X-Ray lead - shielding

[Roundnoser]

I apologize in advance if this has been discussed already. I've searched, but am having a hard time pin-pointing the answer...

I might have an opportunity to purchase 600 pounds of X-ray room lead shielding at 20 cents / lb. (We're talking about the lead they use in the walls of the x-ray rooms). It was collected by a contractor who tore down an old dentist office years ago. He has had it sitting in his yard all these years.

Are there any health concerns with handling lead that was used to shield X-rays? Does lead absorb x-rays or reflect it? -- I would not want to bring this stuff home and end up getting cancer because of it! What is the real deal with this stuff? Where could I read up on this topic? Thanks!

[bumpo628]

For that price, get it all.

There are no health issues associated with this type of lead. Although not exactly the same type of lead, the following page has some info about "isotope lead" used in the medical industry as containers for radioactive materials. If anything, that stuff would be worse. However, it is commonly used as boolit material. There is a vendor that sells it here named Muddy Creek Sam. That is where I got the link.
http://www.fellingfamily.net/isolead/index.html
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=86491

As to composition, it could be pure or it may have some antimony. Maybe someone who has had it tested will chime in.

[Longwood]

I scored a roll that weighed about 50 lbs recently.
It bends like pure soft, and after I smelted it, (outside), it clunks when dropped and everything else that I have dent's it. So without testing it I would say it is pure lead.
It had some glue etc. on it but it smelted very nicely.
I paid 40 cents so you are getting a fair deal. I would buy every bit of it.

[Fire_stick]

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/picture.php?albumid=183&pictureid=3287

When you make ingots out of it, it will look like this. Good, soft lead. I call it purple haze lead.

[lancojames]

Fear not. The lead emits no radiation and is as safe as wheel weights. It is also likely to be 100% pure lead.

[Roundnoser]

Thanks for the advice. Thats what I love about this forum...lots of good info at your fingertips!
Hopefully I can get that lead! We'll see - fingers crossed.

[daviddoo]

A coworker geve me three 40 lb blocks of this lead. I mix 1 lb of it to 5 lbs wheel weights. The alloy works great in my pistol bollits.