Lead?

[SgtErv]

Would you guys say the lead one gets from Roto Metals is about as close to pure lead as one can reasonably find?

 

[hawkeye2]

Is 99.9% reasonably pure? :hmm: Doubt you can do any better.

 

[Don Steele]

Rotometals...???
Yup. About as good as it gets.
Commodore....I'm a Diver among my other non-shooting activites and I can tell you I wouldn't count on ANYTHING about "dive weights" without hardness testing them prior to use for making roundballs.
Based on my experience they are poured out of anything available. In the days when wheel weights could generally be picked up for free...we made a lot of them from that material.

 

[SgtErv]

Awesome. I figured so but haven't begun casting yet, so figured I'd ask. Thanks

 

[Eric Krewson]

All most all of my stockpile of lead came from the berm at the Briarfield Iron Works rifle range which caters to BP shooters only.

I divide what I pick up into two piles, what I call splatter lead that deformed greatly when it impacted the dirt bank and hard lead that maintained its initial shape.

I melt the individual piles dirt and all and later skim off the dirt after the lead melts.

Dirty bullets, soft lead;



My 106 pound stockpile separated into hard and soft;

 

[Bo T]

Yep. Made a number of dive weights and they were all cast out of wheel weights. A couple of ways of approximating the purity of your lead is by casting and weighting a bullet. Pretty much most alloys (as noted before) of lead will have a lower density, therefore a lower bullet weight. If you have a robust enough thermometer that will measure the temperature accurately, you might check the melting point. I like the idea of having a smidgen of tin in the alloy the enhance the casting characteristics. Or, just get a smoothbore.

 

[Idaho Ron]

I can scratch 18 BHN hard lead. Scratching is worthless as a test.

One man's scratch is another's gouge......

Save the scratching for your hind end. Scratching lead for hardness is comical.

 

[coloradoclyde]

A "scratch" or fingernail impression test is still a good way to rule out some metals.....
It is but one of many tests.....Meant to be used as a tool, not a definitive test.

 

[Idaho Ron]

A "scratch" or fingernail impression test is still a good way to rule out some metals.....
It is but one of many tests.....Meant to be used as a tool, not a definitive test.

Like I said I have some alloy that is 18 BHN. I can scratch it with my thumb. That is the worst test anyone ever thought of or keeps bringing up. It literally is useless for any reasonable person to do this and buy the lead. Well unless you making fishing sinkers then I guess it would be fine.

 

[Donny]

Scratching with a thumbnail is "relative".
My wife & her relatives have nails thick as bear claws. They could scratch stainless. Me and my relatives have nails thin as paper, couldn't scratch into a warm Hershey bar without bending.

 

[Idaho Ron]

Scratching with a thumbnail is "relative".
My wife & her relatives have nails thick as bear claws. They could scratch stainless. Me and my relatives have nails thin as paper, couldn't scratch into a warm Hershey bar without bending.

That is what I am saying. If a guy is buying unknown lead for lets say 1.00 per pound I am not going to trust a thumb nail scratch test for a buck a pound.

 

[amcmullen]

I buy plumbers lead from a scrap metal dealer. Also contacted a couple of roofers and get the roof vents from repair jobs. Last I bought was $.65/lb vs the $2 eBay sellers ask.
TC

A couple months ago I bought 200 lbs of roofing lead (labeled as pure lead) for $0.50 a pound! I was ecstatic and the scrap guys didn't seem disappointed either. I have enough lead to shoot until i die of old age, or die of lead poisoning

I also scrounge the range after my shooting session. that stuff gets made into sinkers and fishing jigs.

 

[tenngun]

A "scratch" or fingernail impression test is still a good way to rule out some metals.....
It is but one of many tests.....Meant to be used as a tool, not a definitive test.

I have tried to get a copy of Ol'Gabes lead hardness tester but no one seems to make one today. I have seen Boones but its a little too early for my time.
So for me, till I get an hc hardness tester I guess I will just have to go on using my fingernail. If I can scratch it I shoot it.

 

[hawkeye2]

I searched for both of the testers you mentioned but couldn't find anything. Were they commercial offerings years ago or homebuilt?

 

[AZbpBurner]

Last time I needed lead for round ball I bought it from Roto metal. Good people, fast service and maybe they will be having a sale for Labor Day. http://www.rotometals.com/product-p/leadingotpure.htm

Good luck, Longone

10% discount with code labor16 Goodfor online buys until 9/5

 

[tenngun]

I searched for both of the testers you mentioned but couldn't find anything. Were they commercial offerings years ago or homebuilt?

I think they were made by 'Ye old right and honorable company of lead hardness testers limited, by appointment to his majesty King George' Sold only through HBC. I don't know where Boone got his, Ol Gabe got his near the Great Salt lake. It may have been lost by the Ogden brigade.

 

[user 28522]

I have a Cabine Tree tester and it seems to work OK. It does seem to be repeatable and the chart supplied gives an Idea of what you have as far as hardness. Apparently now being sold by ST machining products.

Longone

 

[Idaho Ron]

The Cabine tree is the best one on the market in my opinion. The rest are a long way away as far as ease of use.

 

[Archer 756]

Lee Reloading :hatsoff:

 

[Critter Getter]

I have a couple of old houses that will be coming down. Where will be the best places to be looking for useable lead from their destruction? Greg