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Thread: How do I remove paper/ foam backing from lead sheet

  1. #1
    Boolit Buddy
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    How do I remove paper/ foam backing from lead sheet

    Putting it in the pot stinks and causes a lot of smoke. Any way to remove it before melting? Ideas please.

  2. #2
    Boolit Master
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    I don’t have a problem with smoke or smell So just a guess on my part. I would try acetone and maybe a gasket scraper or putty knife
    Long, Wide, Deep, and Without Hesitation!

  3. #3
    Boolit Master
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    Soak in thinner should melt it, or just set fire to the smoke when sheeting is melting and stand up wind. Regards Stephen

  4. #4
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    Winger Ed.'s Avatar
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    Pull off whatever comes loose easily.
    Then put it in the pot.
    If smoke is an issue, do it later on at night when the neighbors have their doors & windows closed.
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  5. #5
    Boolit Master
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    Royal PITA, what with the glued on paper, but ya just got to live with it.

    Don
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  6. #6
    Boolit Buddy Stewbaby's Avatar
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    I use a pressure washer to knock it off (then let the lead dry good of course)

  7. #7
    Boolit Master quail4jake's Avatar
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    I just did this... great lead sheet from radiology but wallboard paper stuck to it. I chose a still day and rendered it out in the verrrry open over a dark star in a large cast iron kettle and just let the paper and adhesive burn off. A word of caution....the adhesive, maybe mastic, is the stuff that can generate cyanide, hence the out in the verrry open thang. And , OBTW, if you feel weak or nauseated while or after doing this go to the hospital and be very specific about your cyanide exposure risk, you need hydroxycobalamin. OR, you could just order lead ingots from Rotometals!

  8. #8
    Boolit Buddy
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    Thanks for the info. I get my scrap from the yard and I have about 1500 pounds to melt. I wear a respirator, just wanted to cut down on fumes.

  9. #9
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    GregLaROCHE's Avatar
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    Maybe try heating the lead with a propane torch a bit and scraping off the majority with a putty knife.

  10. #10
    Boolit Master quail4jake's Avatar
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    Respirator...very smart! My compliments. I will be doing the same in the future along with nitrile gloves. Thanks!

  11. #11
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    I had a bunch of lead sheet that was used in an xray room. Some of it had drywall glued to it and some was laminated in wood for doors. I just let it sit out all winter and come spring the crap just fell off.

  12. #12
    Boolit Buddy
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    The foam is a "pita" but I bend the lead and use a stiff putty knife. The paper is a good carbon source so I stir it in and have to use very little other flux sources. The glue does smell a little though. One more thing, I keep a lid for my dutch oven handy for when the paper flashes.
    Tony

  13. #13
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    I usually cut it in strips to fit in a 5 gallon can and soak it in acetone or lacquer thinner (paint thinner will not work nearly as well!) for a day or so. Dissolves the glue right off. Minimal scraping needed......or just burn it off in your re-melting pot.

  14. #14
    Boolit Master
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    I get lead backed drywall from a friend when he hangs the sheet rock or makes changes to the Xray room. He brought me about 40-50- lbs a few months back I though i could soak it off with water and cur it up into pieces that would fir in a 5 gallon bucket. I let it soak for a few months. Some came off some did not, it went in to the smelt pot and made a bit of a mess but not too bad. I liked the pressure washer idea and will try it next time. Thanks Stew

  15. #15
    Boolit Buddy PBaholic's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by USSR View Post
    Royal PITA
    I'll 2nd that!

    There is no EZ way. I wanted to make a lead box for some ore I had, and it took considerable effort to get it clean.

  16. #16
    Boolit Grand Master

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    About any method you choose is going to be labor intensive. I just put it in my smelting pot, as is, and let it melt. I will light the smoke, if possible, which cuts down on the smoke. About like the adhesive on stick-on wheelweights. Good ventilation is important and a respirator is a good idea.

  17. #17
    Boolit Grand Master uscra112's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by lightman View Post
    About any method you choose is going to be labor intensive. I just put it in my smelting pot, as is, and let it melt. I will light the smoke, if possible, which cuts down on the smoke. About like the adhesive on stick-on wheelweights. Good ventilation is important and a respirator is a good idea.
    Ditto. Burning the junk off does the melt no harm. Any residue floats on top to be skimmed pff. I once reduced ~400 lbs of X-ray shielding that had some sort of contact adhesive and slivers of wood all over one side. Did it outdoors and downwind of the house. (I didn't have any close neighbours, though.)
    Cognitive Dissident

  18. #18
    Boolit Buddy
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    Click image for larger version. 

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    Final result. Took three days, three batches a day. Let the paper burn off. Windy days helped dissipate the smoke and smell.

    Approx. 2400 lbs total.

    Now time to rest for a day.

  19. #19
    Boolit Grand Master fredj338's Avatar
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    Mineral spirits or just a soak in gasoline will remove the glue & just wipe it off with an old rag. Same for stick on ww too.
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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