Fishing weights for casting RB

[TarponStalker]

Hi everyone.
I recently acquired a one gallon can of various chunks of lead. Including in this are lots of pyramid sinkers. The ones with brass wire rings on top for attaching line. Im new to casting bullets so my question is have any of you melted lead with brass wire inside ? Is there a method for me to filter out the wire once the lead is melted?
I hate to have 20-25 lbs if unusable lead.
Thanks.

 

[cynthialee]

brass is a bit lighter than lead and it has a much higher melting point, now I ain't sure, but I suspect the brass will float on the melted lead and you could scoop it out

But that is just theory crafting here, I am not sure

I do know that fishing sinkers tend to be a little harder of a lead than pure lead, but should still make useable roundballs. I wouldn't use it for conicals.

 

[tom_in_vt]

You should be able to skim them off the top

 

[mooman76]

Yes, they can skim off easy. I did allot of range lead that has copper and other metals. The junk will float to the top. Get a cheap slotted metal spoon or ladle.

 

[cynthialee]

I figured it would come to the top being lighter and the high melting point will keep it from melting and forming an alloy at the temps we cast lead.

 

[Eutycus]

Just make sure none of the weights have been in the water recently. One little drop of water inside a weight could have a very unwanted and disastous result.

 

[ZUG]

The brass WILL float to the top and can be skimmed off easily. Clean the melt then cast into ingots. Try to scratch the ingot with your thumbnail - if it scratches easily then most likely it is soft lead and is good to cast bullets for your muzzleloader or revolver. If it is much harder to scratch, then use it for your smoothbore - if you have one.

 

[hawkeye2]

"if you have one." And if you don't this is a great reason to buy one.

 

[TarponStalker]

Thanks y’all. I’ll give it a try the next time I melt lead. Funny thing. I was just thinking I’ve never had a smoothbore.

 

[cynthialee]

Thanks y’all. I’ll give it a try the next time I melt lead. Funny thing. I was just thinking I’ve never had a smoothbore.

you simply must get one!

I only have a .56 Renegade smooth bore (I have a number of rifles) but it is my favorite go to gun. I don't shoot deer out past 60ish yards anyways and it is a good bird gun with shot. We have plenty of turkey, grouse, quail (they are very lucky I don't like quail, I could fill my bag daily) and some pheasant. Turkey are real careless around here, easy pickin's. The grouse are plentiful but they blend in so well around here I don't see them until the flush, then there is a whole passel of them. The pheasant are the only real challenge here. They are few in number and real sketchy.

anyways....point being that smoothbore is good to go for anything I might shoot it at

Edit to add: I plumb forgot I have a .54 blunderbuss I have yet to shoot. But I don't see it being used for anything other than targets

 

[PaShooter]

Melt those sinkers the brass will float along with any crud skim off the top and cast away. If the lead is soft enough to mark with your fingernail it will be just fine. Most of the old sinkers I get are soft lead and make nice RB.

 

[Ames]

Just make sure none of the weights have been in the water recently. One little drop of water inside a weight could have a very unwanted and disastrous result.

What he said X2! He beat me to it.
Lead from the unknown, such as your sinkers, diving belts and keel weights should go into a cold pot only. Any water will boil off as the heating begins.
Toss a chunk containing water into the hot pot and you end up in the hospital. You can add clean ingots and mis shaped balls back in the pot safely though.

 

[Roundball2319]

you simply must get one!

I only have a .56 Renegade smooth bore (I have a number of rifles) but it is my favorite go to gun. I don't shoot deer out past 60ish yards anyways and it is a good bird gun with shot. We have plenty of turkey, grouse, quail (they are very lucky I don't like quail, I could fill my bag daily) and some pheasant. Turkey are real careless around here, easy pickin's. The grouse are plentiful but they blend in so well around here I don't see them until the flush, then there is a whole passel of them. The pheasant are the only real challenge here. They are few in number and real sketchy.

anyways....point being that smoothbore is good to go for anything I might shoot it at

Edit to add: I plumb forgot I have a .54 blunderbuss I have yet to shoot. But I don't see it being used for anything other than targets

I love my .56 smoothie as well. What loads does yours like?

 

[cynthialee]

I love my .56 smoothie as well. What loads does yours like?

I find it works with most loads I have tried.
I use a .020 patch and a .535 roundball with 80 grains of 3f powder, yeah it isn't a tight fit, but doesn't seem to be an issue. Though I can use anywhere from 60 grains-90 grains with that ball and patch and hit in the kill zone at 50 yards.

 

[Whughett]

I’ve never found anything that doesn’t float in lead and can be skimmed off. Dirt, rocks, iron bits, bullet jackets it all floats on molten lead.

 

[Idaho Ron]

Drop your lead on the concrete. If it rings its hard. If it thuds is soft.
If they ring sell them. They are worth more as weights.

 

[deerstalkert]

Just to add to the cautionary tales of water in a molten pot.
when i first started out casting, i grabbed a dipper off the back porch where it had been rained on then frozen.
dropped it into the pot on the stove. (wife not home )
that thing went off with the sound of a 38 mag.
i was busy for the next week picking splatter out of my hair, off the kitchen ceiling, out of utensil drawers, curtains, and carpet clear out in the living room.
i had burns on my face that didn't do me any good either. instead of "Old Fool" like she calls me now, it was "DamnFOOL". had to sneak for years to cast.
looking back with eyes i could have lost, i think i learned caution for the first time. steam is almost explosive at 600 degrees.

 

[Woody Morgan]

I’ve never found anything that doesn’t float in lead and can be skimmed off. Dirt, rocks, iron bits, bullet jackets it all floats on molten lead.

Except for that light brown dirt that sinks to the bottom of the pot and can clog a bottom pour.
What IS that anyways?

wm

 

[Eutycus]

Except for that light brown dirt that sinks to the bottom of the pot and can clog a bottom pour.
What IS that anyways?

wm

I am curious and want to see the answer to that question, I've never had that problem.