Kwikset lock body

[ElbowMacaroni]

I was wondering what sort of metal the cheap kwikset deadbolt lock bodies are made from? It seems pretty soft so I was wondering if it was lead or some lead alloy. I was thinking about making a cutaway from one, but don't really want to get lead dust everywhere. I looked on thier website, but no joy.

Thanks!
-EM

[unlisted]

I am pretty confident they would NOT use lead, as California would have a "fit" with their rules and regulations, etc.

[Tyler J. Thomas]

Zinc alloy or pot metal is my best guess.

[ElbowMacaroni]

I am pretty confident they would NOT use lead, as California would have a "fit" with their rules and regulations, etc.

Good point...

[sfi72]

I am pretty confident they would NOT use lead, as California would have a "fit" with their rules and regulations, etc.

Good point...

AND the locks would be a little heavier if they were lead, I've found kwikset locks to be very light-weight in comparison to most other rim cylinders.

[ElbowMacaroni]

Thanks for the sanity check everyone!

Rule of thumb on stupid questions: There are no stupid questions until you've asked the same question three times!

[thelockoutguys]

If they were lead i would be melting them down and making a lota fishing weights!

[Jaakko]

Zinc alloy most probably.

Did you know that the most common brass (360) has about 3 % lead in it? That makes it so easy to machine

[ElbowMacaroni]

Zinc alloy most probably.

Did you know that the most common brass (360) has about 3 % lead in it? That makes it so easy to machine

Yeah, a lot of brass does have lead, but that is becoming less and less common. Especially since brass fittings and whatnot are used in potable water systems. They are making brass alloys with other soft metals to keep it machinable and well, not leech lead into your drinking water.

[Jaakko]

Zinc alloy most probably.

Did you know that the most common brass (360) has about 3 % lead in it? That makes it so easy to machine

Yeah, a lot of brass does have lead, but that is becoming less and less common. Especially since brass fittings and whatnot are used in potable water systems. They are making brass alloys with other soft metals to keep it machinable and well, not leech lead into your drinking water.

In those application they use non-leaded alloys, but still lead is used and will be used in 360 brass

[ElbowMacaroni]

I thought they were getting rid of it from all brass alloys to be more "green."

Oh well goes to show what I know...

I do know that some water related brass still has lead but most doesn't anymore, and also that if you run a bunch of hot water through one to get the lead from the surface brass off and form an oxide layer, as long as you don't reburnish the inside it won't leach lead. But hey a little paranoia goes a long way to changing what an industry will do.

Kinda like aluminum pots, as long as you take the time to bake them or boil water in them for a while to form a nice oxide layer you won't get any aluminum leaching into your food (or homebrew.) It's something of a big debate in the homebrew world.

-EM