Need help with alloy

[SkookumJeff]

OK, for some reason I just can't get this figured out. I need help with what to do for my casting alloys. Last spring I started getting into boolit casting and since I live in the socialist state of Washington wheel weights are not available, can't even buy them on flea bay and ship to WA. So I acquired my lead the old fashioned way, I paid for it. I bought mostly near pure lead, about 500 lbs worth. I then bought 120 lbs of lino to use for alloying with the pure lead. But I just can't seem to figure out the ratio. How much lino would I add to 10 pounds of pure lead to approximate Lyman #2 alloy.

Thanks!

[garandsrus]

Hi,

Here's one formula that will get you 20 lbs of Lyman #2 alloy:
Pure Lead 10lbs 14.8 oz
Linotype 8lbs 6.5 oz
Add Tin: 10.8 oz

This will be 5-5-90 which is Lyman #2.

Another hard alloy is called Taracorp. It is 2-6-92 (tin, antimony, lead). You can make it very easily with what you have by mixing linotype and pure lead 50-50.

John

[454PB]

And the "Taracorp" or "hardball" alloy casts very well.

If you really want Lyman #2, just add another 3% tin by weight to the Taracorp alloy.

[runfiverun]

to approximate ww alloy use 3 parts of pure and 1 part lino to make a 1% tin and 3% antimonial alloy.
this is a very good and versatile alloy, if you want to heat treat or water quench add a teaspoon full of sulpher [from a garden supply store] stir it in and flux. to 20 lbs alloy.
this will modify the grain size of the poured alloy like arsenic does.

[bumpo628]

You can use my alloy calculator:
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=105952

I found a pretty simple mix that gets close:
6 lbs Lino + 8 lbs pure + 0.5 lbs tin = 5.10% tin, 4.97% antimony

If you want Lyman #2, then you're going to have to add some tin. The calculator has several forms of tin such as solders and pewter so you can readjust with what you have on hand.

As mentioned above, hardball is a very good alloy and very similar to Lyman #2. Plus, you have all the materials on hand to make it right now. Equal parts Lino and pure will give you hardball.

Lyman #2 has 5% tin, 5% antimony, 15 bhn hardness
Hardball has 2% tin, 6% antimony, 16 bhn hardness
Linotype has 4% tin, 12% antimony, @ 20 bhn hardness

[ColColt]

A mix of 50/50 lead and Linotype will yield, most times, BHN15 which is Lyman #2. I'm lucky enugh to still have some old print shop Linotype but am slowly running out so I use ww's mostly now.