Separating range scrap from clay pigeon parts

[bwframe]

Hope I picked the correct forum to post this in? Or that I'm not missing another thread with this info? I searched and couldn't find solid results.

I have been recovering range scrap from sand berms that have a lot of clay pigeon parts mixed in. Anyone have a simple method of separation? Smelting with the pigeon parts is problematic. It's smelly, smokey and very slow to cook off the flaming gooey pigeon material.

As a normal routine I haven't been washing range scrap. Maybe that is the solution? Some kind of wash or hosing to separate?

TIA

[triggerhappy243]

does it float in water?

[merlin101]

Not sure about the clay pieces but I wash a lot of range lead but then it usually sits in my garage for a month or more before I get around to melting it. On occasion it has gone right from the wash bucket to the melting pot but it's always a COLD pot and I heat with a low temp and a lid, never needed the lid but ya never know!

[btreanor]

I've heard about folks using water (with a lot of salt added to increase the specific gravity) to separate rubber tire pieces from the boolit ore. It may be worth trying a small scale test with saltwater to see if you can get the clay target pieces to float.

[daloper]

I tried the salt and it did not work for me. Maybe I did not add enough. I added 2 cups of rock salt to 1/2 of a 5 gal bucket. Rubber did not float. I use the rubber mulch in a box for a back stop. I find that putting it on a piece of plywood and moving it around and pulling the bullets out works for me. I don't think the clay will float.

[bumpo628]

I haven't tried it, but maybe spreading it out on concrete and using a leaf blower will separate out the pigeon bits.

[triggerhappy243]

I haven't tried it, but maybe spreading it out on concrete and using a leaf blower will separate out the pigeon bits.

with this thought, if you threw it into a cement mixer, the lead would crush the clay down to sand and a shop vac would suck it up before it could lift the lead.

[melloairman]

I tried several ways . And ended up picking out what I could and throwing it all in the pot . The last time I did it will be my last time . Not worth the mess to me .Marvin

[Sasquatch-1]

Build a sluice box like the gold miners use. A trough with some 1x2's to trap the lead.

[Oklahoma Rebel]

I would use some 3/4" angle iron upside down instead of 1X2"s , I think they might be a bit too big. just my opinion, ignore at will

[bwframe]

Thanks for the tips folks!

I really like the leaf blower idea. I was gonna wash with the hose and or pressure washer, but I'll try air first.

[Dusty Bannister]

Any one keeping in mind the airborne dust hazards of lead shot and powdered targets? We all know that lead oxide is an easy way to ingest it, but does anyone know if the target residue brings another hazard to the project?

[triggerhappy243]

If the clays are black, then their is tar in them. If they are white, then no tar. The white ones are supposed to be epa and peta safe.\

[MyFlatline]

Had a friend set up a piece of gutter on a slight down hill angle and set a turkey fryer under the rubble, the lead drained out into a bucket. Crude but effective.

[zymguy]

If the clays are black, then their is tar in them. If they are white, then no tar. The white ones are supposed to be epa and peta safe.\

i dont think peta condones the killing of any claypidgeons , there not even breeding in the wild anymore

[bwframe]

Any one keeping in mind the airborne dust hazards of lead shot and powdered targets? We all know that lead oxide is an easy way to ingest it, but does anyone know if the target residue brings another hazard to the project?

This is a good point. Sounds like a good time to make sure to wear the respirator.

[country gent]

Most of them have a warning about using them where pigs are at. Not sure why or if the would harm other animals

[runfiverun]

the pigs will eat them.

you could separate the pieces with a short piece of ribbed drain tube [cut in half] and a hose.
the lead will settle out and the lighter material will wash off.
just run it into a wash tub, add the contents fairly slowly, and clean the lead out fairly often.
this is an old gold cleaning method, it was/is called the poop tube method because the drain line used is generally for cleaning out holding tanks on RV's.

[Rooster]

Vacuum cleaner with an exhaust attenuator?