Mixing to average alloy question

[Pee Wee]

Really good info here

[Teddy (punchie)]

I would mix small batches and just take notes. Easier to make small batches then have a mixed up mess. would do a 4 oz. of one and 4 oz of the other, cool in air. Testing after a few days and see. If right off you see that it was wrong for what you needed then add 2 oz. one way or other. now you have about 10 oz. of said alloy, and now you can see where you have been a maybe get a better idea of where or what to do. You may find you and we are all over thinking this, maybe we are not.

[crashguy]

I would never trust what someone said is the Advertised BHN, unless it is from a reputable smelter.
Test what you have before starting.
Or like so many guys, they just want someone to justify them dumping it all together and melting it into one big ball of Mystery metal and THINKING it is of some BHN per what someone on the internet said.
Test It, Be Sure
I wish I could post pictures again, ( for some reason i cant again all of a sudden )
I would post pictures of my Billy Bob Hardness tester that uses a Bathroom scale.
It can be used on a drill press or with a hand plunger and is fairly accurate.
All you need is a 5/32 ball bearing and a way to force it into the ingot with 60 lb of pressure.
Then measure the diameter of the dent with a dial caliper, and check the diameter against a chart in Lee Reloading manual Second edition.

Ok ...LAGS.... You've inspired me...In the interest of expanding my knowledge and experience.. I will endeavor to cobble together a DIY hardness tester and check my alloying progress. Any further description of your device and procedure would be welcome.

[LAGS]

I can post pictures in an Email but not on the site for some reason.
PM me your Email and I will send you Pic's of what I made.

I got it working, somehow

[LAGS]

Billy Bob Hardness tester.
This is nothing more than a Bathroom scale sitting on a drill press.
You make a plunger out of a 10/32 allen head set screw with a 5/32 ball bearing soldered into the allen head end , and a stop nut screwed onto the threads to keep it frim slipping in the chuck when you press down.
I place a steel plate on the scale, and then the Ingot, and then Zero the scale.
Then the plunger is lowered untill it hits the ingot.
You go down untill the scale reads 60 pounds.
Hold at 60 pounds for 20 seconds and it makes a Dent in the Ingot.
Then you take your dial calipers and measure the WIDTH of the dent.
That is compared to a chart that I found in the Lee second Edition reloading manual.
For example.
If the dent is .060 wide, the chart says that is a 14.3 BHN
Now, you dont have to use a Drill press.
You can make the plunger that fits on the end of a 12" shaft with a " T " handle on top.
Then you just Press straight down to get the 60 pound reading like you were using the drill press arbor.

[LAGS]

Bath scale was $5.00 at a Goodwill store, and about a buck at yard sales.
The 5/32 steel ball i got at an Ace Hardware store along with the set screw and nut.
Steel plate can be anypiece of metal to make the scale top flat and not compressable.
They have rubber non slip pads on bath scales.

[LAGS]

Sample Ingots
The one is Lead, stamped with the L ( My secret code ) the dent is .097 and per the chart that is about a 5 BHN
The one stamped W W is COWW ( You would have never figured out that code either ) and the dent measures .065 which is a 12.1 BHN

[LAGS]

Well the picture posting stopped again.
so i cant post the list of diameter to BHN numbers since it wont scan a document either.
( I know it in me, and a crappy computer )
Here goes some hi lites
.045 = BHN 26 or Monotype
.048 = 22.7 BHN
.049 = 21.8 BHN or Linotype tested per my 84-4-12 mix
.052 = 19 BHN or Linotype per Roto metals
.056 = 16.6 or Hardball
.058 = 15.4 or Lyman #2
.065 = 12.1 or COWW or 10 to 1 lead to tin
.071 = 10.1 or 20 to 1 lead to tin

That should give you an idea where you are at with your hardness.

[crashguy]

LAGS ... Thank you for taking the time to pass this info along... you've given me more than a head start. Never thought I would be excited to find out how hard my lead was .... funny how life changes.

[LAGS]

BTW
If you guys were wondering why my Linotype is harder than Rotometals,
It is because my Base Lead, is not PURE Lead.
I an using what I call lead, and is a mixture of soft lead from SOWW's, sheet lead flashings, Range scrap and about anything else that melts.
So, I am starting with a BHN of about 8 average.
Show us pictures of your progress on a lead tester.
And let us know if the wife caught you stealing Her Bathroom scale.

[LAGS]

The pictures that wouldn't post Yesterday Grrr.

[RogerDat]

Makes sense - what we often call "pure" is really just a fairly low percentage alloy. I settled on the term "plain" rather than pure awhile back.

Thanks for the redneck hardness tester description. It so happens I have a drill press not doing anything, a scale and would you believe it some solder.

[LAGS]

i am a regular MacGyver when it comes to reinventing the Wheel and Mouse trap.
Not everone wants to invest in a Lead Hardness tester.
But the principals are the same.
It works, and in most ways , Easier to use than most fancy Store Bought stuff.
All we want is Ball Parks anyway , right.
This is close enough and doesnt cost an arm and a leg.

[turtlezx]

billy bob !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! come back here with them there scales !!

[LAGS]

I cant post pictures all the time for some reason,
So if the Mods want to, and they think my most recent posts are noteworthy enough, they can Re- Post the Billy Bob Hardness tester in another section where it might be of help to many others.
Not many will come across my post, in someone else's unrelated thread.

[zomby woof]

[LAGS]

@ zomby woof.
Nice share.
I wish I had one.
But I havent seen any at the second hand stores.( Yes, I am a cheap SOB)