Typecaster
01-29-2009, 04:56 PM
I was just checking on the current price of lead came for a project and had two surprises:
1. Holy mackinoly it's gotten expensive! It comes in 6-ft lengths, and H-shaped came goes from $4 per length on up depending on the face width. That means that the 50+ pounds I picked up at the scrapyard sure as heck isn't going into the smelting pot...I'll save it for future projects!
2. Came is available either soft or hard. Used to all be pure, soft lead...which you stretch slightly before cutting. Stretching work-hardens it a little, making it a little stiffer. Now there's also a hard version with approx. 2% antimony.
So it looks like we can't assume that the lead from a leaded glass window is pure any more...
Richard
1. Holy mackinoly it's gotten expensive! It comes in 6-ft lengths, and H-shaped came goes from $4 per length on up depending on the face width. That means that the 50+ pounds I picked up at the scrapyard sure as heck isn't going into the smelting pot...I'll save it for future projects!
2. Came is available either soft or hard. Used to all be pure, soft lead...which you stretch slightly before cutting. Stretching work-hardens it a little, making it a little stiffer. Now there's also a hard version with approx. 2% antimony.
So it looks like we can't assume that the lead from a leaded glass window is pure any more...
Richard