Is this pure lead?

[BK7saum]

Picked up 320 pounds of lead today. It thuds when dropped and appears to be a commercial product.

The rectangular ingots are "LEWIS" marked and the pucks are marked "* A E T N A"

Can anyone confirm that these would/should be pure (without xrf analysis)

[dondiego]

Picked up 320 pounds of lead today. It thuds when dropped and appears to be a commercial product.

The rectangular ingots are "LEWIS" marked and the pucks are marked "* A E T N A"

Can anyone confirm that these would/should be pure (without xrf analysis)

From my experience, those are in the form that I most see as pure lead. The fact that they thud instead of ring when dropped on concrete is another good sign. The color is also somewhat of an example as well. Do you cast for your muzzle loader?

[BK7saum]

I do not cast for the muzzleloader. This would be to stretch what I already have or alloy with some monotype or wheelweights. The bulk of my stash is range lead and wheelweights. I rarely see commercial ingots so decided to pick these up.

[Rickf1985]

Good score as long as you did not have to pay out the wazoo for it.

[BK7saum]

It wasn't cheap, per se, but not as expensive as what it goes for here.

[ulav8r]

If pure, it should be east to scratch with a fingernail.

[BNE]

If pure, it should be east to scratch with a fingernail.

Exactly.

[BK7saum]

Yeah, it passes the scratch with thumbnail test.

[Winger Ed.]

As dull gray as it is, that's what I've seen when more or less pure Lead tarnishes/oxidizes.
It doesn't take much Tin to keep it pretty shiny by comparison.
It looks like the way Plumbers get it for pouring Lead joint for sections & joints on the old school cast Iron sewer pipes.

[BK7saum]

As dull gray as it is, that's what I've seen when more or less pure Lead tarnishes/oxidizes.
It doesn't take much Tin to keep it pretty shiny by comparison.
It looks like the way Plumbers get it for pouring Lead joint for sections & joints on the old school cast Iron sewer pipes.

That was my thoughts on it. I was/am 99% certain it fit my criteria of what pure plumbers lead is, I just don't have much opportunity to see/buy it around here. I wasn't sure if there were pics posted with stampings of pure like are in the hallmarked pewter thread.

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

for all the reasons already stated, I also think it's pure.

[Winger Ed.]

That was my thoughts on it. I was/am 99% certain it fit my criteria of what pure plumbers lead is, I just don't have much opportunity to see/buy it around here.

They get it from different companies that use different ingot type molds,
But it always has that look about it like the Lead was poured over and above the individual cavities.

Whatever the weight of each block is, the supply house will break them off for however much ya want.
It was a long time ago, but our supply house got them in what felt like 5 pound blocks connected like those.

They cast as fast & furious as they can for them, to keep costs down, so plan on fluxing a fair amount.
It's usually on the dirty side and some dirt looking something usually floats up.

I used to know a guy that worked at the old Dallas Lead plant.
I was talking to him about it one time and he told me,
"Yeah, all that sheet & Plumbing Lead is pretty dirty".

[mehavey]

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