Lead!!

thumper50 · 10-03-2008, 05:10 PM

Went to an auction (estate) today. Bought a bunch of what I figure is almost pure lead. Probably at least 40-50 lbs, conservativly. Maybe more. Gonna be castin some thumpers!! Sheet lead, plumbers etc. Pal of mine has a hardness tester!

Plus melting pots, moulds etc. Got a nice set of calipers etc. Could have spent a bunch. the ol' boy was a reloader and muzzleloader nut!! Don't know what happened his firearms??

cayugad · 10-03-2008, 05:15 PM

Good lead is getting hard to find.

thumper50 · 10-03-2008, 05:24 PM

I know a guy can buy just about any bullet, sabot etc, to make a mz shoot dead nuts. But, it sure is fun to roll your own, so to speak!! Sure is fun to work up loads!! JUST GOTTA KEEP SCRUBBING THE LEAD OUT!!

HEAD0001 · 10-03-2008, 06:01 PM

You do not need a hardness tester. Just drop it on the floor. If it makes a thud-then it is pure lead. If it "Tings", then it is an alloy. The "Tingier", the "Alloyer". Tom.

thumper50 · 10-03-2008, 06:30 PM

Most of the ingots clunked!! the sheet lead I could scratch, deeply, w/ my fingernail! the rest I could almost gouge w/my fingernail, really soft!

HEAD0001 · 10-03-2008, 07:41 PM

A "Clunk" or a "Thud" is good. A "Ting" is bad if you are looking for pure lead. I never put much faith in the finger nail test. I am sure there are a lot of guys who are capable of telling how hard lead is by digging into it with their finger nails. But I have never been able to. Also the longer lead sits, the harder lead gets. Regardless of alloy. Tom.