Smelted some pipe

[kidmma]

I melted down about 65lbs of lead pipe last week. I was trying to compare the fresh ingots to some WWs, Babbet, etc. by using the ball bearing method to check the BNH. It worked pretty well when I checked out new lead against the WW alloy. The WW showed about 11-12 BNH. The babbit was about a 16. That all seemed good until I pulled out a fresh bunch of lead ingots. Some of them were much harder than the first few I was using. These were showing up at about 10 compared to the first ones I used. Could a couple of joints have caused that much varriation in a 10lb pot? Obviously I filled it up several times to melt the pipe.

Joints? pipes?:???:

scott

[454PB]

If the pipe is really pure lead or nearly so, it should be around 5 to 6 BHN. Only a high percentage of tin would bring it to 10 BHN.

[mazo kid]

Maybe you got some solder-wiped joints in a batch? The tin would make it harder. Emery

[Misfire99]

Joints? pipes?:???:

Gee I wonder what you did during your misspent youth? Or are you still doing it?????

[kidmma]

It didn't do much for me. Just got sleepy. zzzzzzzzzzz

Too busy looking for a beech. :drinks:

Now I hunt, fish, reload and shoot more!

Maybe that's how I got the mixed ingots?