White metal?

Actually, white metal has the symbol Zu and the atomic number 229. Strangely enough, in its natural state it is usually the same color as RLM 02. Its density varies between 2.2 and 9.0 g/cubic cm depending upon if it is found in eastern or western Europe. It's boiling point is 2290K. The only known use for it in its pure state is as a food source for monstrum textilus, a common household pest. It can also be used as a component in alloys.

While I'm tempted to go with the above definition, "white metal" is a catch all phrase for an alloy with a base of either tin or lead with metals like zinc or antimony added for strength.  I've heard that the lead based white metals are to be avoided due to their tending to deteriorate rapidly through oxidation.

Unless you meant metal music by the bands Great White, White Snake or White Lion?

                                                                                                              Pat

Pewter, usually... You remember the sales pitches on TV,  as in, "This set of 100% Fine Pewter Chessmen..." meaning cheap metal alloy?

Back in the 70's, before resin sets got popular, a lot of figures in 1/35-1/32 scale were used... I had several sets of half-figures for "modern" tank crews (with the 80s-present CVC helmets)...

Its nowhere as stable or as good in quality as most pewter, which is much more stable and harder...I hate working w/ the stuff and it oxidizes like a MOJO...it is a cheap alloy with lead usually in it which makes it toxic...many AM figures are still cast in it...

Thanks for the answers.  One of these days I iwll learn to communicate in complete thoughts

I meant in the respects to Am stuff whether is contained lead and was toxic.   Because of the AM stuff has lead... just holding it in your sweaty little fingers is not a good thing.  Thinking of getting some of those turn pink lead test swabs form Home Depot to check out the AM stuff as I but it in the future.

White metal stuff made and/or sold in the US can not, by law, contain lead. Not saying everyone obeys the law

Now i know or do i will have to think about this and get back to you .Ron

I meant in the respects to Am stuff whether is contained lead and was toxic.   Because of the AM stuff has lead... just holding it in your sweaty little fingers is not a good thing.  Thinking of getting some of those turn pink lead test swabs form Home Depot to check out the AM stuff as I but it in the future.

If you really are worried about lead,  just stop eating white metal parts on a regular basis for a period of several years...  That's about the only way an adult is gonna get anywhere near a toxic level of lead in his body...

Unless you're in California that is... There, if you even look at lead, you'll get cancer and die within a few hours... If you touch it, you will explode... 

Well hazmat is long overdue at my place here in California then... I have plenty of White Metal figures here, sand resin without a dust mask (I don't inhale ) and I airbrush enamels thinned with regular thinner and no spray booth!

Come and get me coppers!!!

Oh yeah,I am the cops...

Yeah, the "Safety N azis" are long overdue... I suspect the reason you haven't gotten caught is that they're not allowed to cross the street without first being rolled up in bubble-wrap and shoved back into their mommies' wombs...

Hans von Hammer

Unless you're in California that is... There, if you even look at lead, you'll get cancer and die within a few hours... If you touch it, you will explode... 

 

FUN KNEE 

I got a chuckle outta that.

Hans von Hammer

Unless you're in California that is... There, if you even look at lead, you'll get cancer and die within a few hours... If you touch it, you will explode... 

 

Hahaha, rofl

Although I live in California, I grew up in New Jersey. Am I immune to the effect? I still have lead metal figures for D&D before they switched to lead freee white metal and I have had some for 30 years.

Britannia or Vickers White Metal is I believe the alloy that is one of the more commonly used alloys. Its another of the pewter type alloys. You see it mentioned for wooden model ship accessories.

Mike T.