Some lead from an estate

[Oleman]

Some lead from an estate is coated with wax. Why would you do this?

[pcolapaddler]

Im not a caster but... could it be to prevent oxidation or something like that?

[Yodogsandman]

Im not a caster but... could it be to prevent oxidation or something like that?

That's exactly right! It's to prevent the formation of lead oxide dust which can be inhaled. It's the white dust you see on the surface of old lead.

[bangerjim]

Moisture barrier to prevent oxidization.

Someone REALLY had time to waste.

Or some liberal greenie was afraid of killing a canary on the 3rd floor by the ingots in the basement "outgassing"!

[leadbutt]

Least it wont hurt your melting pot.

L. Bottoms

[2wheelDuke]

Pre-fluxed ingots. I'm sure it was to prevent oxidation. I wonder how the wax was applied.

[rancher1913]

ended up with some like that. I was trying to refine some beeswax that georgeonedollar left me and used the lead ingots to weigh down a pair of the wifes stockings that were full of raw wax and were wanting to float instead of staying in the bottom and letting the pure wax float up. long story short, got a bunch of ingots that have a wax coating on them now.

[fryboy]

i used a coffee can boat anchor made of questionable lead ( only about 5 " tall with a hook thru it ) and it has a nice coating of beeswax as well ...lolz

i like the pre-flux part , made me grin but i'd have to flux it again by the time it got melted , i'm running with the prevent oxidation theory myself

[Oleman]

Thanks guys.