Doing the Forbidden for Informations' Sake,

**bayjoe** · 02-25-2017, 09:50 PM

So if you only get 3 pounds of lead for all that work. What else is inside the battery that makes it so heavy?

**MaryB** · 02-25-2017, 10:09 PM

The acid is very heavy for the space it takes up. I worked for a feed testing lab in high school and we got in sulfuric acid in 55 gallon drums that weigh close to 800+ pounds each... add in the heavy plastic case, the lead and other metals used...

**Walter Laich** · 03-02-2017, 07:57 PM

not to take this on a detour but what would a feed testing lab need with sulfuric acid? I really don't know--not making a snarky comment

**BAGTIC** · 03-02-2017, 08:19 PM

Originally Posted by Outpost75

Modern maintance-free automotive batteries are calcium-lead alloy, rather than antimonial-lead as used in larger fork-lift, marine and industrial batteries. The Ca makes it useless for our purposes due to the hea y drossing which occurs.

The calcium also makes it more easily absorbed by our bodies.

**KenH** · 03-02-2017, 10:10 PM

Originally Posted by RedRiver

Melted it down today. Was pretty breezy so no issues with fumes.

Out of probably 20 lbs of crud in the pot, I got 3 lbs of lead total. Just nowhere near enough liquid to even think of fluxing.

The ingot is purple identical color to pure lead, but smoother in appearance to stick on ingots.

Next step is sending it off to be tested.

All in all, it's nowhere near worth it for 3 lbs of lead. So if you're thinking that you have a gold mine of lead sitting around, just sell the batteries and buy your lead. But that was never the point of this experiment, the purpose of it is to see what is in the alloy, stay tuned. Should have answers next week.

Looking forward to results of your test.

Ken H>

**RedRiver** · 03-02-2017, 10:13 PM

The testing guy should have gotten it today. Should have results soon.

**RedRiver** · 03-02-2017, 10:14 PM

Having him test lead, antimony, tin, calcium, phosphorus and cadmium.

**M-Tecs** · 03-02-2017, 10:18 PM

The end product would concern me far less than the claimed issues with the initial smelting fumes and the dross.

**RedRiver** · 03-02-2017, 11:46 PM

Yes, but it will show what's in it all too. Traces anyway

**C. Latch** · 03-03-2017, 12:00 AM

Tagged for learning.

**MaryB** · 03-03-2017, 01:04 AM

They used it strip the protein form feed samples then tested the dried weight of the remains against the starting weight to get the amount of protein... going from along ago memory on that so not 100%... we also used a lot of caustic soda to neutralize the acid and it came in very heavy drums also.

Originally Posted by Walter Laich

not to take this on a detour but what would a feed testing lab need with sulfuric acid? I really don't know--not making a snarky comment

**54bore** · 03-03-2017, 08:06 AM

Originally Posted by runfiverun

there is fluorine gas waiting to be released.

I would drop the idea before I even started.
never mind the newer battery's will get you a whole1.5 lbs of lead.
which you could get without all this grief.

I'd take this advise ^

**54bore** · 03-03-2017, 08:13 AM

Originally Posted by MaryB

The acid is very heavy for the space it takes up. I worked for a feed testing lab in high school and we got in sulfuric acid in 55 gallon drums that weigh close to 800+ pounds each... add in the heavy plastic case, the lead and other metals used...

This is totally unrelated but it brought back a memory, I knew an Ole Logger that could lift a 55 Gallon drum of oil out of the back of a Crew bus and set it down, Ive known him all my life, he looked like the Hunchback, had surgery to help correct it. Carry on with battery acid

**mozeppa** · 03-03-2017, 09:09 AM

i have an old land mine that's been tripped ....but didn't go off.

i'm gonna take it apart to find out why.....anyone want video?

**Budzilla 19** · 03-03-2017, 10:47 AM

Mozeppa, uuuuhhhhh"..........................yeah. Lol. I just took a dozen batteries to the scrap yard, came away with $72+ for my trouble.( going to buy 120 lbs of roof jacks with the money) I WILL NOT melt a battery! But, that's just me.

**JSnover** · 03-03-2017, 05:52 PM

Originally Posted by mozeppa

i have an old land mine that's been tripped ....but didn't go off.

i'm gonna take it apart to find out why.....anyone want video?

Aww, just toss it into your pot and melt it. What's the worst thing that could happen?

**RedRiver** · 03-03-2017, 10:34 PM

RESULTS ARE IN!

100% lead.

No antimony, stibene gas
No tin
No calcium
No cadmium
No fluoride, fluorine gas
No phosphorus, phosgene gas

**RoadBike** · 03-03-2017, 10:43 PM

Thanks for posting results. Interesting experiment.

**rancher1913** · 03-03-2017, 11:42 PM

thanks.

**JonB_in_Glencoe** · 03-03-2017, 11:57 PM

Originally Posted by finstr

Poisons and dangers aside it just seems like a lot of very messy, smelly work for what amounts to a handful of useable metal. I'll stick to wheel weights.

Funny thing, I don't even like the smelly fumes from the adhesive that comes from smelting stick-on wheel weights

I can't imagine the smells from cookin' up some car batteries ...

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

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