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Thread: Lead

  1. 10-05-2009, 03:11 PM #1
    Blackrat
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    Lead

    Hi,
    I have been offered some roofing lead, is this ok to make ball from? It doesn't appear to have been treated in any way and appears to be plain lead.
    How much should I be expecting to pay for scrap lead that I have to collect?

    Cheers,
    Blackrat
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  2. 10-05-2009, 04:09 PM #2
    Smokeless Coal
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    Roofing lead or flashing is good stuff to use. The first melt will be dirty and smelly so best to do it and pour the good stuff into ingots, I use a very dry house brick with a cavity. Second time you melt it use some flux and make yer balls.

    When friends learn that you cast your own bulets and ball you soon get regular donations of the stuff so I dont pay a penny and have close on a hundredweight of the stuff. I also sieve the sand trap at my club for a harder alloy for .357 bullets.
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  3. 10-05-2009, 05:15 PM #3
    tim56
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    As above. I use it when i can get hold of it cheaply, ie swop it for home brew wine or cans of beer ect. If im offered any lead i always take it if the price is right as you dont always know where your next lot is coming from and it can always be swopped for other stuff such as molds. "Ta Dave." Iv also been known to dig the sand pit for harder lead but its always such messy stuff that you have to wash it first and sort out any unwanted crap before melting it down to store in ingots.
    Have fun. Tim
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  4. 10-05-2009, 05:29 PM #4
    sitsinhedges Guest
    The scrapman is paying 50p per kilo right now.

    Mine sells at £1, robbing Bxxxxxx
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  5. 10-05-2009, 05:35 PM #5
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    snock
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    I have about 60lb of lead blocks in my garage. I intercept it from work before they chuck it out.

    This is about £30 at today's prices.
    I don't use it..
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    Last edited by snock; 10-05-2009 at 08:20 PM.
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  6. 10-05-2009, 06:08 PM #6
    greenshoots Guest
    just had our central heating replaced swoped all the copper for lead at our local scrappy odd seemed to have a lot of flashing in the exchange.......

    viv
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  7. 10-05-2009, 06:18 PM #7
    Blackrat
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    Guys,
    Thanks for the rapid replies, how do I clean the lead once its melted?

    I have only made ball once before when a friend showed me how it was done but I think the lead he was using was already clean

    Cheers
    BR
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  8. 10-05-2009, 07:04 PM #8
    LeeH
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    melt it down first - I do mine on an open fire in a big old pot, but that's a bit dangerous and I wouldn't recommend to anyone else. You can get electric pots from Midway and such like. Skim the crud off the top once it's melted using a small steel ladle. Be aware everything is going to get real hot so wear some decent heatproof gloves and goggles.

    I take my cleaned up lead off into Lee ingot molds, let them cool off, knock them out and store them indoors. Then each ingot makes about 50 balls. Casting takes a bit of practice, but I did 1500 .433 for my Pedersoli Le Page during a couple of cold weekends last winter and I'm a long way from making a visible dent in them so far.
    My wife complains that I've got more sense than money.
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  9. 10-05-2009, 07:42 PM #9
    Blackrat
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    Thanks Lee,
    I shall get myself an electric pot and get cracking
    BR
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  10. 10-05-2009, 07:45 PM #10
    sitsinhedges Guest
    You flux (purify) the metal by introducing a source of carbon into it, a wooden stick to stir it which chars or better still a finger nail sized lump of candle wax which is stirred in.
    The wax will create a lot of smoke which needs igniting with a blowtorch or lighter, it will then burn clean.
    Keep stirring in until the flames subside and all the impurity will rise to the surface as slag to be skimmed off.

    Very dirty lead can almost be self fluxing as the crap burns when it melts and creates the same effect

    Works for me anyway
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  11. 11-05-2009, 03:53 AM #11
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    Jackel
    Jackel is offline Welding guru and moderator to the stars
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    Old wheel weights are a good source of Antimony
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  12. 11-05-2009, 07:06 AM #12
    sitsinhedges Guest
    Quote Originally Posted by Jackel View Post
    Old wheel weights are a good source of Antimony
    Yes but very old ones, they've been lead free and made of zinc for at least 3yrs now but if you can find some the make up is about the same as 'magnum shot', probably about 6% antimony with the rest largely being lead. Ready mixed so to to speak.
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  13. 11-05-2009, 07:21 AM #13
    sitsinhedges Guest
    Interesting read
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  14. 11-05-2009, 09:04 AM #14
    bryantanthonydp
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    Are you casting for a M/L ?
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  15. 11-05-2009, 09:19 AM #15
    tacfoley
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    Quote Originally Posted by Jackel View Post
    Old wheel weights are a good source of Antimony
    Quote from the British Pharmacopia - 'Antimony and many of its compounds are toxic. Clinically, antimony poisoning is very similar to arsenic poisoning. In small doses, antimony causes headache, dizziness, and depression. Larger doses cause violent and frequent vomiting, and will lead to death in a few days.'

    Your turn...

    tac
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