Came across a 'spool' of (I hope) lead at a scrap yard the other day. The owner said he didn't know what it was. It was priced right I thought, $10.00 for a [thirty-five to fifty (?) lb.] spool.

Anyway, are there any cheap tests to confirm/deny if it is lead or not? It seemed to leave the same type mark as known lead when I scraped it with my thumbnail. And it sure weighed enough (heavy as heck!). We cut a piece off easily with a pair of dykes and it did not appear to have a 'core' like aluminum/copper/etc.

Any help would be appreciated,

Thanks,

Batman

P.S.- the owner also said he had a pure lead sheet that was 4ft long x 4ft wide x 1inch thick (mercy!) that he would sell cheap. Hope he has a forklift!

Anyway, are there any cheap tests to confirm/deny if it is lead or not?
P.S.- the owner also said he had a pure lead sheet that was 4ft long x 4ft wide x 1inch thick (mercy!) that he would sell cheap. Hope he has a forklift!Everything from your description sounds a lot like lead. You might try melting a little to test further. Pure lead melts at 621 degrees F., alloyed may be a little closer to 700. If this turns out to be pure lead, you might add powdered antimony (if you can obtain it) or alloy it with some wheel weight to harden it some. That big sheet of lead could be somebody's nightmare as how would you go about cutting something 1" thick?

you said that right about the 1" thick sheet. I really can't think of a way to get it down to manageable pieces unless you had a oxy-act torch or something. Hate to pass on a good buy but it might not be such a bargain if I get a hernia!

Oh yeah, I followed-up on the 'spool' and it did have some info on the inside that I couldn't see initially. It had a name? imbossed on the plastic spool itself - SONOCO CRELLIN (???).

Also, a tiny sticker had 63/37 on it (???)

I melted a little bit down and it melted like lead. It didn't smoke or anything, but it felt funny - kind'a 'light' when I stirred the pot. Not as much resistance as some pure lead that I melted down last week.

Thanks again,

Batman27409

you said that right about the 1" thick sheet. I really can't think of a way to get it down to manageable pieces unless you had a oxy-act torch or something. Hate to pass on a good buy but it might not be such a bargain if I get a hernia!

Oh yeah, I followed-up on the 'spool' and it did have some info on the inside that I couldn't see initially. It had a name? imbossed on the plastic spool itself - SONOCO CRELLIN (???).

Also, a tiny sticker had 63/37 on it (???)

I melted a little bit down and it melted like lead. It didn't smoke or anything, but it felt funny - kind'a 'light' when I stirred the pot. Not as much resistance as some pure lead that I melted down last week.

Thanks again,

Batman27409


1" thick? Can cut that into chunks with an ax.

63/37 is a standard grade of solder. 63% tin/37% lead. It's eutectic as it melts at exactly 361°F/183°C. Expen$ive $tuff. Grab it.
http://www.kester.com/en-US/technical/alloy.aspx

Bye
Jack

I would buy the spool, for the tin content. The sheet can be cut with a Chainsaw, and chipper chain. You need to wear a face shield, to protect from the big chips. Lead tends to gall, and clog up other types of saw blades. You don't want to vaporize the lead and breathe the fumes. Greg S

Might try cutting it with a brick chisel too.

Thought about that. Axe, chisel, or whatever, if you have to muscle it you will end up with arms like Popeye! Would be great to have access to a steel fabricating shop and shear that plate into nice, neat 2" squares. :D

Thought about that. Axe, chisel, or whatever, if you have to muscle it you will end up with arms like Popeye! Would be great to have access to a steel fabricating shop and shear that plate into nice, neat 2" squares. :D


Awhile back, scored 130 pounds of lead pipe. Thick walled and flattend into twice it's thickness. All I did was take it to the back yard stump and cut it up with an ax into pot-sized chunks.

You girls sure must shoot alot more than me! A couple of "scoop shovels" from you'alls backstops from time to time would keep me going!
Makes me wonder how the big manufacturers find materials to work with?
Cheezywan

You girls sure must shoot alot more than me! A couple of "scoop shovels" from you'alls backstops from time to time would keep me going!
Makes me wonder how the big manufacturers find materials to work with?
Cheezywan


That 130pounds, with a bit of wastage and the oxidation, works out to less than 2,000 rounds of 45/7, 50/70, and various muzzle loaders. Considering the bullets go a good bit more than an ounce eash, can run through a 20pound pot in a great big hurry.

48"x48"x1" sheet works out to about 1.34 ft³ weighing 950 pounds. Easiest way to cut it up is with a shear but since most people don't have one handy nor one large enough to cut 1" thick....next best thing is an air chisel with a good sharp bit. Run it about half throttle and keep the bit at a 45° angle to the work with the cutting edge perpendicular to the work. Make a line and cut about 1/4" deep on each pass.

I cut lead sheet with a worm-drive Skilsaw. Use a carbide blade. I have cut linotype bars on my radial-arm saw. Works for me...

you said that right about the 1" thick sheet. I really can't think of a way to get it down to manageable pieces unless you had a oxy-act torch or something. Hate to pass on a good buy but it might not be such a bargain if I get a hernia!

Oh yeah, I followed-up on the 'spool' and it did have some info on the inside that I couldn't see initially. It had a name? imbossed on the plastic spool itself - SONOCO CRELLIN (???).

Also, a tiny sticker had 63/37 on it (???)

I melted a little bit down and it melted like lead. It didn't smoke or anything, but it felt funny - kind'a 'light' when I stirred the pot. Not as much resistance as some pure lead that I melted down last week.

Thanks again,

Batman27409
The 63/37 sounds like a solder alloy 63% tin/ 37% lead. As for cutting 1" thick slabs, most building supply stores have circular saw blades for nonferrous metals. I have one on my table saw to cut linotype pigs (25lbs ingots) into pieces small enough to fit in my melter. The pigs are about 2" thick and they cut easy.

As for cutting 1" thick slabs, most building supply stores have circular saw blades for nonferrous metals. I have one on my table saw to cut linotype pigs (25lbs ingots) into pieces small enough to fit in my melter. The pigs are about 2" thick and they cut easy.Don't have a table saw but have a Craftsman electric skilsaw. Is this powerful enough to cut linotype pigs? Neighbor is a printer and he managed to save me four pigs. Was going to try cutting them up with a pruning saw.

I have a large quantity of linotype in bars that weigh anywhere from 20 to 30 pounds. I put one end of the bar on another bar and smack it with a hammer, it breaks into pieces easily.

I put one end of the bar on another bar and smack it with a hammer, it breaks into pieces easily.I never knew linotype would break like that. Thanks for the great tip. Sure beats going out and buying a saw blade.

Came across a 'spool' of (I hope) lead at a scrap yard the other day. The owner said he didn't know what it was. It was priced right I thought, $10.00 for a [thirty-five to fifty (?) lb.] spool.

Anyway, are there any cheap tests to confirm/deny if it is lead or not? It seemed to leave the same type mark as known lead when I scraped it with my thumbnail. And it sure weighed enough (heavy as heck!). We cut a piece off easily with a pair of dykes and it did not appear to have a 'core' like aluminum/copper/etc.

Any help would be appreciated,

Thanks,

Batman

P.S.- the owner also said he had a pure lead sheet that was 4ft long x 4ft wide x 1inch thick (mercy!) that he would sell cheap. Hope he has a forklift!


To all: thanks for the help and info. I'm going to pass on the lead sheet (just to big for me to handle - I'm a old fart). If anyone is interested it's in Kernersville NC (between Greensboro & Winston-Salem NC). Email me @ batman27409@yahoo.com and I'll give out directions/ph. #, etc. for the business. Good shooting to all.