Stuff growing on ingots ?

[larryw]

Greetings, Question. I have a bunch of ingots, Range scrap, Straight wheel weight
& wheel weight with 2% tin. Some I was given & were stored outside in the open.
I now have white stuff growing on some, What is it & what should I do with it, clean it off or drop 'em in the pot????
Thanks in advance, Take care & be safe..

[Idz]

White stuff is most likely lead oxide. Keep ingots dry and you won't have a problem.

[Dusty Bannister]

The problem with lead oxide is that it transfers easily from ingot to skin, or becomes airborne. Then you could have a problem with ingestion. Best to avoid the problem if at all possible. You can melt and reduce as usual, but follow good handling practices frequently mentioned in these threads.

[kevin c]

I agree with the first two comments, that’s lead oxides forming on the surface, much more problematic than clean metallic lead from a possible ingestion and toxicity point of view.

Condensation is the problem. I have the same problem with ingots stored uncovered in my unheated basement. Airtight or temperature controlled storage is the answer.

As Dusty points out, the alloy is still useable; the alloy content doesn’t change significantly and the oxides will just float on the melt where they can be skimmed off or reduced back into molten lead. Just handle them with a thought to avoiding inhalation, ingestion or contamination.

[Winger Ed.]

Drop 'em in the pot, but make sure they are totally dry, and warm them up first..
That fuzz really likes to trap moisture and stay damp.
As usual, keep your face out of the smoke that comes up off the pot.

[Rickf1985]

And wear gloves, gloves that will not allow the contaminates to get through them. Leather or rubber. I have a couple pairs of welding gloves that I use for most of my lead handling. My lead grows beards also due to damp storage. The usual caveat about washing hands frequently always pertains when working with lead. Gloves or not.

[jsizemore]

And a mask or respirator.

[ElPistolero]

Yep!
... agree with kevin and winger
it's all just lead
storage inside (e.g. my shop closet in HVAC space has never gone fluffy) and if outside (e.g. some Texas weather) grows fuzz, remelt carefully, don't get the fuzz on your hand, in your lungs, &c.