Beam shaping blocks

[Coug]

I have the opprotunity to pick up some *old* alloy beam shaping blocks used for Radiation treatments. They feel less dense than lead and I have been told that they are lead, tin and some other metals (maybe cadmium and bismuth) alloyed together. I am leary of picking it up. Any thoughts about these?

Hastily spouted for your befuddlement

[Defcon-One]

My position is that it is not much of an opportunity if you don't know what is in it!

Cadmium is something I'd avoid, same thinking for Bismuth.

I like Lead, Tin and Antimony in that order. The rest they can keep.

Good luck with it.

[Bill*]

Actually, Cerrosafe is: Lead, Tin, Bismuth, and Cadmium. So we do handle them a bit.

[Coug]

The stuff has since been id'd as cerrobend and alloy203... Lots of bismuth.

Hastily spouted for your befuddlement

[bumpo628]

I believe these are the specs:

CerroBEND
Bismuth 50%, Lead 26.7%, Tin 13.3%, Cadmium 10%

CerroSHIELD / Alloy 203
Bismuth 52.5%, Lead 32%, Tin 15.5%

[Coug]

I believe these are the specs:

CerroBEND
Bismuth 50%, Lead 26.7%, Tin 13.3%, Cadmium 10%

CerroSHIELD / Alloy 203
Bismuth 52.5%, Lead 32%, Tin 15.5%

That's the stuff indeed. I don't think it'll do me any good though. Does the stuff have any application that a caster would use?

Hastily spouted for your befuddlement

[Bill*]

Sure....It's worth around 20 bucks a pound and used for checking chambers and stuff.

[lwknight]

Any heavy metal that melts easily is useful even if it won't cast boolits.
It will always sell at a scrapyard as lead.

[Defcon-One]

If it is 50% or more Bismuth, won't it sell at a scrap yard as Bismuth?

[fatelk]

I bought some scrap lead several years ago. About 75lbs of it turned out to be cerrobend. I was a little disconcerting when I tried to melt down some bricks of it and it just started melting like butter all over the bench. Turns out it melts at 158 degrees Fahrenheit! As I recall the Cadmium is a definite health concern, much more so than lead.

I sold it on ebay for a very nice profit.