Markell Posted March 30, 2004 Report Share Posted March 30, 2004 I was pouring some worm weights today and while I was pulling out the insert the weight crumbled under the preasure of my pliers. Any idea what caused this? It only happened once. All the others I poured out of the same pot were fine. The only thing I can think of is the lead may not have been cool enough. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
siebler_custom_baits Posted March 30, 2004 Report Share Posted March 30, 2004 yea had that happen the other day because the weight wasnt cool enough. little peices hit the ground and splattered. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brian ranger619 Posted March 30, 2004 Report Share Posted March 30, 2004 sounds like your lead might be to hot. you might turn down the temp a little. good luck. brian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LedHed Posted March 30, 2004 Report Share Posted March 30, 2004 If it "crumbled" it sounds like slag. Are you pouring out of a Lee pot? Might of had some "clingons" around your spout..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaBasser Posted March 30, 2004 Report Share Posted March 30, 2004 I agree with LedHed, I think it sounds like slag. I skim my pot about every 5 min. or so depending on the lead. Just skim it off with a spoon evey so often and see if that helps. PaBasser Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richoc Posted March 31, 2004 Report Share Posted March 31, 2004 You pulled it out too soon. Then lead had not set yet. Pure lead acts like that and that if why other metals are added to it. Just pour some on some sheet metal, move it with pliers before it sets(twist or what ever) It will crumb like a cookie. Answer to stop this is slow down a little. If it was slag it would of floated when yo remelted it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LedHed Posted March 31, 2004 Report Share Posted March 31, 2004 Pure lead is really malleable (even after a couple of re-melts) and it would be tough to get it to crystalize (if that is the problem that Markell was talking about). It is possible to harden lead by remelting it enough and get it to crystalize. All the slag (or contaminates) in the melted lead don't float to the surface. These observations are made using a Lee pot. After you skim your pot - (use caution) take a screwdriver or a long handled spoon and scrape the sides of the pot, the stem, and around the spout and you will see more slag (or contaminates) float up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richoc Posted March 31, 2004 Report Share Posted March 31, 2004 Ledhead hate to rain on your parade..... But if you were useing pure lead to pour with it would never work. Pig lead is not pure lead. Call a alloy house and ask for pure lead once and see want they tell you. Pure lead will not flow and will break apart. That is why the additives of tin and antimony are alloyed in to the lead. This is so it can be worked with. Soft lead is not pure lead. Pig lead nearest to pure is like 96-98 percent lead and is great for pouring, but not that hot for casting. It really shrinks alot, bars have huge shrink holes in them. More tin less shrink, and the better it holds together. Differnet alloys are needed for different processes. Been pouring and spin casting for 20 years now, and the lead I like can not even be bought from a alloy house. I have to smelt it and make the alloy for myself. P.S. This town used to be one of the largest lead works around. It is now illeagle to cast lead products in this county now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Markell Posted April 1, 2004 Author Report Share Posted April 1, 2004 Thanks for all the opinions. I have to say that I repeated this again by getting faster and faster with my pouring. Once the mold heats up. I mean really heats up, I have to let the led sit in it longer before removing the lead. This is the only mold that I can get going that fast with. I am going to start skimming the top more often. Once I create my ingots, I get lazy. I wonder why I keep burning myself with this mold? LOL! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monty Posted April 1, 2004 Report Share Posted April 1, 2004 Richoc "lead I like can not even be bought from a alloy house. I have to smelt it and make the alloy for myself. " can ya let us in on that lead recipe? monty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LedHed Posted April 1, 2004 Report Share Posted April 1, 2004 Markell - good post Richoc - my bad, "pure" was implying soft and/or clean lead. I am also interested in your recipe. Also, do you know the alloy compostion of "wiping solder"? Thanx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richoc Posted April 1, 2004 Report Share Posted April 1, 2004 You guys have PM. waiting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
