Oxidized cast boolets

[ricwb]

I have a pile of cast boolets, mostly round ball, that have turned grey with age. Some are covered with traces of white powder. Is there a good way to clean them, or is this not necessary? I'm thinking about tumbling them in my brass tumbler, or perhaps spraying them with WD40. Or should I just melt them and recast?

[mdi]

I'm facing the same situation. I recently "found" a box of mebbe 300 or so, 44 cal bullets I cast long ago. They also have that dull gray finish. I'm going to tumble them in some dry cob blast media and see what happens (dry as in no additives, just media). I wouldn't use any oil or grease, but may try alox or a 45-45-10 coating...

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

I've only had that happen to round balls that I cast long ago from Pure Lead.
As I understand it, pure lead will oxidize much quicker than lead with a bit of Tin in it.
So, now when I cast RB, I use a alloy of near pure with 0.5% Tin.
In the past, I have always remelted oxidized RB.

[Walter Laich]

given some by friend--were under water thanks to Harvey

white powdery

they went in casting pot and are now part of shiney new bullets

[largom]

The oxidation will wipe off very easily with a clothe.

[W.R.Buchanan]

You can just wash them off in hot water and they will be fine.

Randy

[dondiego]

Do not use water for coffee.................

[runfiverun]

the white stuff is the dangerous stuff.
wear gloves and don't be breathing in the dust.

the oxide will wipe right off.
the balls will fall right through your tumbling media and bounce around the bottom of your bowl.
the good thing is they will spin around in a circle down there and the media will clean them.
and they will clean themselves.
put a little graphite down on the balls and let them go without the media for an hour or so.

[hanleyfan]

powder coat and you won't have the problem.

[Hannibal]

Store your lead projectiles in ziplock bags to prevent future occurrences. I prefer to avoid dealing with lead oxide.

[Mr_Sheesh]

Easiest / smartest thing might be to re-melt (with flux to recapture the oxides as pure Pb) and re-cast?

[MT Gianni]

powder coat and you won't have the problem.

Powder coat round balls? Like the old saying, to a man with a hammer everything is a nail.

[sandman228]

powder coat and you won't have the problem.

I guy I work with asked me about that when I was telling him about pc ing bullets I told him I couldn't see any benefit to coating round balls but I never thought of it saving them from oxidation , I still don't think it would be worth the time though . I casted up about 2000 .454 round balls for my revolver about 3 or 4 years ago I'm thinking I still have 1500 or so left I stored them in a folgers can it must be pretty air tight cause there still nice and shiny .

[lightman]

I've got some 44 cal Keith Type bullets that oxidized while in storage. I'm planning on loading them and then wiping them off.

[waksupi]

When you cast, and want your bullets to stay shiny, put them in a can of soapy water. Dump them out, and let dry. The soap film makes a barrier, and they won't oxidize.

[hanleyfan]

I have powder coating round balls and boolits with great success, of course I am retired and don't have a hectic life and I enjoy powder coating. Heck I even powder coated some air gun pellets out of curiosity how they would work.