Load DataWidenersRotoMetals2Titan Reloading
Lee PrecisionReloading EverythingRepackboxMidSouth Shooters Supply
Inline Fabrication
Results 1 to 11 of 11

Thread: Converting Bhn to Alloy Ratios - Not On the Normal Tables

  1. #1
    Boolit Grand Master In Remembrance
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Location
    South Jersey
    Posts
    6,314

    Converting Bhn to Alloy Ratios - Not On the Normal Tables

    Is there - What is ... the formula to convert a Brinell Hardness number to a given 1:X alloy ratio of Sn and Pb?
    Here is the best Brinell Hardness Table from Fr Frog's website ... http://www.frfrogspad.com/miscellm.htm#Brinell

    I have never seen a table with the alloy ratios greater than 1:40. If one wants to determine the corresponding Bhn to say, 1:11 or 1:15 or even 1:50, etc ... what is the formula?

    I've done my homework looking and have not been able to determine what the conversion formula is. There has to be such a formula otherwise 1:30 would not be designated with a Bhn of 9.0 as an example

    RotoMetals has this formula for adding tin and antimony to obtain harder alloys but have not found the formula starting with dead soft PB, then adding Sn to derive the Bhn number

    Basic Rules for Harding Lead-
    For every 1% additional tin, Brinell hardness increases 0.3.
    For every 1% additional antimony, Brinell hardness increases 0.9.
    For a simple equation,
    Brinell = 8.60 + ( 0.29 * Tin ) + ( 0.92 * Antimony )
    Regards
    John

  2. #2
    Boolit Master fryboy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2010
    Location
    3 1/2 miles out past the stix on the 9.9
    Posts
    2,774
    umm i dont know a formula,i know i did test a bunch of alloys,ingots,and boolits when i first got me lee dinger (tester) some surprised me i,i did scribble a few of them down ,the hardest thing from my stash so far was a ingot of pewter with a .044 ding (27.2 BHN) one of the surprises was a old piece of lino still intact .058 ( 15.4 ) i found that my lyman recipe for #2 is harder when made with lino than with ww/tin ,my ww's ( fresh) run .070 +/- .004,when i'm not looking for the sheet i wrote it all down on i'll find it lolz

  3. #3
    Boolit Master
    alfloyd's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    Logan, Utah
    Posts
    625
    I have a excel work sheet that will give you any ratio you want.
    It is by Jess Dressler, with some mods by me.
    If you would like a copy let me know and I will send you a copy.

    alfloyd


    Life is Very Good

  4. #4
    Moderator Emeritus
    garandsrus's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Location
    Warren, MI
    Posts
    2,935
    John Boy,

    I have attached a spreadsheet that has the calculation for BHN while allowing you to make any alloy. This was published a year or two ago on this site. I originally created it and another member added the calculations for BHN and minimum obturation pressure.

    John
    Attached Files Attached Files

  5. #5
    Boolit Grand Master In Remembrance
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Location
    South Jersey
    Posts
    6,314
    alfloyd ... what a fool I am!
    I use Dressler's calculator and never in a 100 hundred years did I think about just doing the simple 1:X input for Sn to Pb by lb input! I thank you kindly for your offer, reminding me and apologize to all for my early dementia!

    BTW, Jess revised the program again - effective Nov 2009 ... http://www.castbulletassoc.org/downloads.shtml
    Regards
    John

  6. #6
    Boolit Grand Master In Remembrance
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Location
    South Jersey
    Posts
    6,314
    John, thanks for your spreadsheet calculator also. Downloaded it and will makes some calculations
    Regards
    John

  7. #7
    Boolit Mold
    Join Date
    Mar 2010
    Location
    Northern Colorado USA
    Posts
    8

    Alloy Calculator New/Updates

    Hi there,

    I use the alloy calculator Jess started but have made some changes. See Attached:

    Cheers,
    James
    Attached Files Attached Files

  8. #8
    Boolit Mold medicms2001's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2016
    Posts
    4
    just want to say thanks for the calculators. Sure has made alloy making much easier. Much appreciated

  9. #9
    Banned
    Join Date
    Oct 2018
    Posts
    24
    Ok, I couldnt make sense out of any of the calculators, I cant do math, and I have no idea how to use a spreadsheet.

    What I do have, is 220 pounds of alloy at Brinell 15, and I need it to be around Brinell 10. If someone could help me figure out how much lead I need to soften this batch It would be really great. Otherwise, I'm going to have to throw away this batch of alloy, and buy a few hundred dollars in pure lead to replace it.

  10. #10
    Banned
    Join Date
    Jul 2016
    Posts
    2,911
    Mix 15 bhn 50/50 with pure 5bhn to get what you want

  11. #11
    Boolit Master


    dondiego's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2013
    Location
    Milan, MI
    Posts
    2,810
    Quote Originally Posted by Guns N Glory View Post
    Ok, I couldnt make sense out of any of the calculators, I cant do math, and I have no idea how to use a spreadsheet.

    What I do have, is 220 pounds of alloy at Brinell 15, and I need it to be around Brinell 10. If someone could help me figure out how much lead I need to soften this batch It would be really great. Otherwise, I'm going to have to throw away this batch of alloy, and buy a few hundred dollars in pure lead to replace it.
    What is wrong with 15 BNH metal? If you throw any away, be sure to tell us where you threw it please!

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
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