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Thread: Lead Drain Pipe

  1. #1
    Boolit Grand Master


    GregLaROCHE's Avatar
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    Lead Drain Pipe

    Can I count on an old lead drain pipe to be 100% lead or it’s it likely something was added to it?

    Thanks

  2. #2
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    Almost pure, you can melt it and skim off any bad stuff BEFORE fluxing.

  3. #3
    Boolit Grand Master

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    I agree, it should be close to pure.

  4. #4
    Boolit Buddy Went2kck's Avatar
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    The joints on the lead pipe contain a lot of tin. Melt that by itself and save for tin content.

  5. #5
    Boolit Grand Master


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    Thanks for the conformation. I want to cast for slugging a couple of barrels.

  6. #6
    Boolit Buddy
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    Voice of experience: when melting lead pipe, keep holding the pipe in a vertical position as it completely submerges into the molten metal. There will be water trapped between the trash inside and the pipe. Not only this but if the pipe is allowed to fall over into the molten metal, the air inside the pipe will rapidly expand, blowing molten lead out of one or both ends of the pipe. No one likes a visit from the tinsel fairy.

  7. #7
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    Quote Originally Posted by GregLaROCHE View Post
    Thanks for the conformation. I want to cast for slugging a couple of barrels.
    confirmation, as in to confirm or to verify; not conformation as in to conform to or take the shape of.

  8. #8
    Boolit Master
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    Lead drain/sewer pipe is usually really, really nasty. It is however, excellent lead. Used to get a lot of it on remodels, don't see as much these days. Went and Jeffrey are both right.
    "In general, the art of government is to take as much money as possible from one class of citizens and give it to another class of citizens" Voltaire'

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  9. #9
    Boolit Grand Master


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    Quote Originally Posted by Petrol & Powder View Post
    confirmation, as in to confirm or to verify; not conformation as in to conform to or take the shape of.
    You’re right. Today these new computers think for you and often fill in the rest of a word you start. If you’re not careful, you can make embarrassing mistakes.

  10. #10
    Boolit Grand Master


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    Quote Originally Posted by Jeffrey View Post
    Voice of experience: when melting lead pipe, keep holding the pipe in a vertical position as it completely submerges into the molten metal. There will be water trapped between the trash inside and the pipe. Not only this but if the pipe is allowed to fall over into the molten metal, the air inside the pipe will rapidly expand, blowing molten lead out of one or both ends of the pipe. No one likes a visit from the tinsel fairy.
    I’ve already found that out. Glad I stayed a ways back.

  11. #11
    Boolit Grand Master

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    Quote Originally Posted by GregLaROCHE View Post
    You’re right. Today these new computers think for you and often fill in the rest of a word you start. If you’re not careful, you can make embarrassing mistakes.
    Spell check and auto correct are not always your friend! I'm learning to proof read more before I post.

  12. #12
    DOR RED BEAR's Avatar
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    thank god for spell check as i can't spell at all. my 8 year old spells better than i do. never could spell very well and to old to worry about it know.

  13. #13
    Boolit Buddy

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    Found some lead gutter drain pipes removed from local court house, at my local scrap yard, only trash was silicone sealer in some of the cracks, this is pure lead and smelting loss was only about a pound from each 60# drain pipe. The silicone just floated on top of the melted lead.

  14. #14
    Boolit Buddy
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    The National Lead Company Catalog someone posted a year or so ago listed both soft and hard lead pipe. The hard lead was 3% antimony if I remember right. Might be pretty tough to tell the difference easily on old pipe.

  15. #15
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    Quote Originally Posted by owejia View Post
    Found some lead gutter drain pipes removed from local court house, at my local scrap yard, only trash was silicone sealer in some of the cracks, this is pure lead and smelting loss was only about a pound from each 60# drain pipe. The silicone just floated on top of the melted lead.
    Make sure it’s lead and not zinc.

  16. #16
    Boolit Master
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    Lead water pipe is great stuff if you can still find it.

  17. #17
    Boolit Master redhawk0's Avatar
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    I've melted lead drain pipe (some with lead traps)....its nasty stuff to melt...but once you skim and flux...what's left behind is real soft. I use it for round balls in the smokepole.

    redhawk

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  18. #18
    Boolit Master

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    Quote Originally Posted by GregLaROCHE View Post
    I’ve already found that out. Glad I stayed a ways back.
    Don’t forget the occasional hidden spiders that leave quickly!


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

  19. #19
    Boolit Mold
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    Quote Originally Posted by robg View Post
    Lead water pipe is great stuff if you can still find it.

    Guess i am one of the lucky ones. We do alot of rehabs in older large homes built in the 50s and 60s. Lots of drain/sewer pipes and shower pans. Current house has supplied around 200 # so far.

  20. #20
    Boolit Master
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    Heavy oxidation acts like insulation...l found it slow to melt

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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