bladesandbaits Posted February 18, 2019 Report Share Posted February 18, 2019 Good evening all. I recently came upon a considerable amount of sheet lead that came from an X-Ray room ( my doctor gave it too me to haul off) I melted/ Fluxed it and pored into some ingnots. The final product is beautiful. The problem is I believe it is too soft. I pore lots of lead but have bought most of my lead in the past from suppliers and there lead seems to be much harder. I can see a difference on my final product. Would any of the experts here please give me some guidance as to what I should add to make it harder? I guess I should search the forums better and will continue to do so while waiting on answers. Thank you in advance. Regards, Blades Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
21xdc Posted February 18, 2019 Report Share Posted February 18, 2019 Tin or wheel weights. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bladesandbaits Posted February 18, 2019 Author Report Share Posted February 18, 2019 28 minutes ago, 21xdc said: Tin or wheel weights. Awesome! Ratio? or just experiment? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toadfrog Posted February 18, 2019 Report Share Posted February 18, 2019 If you use wheel weights go to Youtube and check out wheel weight identification . Not all weights are the same . Some are composite and the chemicals in them will eat up your lead pot over time. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
21xdc Posted February 18, 2019 Report Share Posted February 18, 2019 6 hours ago, bladesandbaits said: Awesome! Ratio? or just experiment? I'm not sure how much. I have some hard lead with tin that I add to my soft lead if needed. I'm old and wheel weights were always an option. Maybe todays isn't. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cadman Posted February 18, 2019 Report Share Posted February 18, 2019 If it were me I would buy tin or antimony. This way you will get bars and you can get the ratios right instead of guessing. The other problem with lead weights, are that many are not lead any more. They are zinc, and if you add zinc to your lead you will screw up the batch. Also many lead weights have water trapped inside. Unless you know for sure that they are completely dry and void of water, do not use them. Any drops or droplets of water will make the lead explode. I would buy my lead additives from a known and reliable source like Roto-Metals. Be careful and be safe. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bladesandbaits Posted February 18, 2019 Author Report Share Posted February 18, 2019 1 hour ago, cadman said: If it were me I would buy tin or antimony. This way you will get bars and you can get the ratios right instead of guessing. The other problem with lead weights, are that many are not lead any more. They are zinc, and if you add zinc to your lead you will screw up the batch. Also many lead weights have water trapped inside. Unless you know for sure that they are completely dry and void of water, do not use them. Any drops or droplets of water will make the lead explode. I would buy my lead additives from a known and reliable source like Roto-Metals. Be careful and be safe. 10-4 -will do. I have been reading up on a reloading forum to hopefully get a good starting point for a ratio. From what I have read, seems this lead I have is very pure and a good find. On another note..... My Dad always told me there was no excuse for being ignorant if you have access to the internet or a smart phone but I swear sometimes there's too much information. If you think this site is full of different opinions it doesn't hold a candle to these reloading sites. Thanks again all. Always appreciate the guidance. Regards, Blades Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Apdriver Posted February 18, 2019 Report Share Posted February 18, 2019 I also have some of the sheet lead from an X-ray room. I mix 50/50 with wheel weights. If I run into a problematic pour or mold, add more of the pure to increase the content. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigblue2 Posted February 18, 2019 Report Share Posted February 18, 2019 1 hour ago, Apdriver said: I also have some of the sheet lead from an X-ray room. I mix 50/50 with wheel weights. If I run into a problematic pour or mold, add more of the pure to increase the content. how about the lead they use for stain glass manufacturing ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cadman Posted February 18, 2019 Report Share Posted February 18, 2019 Just now, bigblue2 said: how about the lead they use for stain glass manufacturing ? I believe the lead they use for stained glass ix a 50/50 mix. My dad used to have stained lead glass in his apartment building. It is definitely usable for pouring jigs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigblue2 Posted February 18, 2019 Report Share Posted February 18, 2019 8 minutes ago, cadman said: I believe the lead they use for stained glass ix a 50/50 mix. My dad used to have stained lead glass in his apartment building. It is definitely usable for pouring jigs. what would be a good price per pound? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cadman Posted February 18, 2019 Report Share Posted February 18, 2019 1 minute ago, bigblue2 said: what would be a good price per pound? A really good price for used lead per pound is $1 per pound. The killer would be shipping, which in a medium flat rate box, they could put up to max 70 lbs for $14.35 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigblue2 Posted February 18, 2019 Report Share Posted February 18, 2019 1 minute ago, cadman said: A really good price for used lead per pound is $1 per pound. The killer would be shipping, which in a medium flat rate box, they could put up to max 70 lbs for $14.35 I will be checking for lead at a local glass shop! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cadman Posted February 18, 2019 Report Share Posted February 18, 2019 Just now, bigblue2 said: I will be checking for lead at a local glass shop! Many times they have broken pains of lead glass, and the lead separates easily from the broken glass. A little time consuming but the lead is very usable and if they give you the broken pains you then have free lead. If you use a lot of lead like I do, then you will need a bigger source of lead. However, I take all the free lead I can get and mix it in with the real soft lead I have. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BuckeyeFishing Posted February 19, 2019 Report Share Posted February 19, 2019 23 hours ago, cadman said: Many times they have broken pains of lead glass, and the lead separates easily from the broken glass. A little time consuming but the lead is very usable and if they give you the broken pains you then have free lead. If you use a lot of lead like I do, then you will need a bigger source of lead. However, I take all the free lead I can get and mix it in with the real soft lead I have. I love free lead, but it's becoming harder and harder to come across. It used to be easy to get lead when I first started pouring about 20 years ago. Seemed like every recycling center and scrap yard had lead, and they were practically giving it away. Paying 10-20 cents a pound was very common. I always used to pick through and get the flashing material used on roofs. It was easy to cut, easy to clean, and easy to store. Would buy 50+ pounds at a time. Now, I can't seem to find lead anywhere for sale locally, only on the internet. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark poulson Posted February 19, 2019 Report Share Posted February 19, 2019 3 hours ago, BuckeyeFishing said: I love free lead, but it's becoming harder and harder to come across. It used to be easy to get lead when I first started pouring about 20 years ago. Seemed like every recycling center and scrap yard had lead, and they were practically giving it away. Paying 10-20 cents a pound was very common. I always used to pick through and get the flashing material used on roofs. It was easy to cut, easy to clean, and easy to store. Would buy 50+ pounds at a time. Now, I can't seem to find lead anywhere for sale locally, only on the internet. I guess I should have bummed more lead from the plumbers on my jobsites, way back before ABS. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cadman Posted February 19, 2019 Report Share Posted February 19, 2019 A lot of places won't sell you any lead. I went to a scrap yard and he had some nice lead chunks. H wanted $4 per pound. I told him that I can get it for roughly $2/lb if I was desperate. There are guys still selling it for $1 per pound. You just have to find the guys. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KRICCI Posted February 20, 2019 Report Share Posted February 20, 2019 Go to a car garage and get some used wheel weights. Used one or two per ingot to harden your lead mixture. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caster Posted February 20, 2019 Report Share Posted February 20, 2019 We have clean lead with up to 3% antimony for 1.25 poured in ingots. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hodgie43 Posted February 20, 2019 Report Share Posted February 20, 2019 Caster, Do you have a site to order Lead from... looking for some for Jig Molds? Cadman recommended you to purchase from! Thanks Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LimpNoodle Posted February 23, 2019 Report Share Posted February 23, 2019 I just picked up 200 lbs of lead scrap for $0.95 a pound. Ya just gotta find the right scrap yard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BuckeyeFishing Posted February 24, 2019 Report Share Posted February 24, 2019 13 hours ago, LimpNoodle said: I just picked up 200 lbs of lead scrap for $0.95 a pound. Ya just gotta find the right scrap yard. Thats a killer deal right there. My wife would be fuming if I showed up with 200 lbs of lead. I do my pouring in the garage and she gets angry if I take up too much space and she has to park outside. I park outside but she is spoiled by the comforts of a garage...LOL! Last time I bought a large quantity and threw it in the middle of the garage to process, that didn't go over to well. I told her if we bought a nice, big shed for my work area, she wouldn't have to worry about it anymore! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salty's Posted February 24, 2019 Report Share Posted February 24, 2019 I just melt down car batteries Yes I'm kidding..... Lead should be poured outside. $2 a lb is pretty much going rate. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BuckeyeFishing Posted February 24, 2019 Report Share Posted February 24, 2019 Hard to pour outside when its 35 degrees and raining all the time. I pour outside when its nicer in the spring but, a couple box fan pulling fumes, window and garage door open for ventilation, space heater to keep it from getting too cold is plenty. Prior to becoming a teacher, I spent 7 years doing QC testing and R&D work for chemical companies. I handled things far nastier than lead and plastic fumes. I pretty well versed in proper ventilation. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smallmouthaholic Posted February 24, 2019 Report Share Posted February 24, 2019 https://www.rotometals.com/lead-ingots-wire/ 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
