Lead smelting terminology

[Brick85]

The only terms I don't care for are "pills" and "heads" when talking about bullets/boolits...

This has always bothered me, too. So at one end is the case head, and then on then other end is the head? Just never made sense to me.

[2A-Jay]

If you Flux your lead melt to remove impurities are you not Smelting and refining at the same time?

[BNE]

I always used the term smelting when reclaiming dirty lead.

I was worried the OP was going to suggest melting down cars batteries. That would have gotten him a real flame on.

[bishopgrandpa]

How about liquifying?

[ioon44]

How about recycling, isn't that what we are doing.

[GregLaROCHE]

I once knew a woman who had a Phd in linguistics. According to her the most important thing in Language is to communicate. The words and grammar we use is of little importance. What is important is that we can communicate among each other.

[GhostHawk]

I think as long as everyone in the hobby understands what is meant by "Smelting" even if the term is not technically correct for the action being performed. Well that is good enough IMO.

Technically I doubt many of us refine raw ore through a multi step process of smelting.

But if Joe mentions that he will be smelting range scrap and COWW ingots into ingots ready to be cast.
Well I understand what he is talking about. And that is what is important IMO. YMMV.

[OS OK]

[lightman]

I've always called it smelting and no amount of flaming me or correcting me will ever change that!

[elmacgyver0]

It is a funny, strange thing about language. I was recently chastised for calling a revolver a pistol. Those same people use boolit for bullet, guns for rifles and pistols.
I've never been in the military but have heard the "Here is your rifle, this your gun, this ones for killing this one for..." well you know.
It is funny what people get worked up over.
Think I'll go load up some clips.

It's okay, I have a Garand.

[Shuz]

In my old age I’ve stopped paying attention to the shrill screams of the offended.

Me too-- Not too many of us old pharts left! Glad to see you're still around

[elmacgyver0]

Something just popped into my aging mind.
The word "rendering".
When I was a kid on the farm my dad would call the "Rendering Truck" to come pick up a dead cow.
That truck had a certain aroma to it that I will never forget, I have another story about that truck but that's for another time.

[alamogunr]

At least "smelt" is a word no matter how much it deviates from the exact meaning. I've always sort of drawn up when someone uses the word "casted" for past tense of cast. I'm not going to fight that battle either.

[Mitch]

It is just like anything else on this site anything you say is wrong to someone here.I agree with as long as we get the point across.I think we all have a little purist in us just some more then others.

[kevin c]

It is just like anything else on this site anything you say is wrong to someone here.I agree with as long as we get the point across.I think we all have a little purist in us just some more then others.

I disagree...

[Lead pot]

I been melting lead for over 65 years and 42 years in the plumbing trades. Started at a young age melting and pouring it through a small hole through the sprue plate into a mould. I never refined smelting silver ore to separate the lead from the silver ore.

I don't smelt ice to drink the water.

[Larry Gibson]

This has always bothered me, too. So at one end is the case head, and then on then other end is the head? Just never made sense to me.

Concur 100%

[elmacgyver0]

I been melting lead for over 65 years and 42 years in the plumbing trades. Started at a young age melting and pouring it through a small hole through the sprue plate into a mould. I never refined smelting silver ore to separate the lead from the silver ore.

I don't smelt ice to drink the water.

I have.

[Larry Gibson]

If you Flux your lead melt to remove impurities are you not Smelting and refining at the same time?

By definition in my dictionaries, old and new, it is exactly that. Makes us "smelters" too btw.

[mjwcaster]

I think as long as everyone in the hobby understands what is meant by "Smelting" even if the term is not technically correct for the action being performed. Well that is good enough IMO.

.

But that was the point of my post.
It seems we are using correct terminology, just most people do not realize it and either try to justify it or correct it.
I count myself in that category.

Technically what we as casters are doing is referred to in the industry as secondary smelting.

But it is still smelting

And that means that everyone who just has to speak up and try to correct casters using the term smelting are not only annoying, but wrong.

I just found it interesting to learn.
I used to try to justify using the term smelting even if it was technically incorrect.

We were right and didn’t even know it.

What is it about repeat an untruth often enough it become the truth?
.


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