one with a screwdriver: made a shallow shiny scratch.

They are cast something.... If they came out of the keyboard they may be weights. Weights like that are usually made of lead, or lead alloy. (like wheel weights). Its not really too difficult to tell if they are lead. Lead is really dense; Far denser than aluminum (like 6x) and steel (like 2x). Lead; That's my guess.

Looks like cast zinc or 'pot metal' with a slight chance of being cast aluminum.

If the color in the photo is accurate, I'd say cast zinc.

If your weight and dimentions are correct I would say they are lead.

Pot metal. They are weights to keep the keyboard from "walking" around as you type. Al would be too light, lead is toxic, so pot metal is used.

Is "pot metal" same as "cast zinc"?

Interestingly, after someone had mentioned lead I thought that these are about as heavy and same in color as my lead sinkers. Is pot metal/zinc about the same density as lead?

Thanks!

no, pot metal and zinc are different in that cast zinc is purer than pot metal. Pot metal basically is just mixed metal alloy that has a low melting point (and because zinc has a low melting point, it is usually mostly zinc). At my scrap yard they buy anything that is cast at a single price, which is fine with me.

Lead is 1.5x the density of pot metal.

ilyaz wrote:Is "pot metal" same as "cast zinc"?

Easy test to see if it's lead.

Take hammer, and hit the metal a few times.

If it feels like your hits are hitting soft, then you got lead.