Pure Lead - now what?

[FISH4BUGS]

I have about 150 lbs of close to, if not pure lead. It came from diver's belt weights. It is soft - using the high tech thumbnail hardness tester (the only one available), it scratches easily. Maybe not pure lead, but still pretty soft.
I want to harden it up to Lyman #2 hardness (whatever BHN that is) and recall somewhere someone recommended 50/50 bar solder added to this would harden it up nicely. Am I correct or just losing my mind?
Any ideas how much Bar Solder (or other metal) to use relative to pure lead?....any other ideas to harden it up via alloying to about Lyman #2 hardness or better would be greatly appreciated.

[NuJudge]

Adding both Tin and Antimony will harden things up a lot more than either alone.

Number 2 alloy is 5% Tin, 5% Antimony, 90% Lead, if I remember correctly. This is what is called a Ternary alloy. I use 60/40% Solder for a Tin source, and I use scrap shot for an Antimony source, and probably don't ever have 5% Tin or Antimony.

For bullets I want hard, I drop them from the mold into water.

CDD


I have about 150 lbs of close to, if not pure lead. It came from diver's belt weights. It is soft - using the high tech thumbnail hardness tester (the only one available), it scratches easily. Maybe not pure lead, but still pretty soft.
I want to harden it up to Lyman #2 hardness (whatever BHN that is) and recall somewhere someone recommended 50/50 bar solder added to this would harden it up nicely. Am I correct or just losing my mind?
Any ideas how much Bar Solder (or other metal) to use relative to pure lead?....any other ideas to harden it up via alloying to about Lyman #2 hardness or better would be greatly appreciated.

[13Echo]

fishbug,

The fingernail test isn't very accurate. Your lead is likely not pure, but perhaps it is. A brinnel test would be nice but not entirely necessary to make good bullet metal.

Try this site for more info on alloys and mixing your own;

http://www.lasc.us/CastBulletNotes.htm

Jerry Liles

[carpetman]

FISHBUGS "Am I correct or just losing my mind"? Sounds like it to me.

[mooman76]

See if someone around you has some to swap. Pure or near pure lead is hard to find nowadays. Those BP folks like that stuff!

[garandsrus]

Fish4bugs,

I posted an alloy calculator on the "cast boolets" forum here that will help you get the alloy you want. It should still be within the top page or so of the topics.

John

[Navahojoe]

For what it is worth, "Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook", 3rd edition, recipe for # 2 alloy is 9 lbs. Wheelweights, 1 lb. 50/50 Solder, and 5 lbs. Pure Lead = 10 lbs. # 2 Alloy, or 4 lbs. Linotype, 1 lb. 50/50 Solder, and 5 lbs. Pure Lead.

[454PB]

For what it is worth, "Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook", 3rd edition, recipe for # 2 alloy is 9 lbs. Wheelweights, 1 lb. 50/50 Solder, and 5 lbs. Pure Lead = 10 lbs. # 2 Alloy, or 4 lbs. Linotype, 1 lb. 50/50 Solder, and 5 lbs. Pure Lead.

Hmmm......that first recipe somehow causes 5 pounds of metal to disappear.

[John Boy]

Formula A
9 lbs. Wheelweights
1 lb. 50/50 bar solder
Makes 10 lbs #2 Alloy

Formula B
4 lbs linotype
1 lb 50/50 bar solder
5 lbs lead
Makes 10 lbs #2 Alloy

Bhn - 15

[Jetwrench]

454PB,
No not really, its just under the LEE PRO 4-20 like the one I own.[smilie=p:

13ECHO,
Cool site. That one made my fovorites list.

JETWRENCH

[FISH4BUGS]

Formula A
9 lbs. Wheelweights
1 lb. 50/50 bar solder
Makes 10 lbs #2 Alloy

Formula B
4 lbs linotype
1 lb 50/50 bar solder
5 lbs lead
Makes 10 lbs #2 Alloy

Bhn - 15
Sounds like formula B to me. I'll buy the 50/50 at a plumbing supply house. I have 130 lbs of linotype in 25 lb +/- pigs just as cast for the old linotype machines.
Thanks guys! Even if it comes up a little harder, I don't think my machine guns will know the difference! They aren't exactly tack drivers.......
Donald

[Navahojoe]

454pb,
darned if you aint right, got my lines crossed with my bifocals. As anyone over the age of 50 knows, your eyesight is the second thing to go!
regards,
NavahoJoe

[454PB]

Yeah, the first thing to go is your hearing if you're a shooter.

That first formula doesn't make sense to me. Lots of tin, but very little antimony. I don't see how it could compare to the second formula for hardness.