Lead looks like sand?

[mattri]

Was making ingots and one broke while coming out of the tray- inside looks like sand?

Is this common while lead is cooling?

Does it signify anything?

Thanks, Matt.

https://i.postimg.cc/CRg7DjfJ/20200716-195500.jpg (https://postimg.cc/CRg7DjfJ)

[Targa]

What are you melting into ingots?

[mattri]

2-2-96 alloy.

[BNE]

Yes, that is not uncommon. Probably dropped it while it was still pretty hot

[Targa]

Good to know in case I ever bust one open.

[mattri]

Yes very.

Was just done casting and cleaning up.

Thanks fore the reply.

[megasupermagnum]

Yes, it is normal. Lead, Aluminum, Steel, brass. Every metal I know of breaks off with a rough edge like that. Ingots or bullets dropped when too hot break easily.

[GhostHawk]

Lead and alloys actually have a crystal formation when in solid form. They may have a smooth edge where it was molded, but inside its a crystal touching crystal structure.

Take a sharp object like an icepick or an awl just as the lead is starting to soften and you can see that same grain formation.

[GregLaROCHE]

If you try to dump out your ingots before they have cooled enough, they will break in half and look like that. When it happens to me I usually remelt and re-pour them. No reason you have to, just what I do to keep everything the same.

[Wayne Smith]

Yup, if there is enough antimony in there to let it break easily that is what you get.

[redhawk0]

It looks normal to me. Most of our "boolit" alloys have antimony included. It makes the boolits harder but also can be brittle if dropped...it will show the grain structure like you posted.

redhawk

[John Boy]

The ingots were cast too hot and were not left to cool enough before dumping them out

[Conditor22]

look's like that has more than 2% antimony

[mattri]

Could be, this is their description:

https://www.gtbullets.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=16&products_id=75

[mehavey]

Perfectly normal lead (of whatever alloy) put under stress while still too hot.
See https://thefiringline.com/forums/showpost.php?p=6802581&postcount=11

[bangerjim]

Most people don't break lead. You are one of the fortunate (unfortunate) ones to actually see what it like when broken by force and not just cut.


Your Pb was probably still very hot and you may have more than 2% Sb in there. Zn contamination can also cause that on occasions.

Pay it no mind. Just cast away. Your ingots are perfectly normal, just a piece broken off!

banger

[44Blam]

Yup.
You get everything too hot and it gets weirdly brittle. Best thing to do is let things cool off.

I had this happen today. I worked a pot down pretty low and added about 4#s more of a very similar alloy. Then fluxed it in, etc...

I also had my molds on a hot plate and they stayed pretty hot. First cast was gravel... Oooo too hot.

Just cast off about 2# of ingots, let them rest and put them back in the melt. Tried again -- still hot. Did the same and I was back at temp...

[DKG]

This is good to know when I finally get to a point to start casting. I did order some of GT's Lyman sabot slugs to try for deer this fall if I can get an accurate load. Is 2-2-96 okay for this application?