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Thread: Unusual Lead

  1. 03-08-2015, 12:37 PM #1
    Boolit_Head
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    Unusual Lead

    I scrounged a couple of ballast plates and I thought they were coated with something. When I cut into them it looks like they are this black colour all the way through. They feel like lead and sound like lead but what have I got on my hands?

    Attachment 133253
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  2. 03-08-2015, 01:02 PM #2
    Yodogsandman
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    Zinc anode??
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  3. 03-08-2015, 01:19 PM #3
    Boolit_Head
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    I am starting to wonder. At least they were free.
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  4. 03-08-2015, 01:45 PM #4
    boltaction308
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    Looks like a counter balance weight from a fork lift or tractor.
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  5. 03-08-2015, 01:50 PM #5
    Boolit_Head
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    I know for sure it is from the marine industry and what it's use was, just not the composition. We thought it was some coated lead but I am seeing it appears to be black through and through.
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  6. 03-08-2015, 03:20 PM #6
    bangerjim
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    Get some hydrochloric acid and test it.

    banger
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  7. 03-08-2015, 05:34 PM #7
    CastingFool
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    You can also use muriatic acid to test for zinc. Muriatic acid is just another name for hydrochloric acid, just labeled differently.
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  8. 03-08-2015, 05:44 PM #8
    Yodogsandman
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    Any chance of getting a side shot photo?
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  9. 03-08-2015, 08:53 PM #9
    Boolit_Head
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    Quote Originally Posted by CastingFool View Post
    You can also use muriatic acid to test for zinc. Muriatic acid is just another name for hydrochloric acid, just labeled differently.
    I am hazy, if it reacts to acid it contains zinc?
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  10. 03-08-2015, 08:54 PM #10
    Boolit_Head
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    Quote Originally Posted by Yodogsandman View Post
    Any chance of getting a side shot photo?
    Just shows the plates are about 2 inches thick with rounded edges, nothing real informative there.
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  11. 03-08-2015, 11:02 PM #11
    Yodogsandman
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    Is the back side covered with some sort of adhesive with trowel marks? If it is, just toss it, no lead, just plastic. Toxic to try to melt!
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  12. 03-08-2015, 11:17 PM #12
    bangerjim
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    Quote Originally Posted by Boolit_Head View Post
    I am hazy, if it reacts to acid it contains zinc?
    Remember you HS chemistry class:

    Zn reacts with HCl. Sn, Pb, and Sb do not.

    HCL is the best acid for the test and it reacts very well and VERY fast. If it bubbles up, you got Zn.

    bangerjim
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  13. 03-09-2015, 12:25 AM #13
    Boolit_Head
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    Quote Originally Posted by Yodogsandman View Post
    Is the back side covered with some sort of adhesive with trowel marks? If it is, just toss it, no lead, just plastic. Toxic to try to melt!
    Front and back appear the same. In fact I believe the picture shows the back, the front appears to be covered with some marine crustaceans. These pieces came from a salt water environment.
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  14. 03-09-2015, 12:26 AM #14
    crawfobj
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    Sure sounds like a zink anode.
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  15. 03-09-2015, 12:29 AM #15
    Boolit_Head
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    I'm starting to think the best use of these would be to scrap them out and use the cash to purchase lead from a known source.
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  16. 03-09-2015, 01:27 AM #16
    scottfire1957
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    And, how are we supposed to know? We see a picture of a block of something. It has some holes in it.

    Test it yourself or have it analyzed.
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Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
PSP Pointed Soft Point Spz Spitzer Point SBT Spitzer Boat Tail
LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
GC Gas Check