Getting range scrap out of shredded tires.

[sgms18]

I've got access to an indoor range that uses shredded tires as a backstop. I got 20-30lb today pretty quick by hand but there's gota be a better way. My dirt sifter probably won't do much good here. Any ideas?

[rototerrier]

Smelt it out. It'll be Smokey, but it works.

[rancher1913]

the rubber might float. or lay out in driveway and use a yard blower.

[sgms18]

I need to leave as much rubber as possible there. Some rubber in the lead bucket is no problem. Water in the bucket might work. If I can shovel the rubber/lead in & skim the rubber off the top.

[Ford SD]

I do not think the water in the bucket will work

You could try a shop Vac ... use a hepa filter ... Lead dust ...

Out side you could spread a tarp out / or a 4x8 sheet of plywood ... dump you bucket ... Vacume up the rubber .. not to close .. Might work

Only idea I have

or 1/2" mesh .. but smaller rubber will fall through too

[Winger Ed.]

Try putting a few inches at a time in a 5 gal. bucket and bounce it up & down.

The rubber shreds might sort of float up and the Lead sink to the bottom.
It won't work 100%, but the big rubber chunks should come to the top and you can rake 'em off.

[NyFirefighter357]

Guys use water in a bucket to filter tire mulch from bullets. Use a skimmer to remove the floating tire pieces. Good luck

[ThomR]

If fresh water won't work to make the rubber float you could use salt water. The saltier the better for making stuff float.

[sgms18]

Yeah, I'm going to try the water in a bucket thing. I'm pretty stoked about my new prospect. Its more lead than I'd ever need & its constantly replenishing itself. Plus it's not real dusty/dirty in there. I'll still be wearing a respirator but right off the bat it seems cleaner than sifting dirt berms.

[arlon]

And you can return the rubber!

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

Try putting a few inches at a time in a 5 gal. bucket and bounce it up & down.

The rubber shreds might sort of float up and the Lead sink to the bottom.
It won't work 100%, but the big rubber chunks should come to the top and you can rake 'em off.

A 5 gal. bucket might work, but I have another idea, but similar technique.

I wonder about a large pan...like a panning for gold pan, but maybe 30" or so in diameter...but no water.
The theory being somewhat like Winger Ed. suggests.

I would work off of a wheelbarrow or a pair of saw horses, then put an inch or two of rubber/lead mix in the pan, then roughly vibrate/bounce the large pan, you'll probably want a dust mask too. Then rake off the large rubber chunks that should have migrated to the top.
>>>repeat as necessary.

[kevin c]

This might help.

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/show...ad+rubber+salt

[Winger Ed.]

A 5 gal. bucket might work, but I have another idea, but similar technique.
I wonder about a large pan...like a panning for gold pan, but maybe 30" or so in diameter...but no water..

I should have said to do it dry, I just never went back and edited it in.

With still fresh 3rd degree burns, a pair of safety glasses that look like I stole them from a Mississippi State Trooper, a ruined coat,
and a well decorated ceiling from a steam explosion a week or so ago---

I'm a little gun shy now about Lead and water being together.
This wasn't a Tinsel Fairy visit,,,,,,,, it sounded like a shot, and instantly unloaded almost 1/3 of my old Pro-Melt.

I'd think after shaking & stirring, the slugs would settle to the bottom like the peanuts do in Cracker Jack.
When ya get down to the .22s, pour a handful of them and the rubber powder back & forth in your hands or a collander to sift it.
That should get ya down to something that can go into the pot.

[Martin Luber]

I thought they used shakers to separate the lead?

[kevin c]

The big boys do, or more exactly, that's what the lead recovery company my range hires uses to mine out our sand faced berms: big vibrating conveyer belts. But from the look of them they're sifters, not gravity separators. Easy for them with the sand.

That thread I pulled up mentioned a vacuuming method that might work well: faster than hand picking or shaking, and no water, contaminated or otherwise, to worry about.

[sgms18]

I agree, the vacuum method looks promising.

[kevin c]

And what's in the shop vac can be dumped back into the backstop. Point that out to the management and I'm sure they'll be pleased.

Also, it seems it might be the fastest and least labor intensive, big pluses from the perspective of someone who’s impatient and has a grumpy backside (me, not you ;^]).

[JimB..]

I’d be tempted to use a wading pool full of water with sufficient salt to float the rubber and a stiff rake. Just dump it in, rake it off the top, spread the rubber out, quick rinse and let it dry, shovel it into a bucket/barrel to return.

[sgms18]

Yeah, it be nice if it will float without the salt. I reckon I'm going to find out.

[kevin c]

Let us know, please, how it turns out. Inquiring minds, and all that.