Originally Posted by
obssd1958
My experience has been different. I collected a couple hundred pounds of lead sheathed telephone wire, and started out trying to split the lead and pull the wire. Very difficult and time consuming. So I decide to just melt it all, flux and scoop off the copper wire. Started out with just a couple of small pieces, and after fluxing, watched the small copper wires dissolve into the mix. There was quite a bit of crud to skim off the top - but none of it was copper wire.
I did this on a turkey fryer, but I don't think the alloy ever got hot enough to melt copper.
I wish I could explain it, but I can't.