sthwestvictoria
05-30-2012, 08:59 AM
Being new to casting, I had to locate some base metal for transmution to boolits.
I have been slowly picking up bits and pieces - some soft lead roof flashing, old sinkers from yard sales. While also on the look out for pewter and smelting utensils.
Last week I popped into the two tire shops in my small country town. One place obviously has people come in for casting - fishing and shooting purposes. He stated $AUD10 per bucket. I had a rectangular mop type bucket that ended up holding 29.4kg (68.4 pounds - $AUD 0.34/kg or $AUD 0.15/lb). So pretty happy with that. Very clean, nil trash other than 1.4kg of Fe/Al/Zn weights when sorted.
http://i50.tinypic.com/6nxbpx.jpg
The small tin contains the Fe/Al/Zn weights, gratifyingly only 4.7% of the haul from this bucket - a marked difference to what US members are reporting with more Fe/Al/Zn than lead for some people. However it will likely happen here in Australia in time.
http://i49.tinypic.com/35mleth.jpg
The other shop in town gave the a bucket for free but this was nearly all rubbish - valve ends, dirt, cigarette butts with only 2kg of WW. Free however at that.
The WW smelted today into my new muffin pans will be tested with the Staedler technique after a week or two of aging.
I have been able to pick up a bit of Selangor pewter as well so will be able to start a ACWW plus 2%tin alloy operation soon.
Next goal at the yard sales is a bigger smelting pot and gas stove.
I have been slowly picking up bits and pieces - some soft lead roof flashing, old sinkers from yard sales. While also on the look out for pewter and smelting utensils.
Last week I popped into the two tire shops in my small country town. One place obviously has people come in for casting - fishing and shooting purposes. He stated $AUD10 per bucket. I had a rectangular mop type bucket that ended up holding 29.4kg (68.4 pounds - $AUD 0.34/kg or $AUD 0.15/lb). So pretty happy with that. Very clean, nil trash other than 1.4kg of Fe/Al/Zn weights when sorted.
http://i50.tinypic.com/6nxbpx.jpg
The small tin contains the Fe/Al/Zn weights, gratifyingly only 4.7% of the haul from this bucket - a marked difference to what US members are reporting with more Fe/Al/Zn than lead for some people. However it will likely happen here in Australia in time.
http://i49.tinypic.com/35mleth.jpg
The other shop in town gave the a bucket for free but this was nearly all rubbish - valve ends, dirt, cigarette butts with only 2kg of WW. Free however at that.
The WW smelted today into my new muffin pans will be tested with the Staedler technique after a week or two of aging.
I have been able to pick up a bit of Selangor pewter as well so will be able to start a ACWW plus 2%tin alloy operation soon.
Next goal at the yard sales is a bigger smelting pot and gas stove.