Lead Pipe

[dennis k]

While excavating a basement in an old part of town we exposed a number of feet of old lead water pipe. Does anyone know if this is useable for casting. When melted and cast into ingots there is a blue yellow color evident on the bottom of the ingot. Any advice is appreciated. I am just getting started casting. Thanks. Dennis

[Lizard333]

They are pure lead. Great for casting, not so good unless you mix it with either Lino or COWW.

Very good find.

[I'll Make Mine]

I'm with Lizard -- nice find! Anything that's free and of known content (in this case, 99%+ pure lead) is good to have -- compared to wheel weights, range scrap, etc. where you have to have a Brinell tester to have any idea what you're starting from.

[Jeffrey]

Info on lead pipe: http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=149798

[WILCO]

All good advice above.

[Roundnoser]

Wecome to the forum! -- The lead pipe is great to use for casting. You could cast it as-is for round ball or maxi-ball...or you could mix it with wheel weights or linotype for a harder bullet which would do fine for slower velocity pistol bullets, etc.

If I were you, I would grab as much of that lead pipe as you can.

[a.squibload]

Also good for swaging, or trading.

When you pulled it up did water spray out?;-)
Just curious...

[Jeffrey]

"Dat's why dis aint woikin. Dees pipes aw all fulla wires!" Curly Howard

[dennis k]

Thanks to all who responded. As beginner caster I wasn't certain if the stuff was suitable. Glad to find that it is. There was no water in the pipe but there was a lot of soil that needed to be flushed out. I have since cut it up and smelted it into muffin sized ingots. I have also made ingot out of 40 pounds of wheel weights. Today I purchased a Lee pot and will soon be aquireing a mold. I first plan to make 230 gr rnd nose .45 to use in my Rlemington R-1. The store bought 200 Gr. SWC do not feed very well. A friend gave me a few cast 230 RN and they worked fine. I also plan to cast 9mm and .380 eventually. Again thank you all for the advice. Fortunate indeed that we can share and learn.

Dennis

[docone31]

Keep the wheel weight seperate from the lead.
When you cast for pistol, you will need to harden it up. Not much wheel weight anymore.