Price for pure lead and recipe for WW mix

[foxtrapper]

Hey gents, I have always used WW for my boolit needs. I have the chance to buy pure lead in 25lb pigs for $0.50 a lb. Is that a good price? If so What would I need to add to the melt to mimic the wheel weights mix? I have a turkey fry set up so I can melt the pigs whole.Thanks:p

[RobS]

Good price........yes. You could mix your WW with the lead 50/50 and it makes for nice alloy for a lot of casting needs. Either air cooled, water quenced or oven heat treated it works well for just about any application.

If you are looking at making straight lead into an alloy similar to WW then you'll need antimony and some tin. They are expensive and blending antimony into lead isn't easy.

[Ole]

If you like the way WW alloy casts, I think you'd be better off trading your pure to someone that has extra WW alloy.

Just something to think about. Tin is very expensive and adding antimony into pure lead presents it's own set of problems.

Another good option would be using linotype to harden your pure lead.

Rotometals also sells a product called "superhard" that's made to harden pure lead into a variety of casting alloys.

[nanuk]

$0.50????

are you kidding me?

the last time I bought pure lead, it was over $3.00/lb..... And that was in 1995!

I doubt it has gotten any cheaper up here

[nanuk]

I wonder what shipping for 25# would be.... Hmmm....

[Ole]

I wonder what shipping for 25# would be.... Hmmm....

If you're in the US: if it fits, it ships!

USPS priority flat rate boxes are the only way you can ship lead economically.

My mail carrier hates me.


:[smilie=f:

[troy_mclure]

antimony is easy to melt into the tin. i made 50/50 tin/antimony bars for making lyman #2.

[nanuk]

there... added my location....

heh... You guys are lucky.

I need to meet an American Serviceman up here. I heard rumours that the postal rates apply to US Servicemen abroad.

[bumpo628]

Hey gents, I have always used WW for my boolit needs. I have the chance to buy pure lead in 25lb pigs for $0.50 a lb. Is that a good price? If so What would I need to add to the melt to mimic the wheel weights mix? I have a turkey fry set up so I can melt the pigs whole.Thanks:p

At that price, buy all they have. If you don't need it all, sell it here in the swapping & selling forum. It will all sell if you price it around $1 per lb delivered (or less if you wanna be nice ;)).

Here are some WW-like recipes for you. I don't know what you have access to, but at the very least you can go buy some magnum shot & solder and make that one.

10 lbs Pure Lead
2 lbs Linotype
= 12 lbs Mixed Alloy (0.67% Tin, 2.00% Antimony, Hardness @ 11)

10 lbs Pure Lead
1 lbs Monotype
= 11 lbs Mixed Alloy (0.82% Tin, 1.73% Antimony, Hardness @ 10)

6 lbs Pure Lead
4 lbs Magnum Shot
2 oz 50/50 solder
= 10 lbs Mixed Alloy (0.62% Tin, 1.98% Antimony, Hardness @ 11)

13 lbs Pure Lead
1 lbs Super Hard Alloy
2 oz 50/50 solder
= 14 lbs Mixed Alloy (0.44% Tin, 2.12% Antimony, Hardness @ 11)

Reference:
Pure Lead (Hardness 5)
Clip on WW (0.5% Tin, 2% Antimony, Hardness 12)
Linotype (4% Tin, 12% Antimony, Hardness 19)
Monotype (9% Tin, 19% Antimony, Hardness 26)
Magnum Shot (5% Antimony, Hardness ?)
Super Hard Alloy (30% Antimony, Hardness ?)

Let me know if you want a copy of my alloy calculator.

[RobS]

http://www.lasc.us/CastBulletNotes.htm

[foxtrapper]

Thanks guys. I'll let you know how much they will let me buy!