I can get as much of this as I want, is it lead?

[NoBodyImportant]

We are scraping several robots at work and I can buy the counter weights at 25cent a lbs. boss said he can give me a hell of a deal if I take all 8 of them. Probably about $100 a piece. As he just needs the rest of the employees to see me pay something. They are 922lbs each and seem to be lead. Any way to test them. The scrapings melt quickly. All told it’s just under 4 tons for a couple hundred bucks.

 

[NoBodyImportant]

Some melted with a map gas torch

 

[bang]

Can you scratch it easily with your finger nail?

 

[ppg1949]

Ditto what bang said.

 

[excess650]

I would have expected the weights to be lead or iron, and you aren't gonna cut iron with your pocket knife. If you have a local scrapyard or ?? with an XRF, ypu could get a quick scan.

 

[pilot]

Buy it. Figure out what it is later.

 

[NoBodyImportant]

I just drilled them for giggles and they seem solid and yes to the finger nail scratch

 

[NoBodyImportant]

I would have expected the weights to be lead or iron, and you aren't gonna cut iron with your pocket knife. If you have a local scrapyard or ?? with an XRF, ypu could get a quick scan.

they are 922lbs each so I’m going to say no to a quick scan.

 

[NoBodyImportant]

Do those numbers mean anything? I know the 922lbs mean weight but what are the other numbers? Is that a alloy type or probably a part number for the robot.

 

[excess650]

You had chips that you cut off that could have been scanned. In that you can scratch with a fingernail, its lead or a relatively soft lead alloy.

The numbers most likely are a part # for the robot. BUY IT and run!

 

[mooman76]

You could get a set of drawing pencils and scratch the lead with them. I believe there is a chart around here that will tell you their hardness. I'd get them though cause lead is going for $2 a pound or more.

 

[Colonial Boy]

BUY!!

(I had to shout, I’m a long way away).

 

[Golden Child]

I think the obvious answer here is to buy them, and give one to your new pal Golden Child. Tis the season after all.

 

[Whitworth]

Buy it! It's lead and pretty pure if your finger nail scratches it. You should be set for life with all that. I'm still working thru a half ton I got 25 years ago.

 

[Dutch7]

Ditto on the buy it.
My father gifted me some lead from an furnace door counterweight back in the 80's, he melted it down into a 3x3 angle iron as a mold. Hard to get them big pieces small enough to manage. I shot all of that up and bought a few hundred pounds at a gun show 15 years ago, still have enough to outlast me.

 

[PatriotKnight]

they are 922lbs each so I’m going to say no to a quick scan.

You can cut a block off and have it scanned. As others have said, buy it and figure it out later! From the pictures and your details, I would guess it’s lead.

 

[Tenring]

If it will melt you can load it, BUY……IT….

 

[Critter Getter]

I would be all over that
smokin deal!! Greg

 

[jsb30]

Bought a counterweight out of a large milling machine. 3300 lbs of lead. All one big piece, cut it up with chain saw.

 

[Tenring]

I did the same from an old 1906 grain scale ,the counter weights were the size of 8 inch pie plat’s they were so crusty I had to soak them in gas and then scrub them with dish soap then cut them up with an old junky circular saw. My oh my what we do for this sport. LOL