yet another lead question

[iridebikes]

I'm sure it gets asked all the time, I did search but still unsure. Still new to casting, I have been collecting lead for awhile now and I have around 1000lbs. My buddy is a plumber and he gives me any lead pipe he comes across, I also have a bunch of lead sheet, ww (clip on), lead shot, and just picked up a 13 buckets of indoor range. My question is should I smelt it separate or slowly mix it all together? Over the summer before we moved I smelted some of the lead pipe and cast about 100 9mm and 100 .45acp. When I tumble lubed the .45acp they dented up pretty good (didn't shake hard either). I never made it to the range to test them. My question is should I add anything to it, or is it ok?

I only load my lead rounds about mid range. I will be casting 9mm, .40 and .45acp.

Here are just a few pictures.

http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g381/glock27kcmo/Snapbucket/6F1D5021_zps342a2a05.jpg

http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g381/glock27kcmo/Snapbucket/F47C4531_zpsf2616c88.jpg

http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g381/glock27kcmo/Snapbucket/EEB285DB_zpsbe020682.jpg

[kbstenberg]

Always melt all types of alloy separately. Each has there own use.
Solder should be cast into small enough ingots to add to alloy as needed.

[BACKTOSHOOTING]

[smilie=b: I'm a squirel still looking for that nut, Thats a nice stash you got there

[fordwannabe]

smelt individually, but you need to add some clip on ww to the pure lead if you are gonna use them in a semi. Gotta add something, anyway, and ww are easiest to come by....not easy right now but easiest. For most of my pistol caliber rifles and older blackpowder era cartridges I start at 50%clip on and 50% pure.

[RickinTN]

No need to melt solder into ingots. Just measure off the roll as needed and weigh. It's already in a long round ingot and probably in it's easiest form to work with.

[John in WI]

I would agree with these guys and cast the ingots separately (ie, WW, lead pipe,...). I did it the other way when I got started. Made one 100# batch of an in-between "mystery alloy". It would have been much smarter to mix up smaller batches as needed.

Nice stash though! Looks like you have some work ahead of you.

[iridebikes]

Should I leave the soldered joints on the pipe or cut it off? I have a lot more lead that's not pictured, Ive already smelted it, kept it all separate. Just wasn't sure if I should mix it all later on.

I have had really good luck posting WTB ads on my local craigs list for lead. I know I have enough for several years but its addicting!

[sqlbullet]

Separate the joints. Pure lead is useful to have for a variety of reasons.

[iridebikes]

Separate the joints. Pure lead is useful to have for a variety of reasons.

should I smelt the joints?

[runfiverun]

they are high in tin,and will be a mystery mix.
but usefull to get good fill out with other lead alloys.
i'd cut as close to the joint as possible and melt just those down separatly you will figure out a mix of them and something else as you go.
most of what we all use is an alloy of lead antimnoy and tin.

keep the known stuff like the sheet lead separate so you can make a known mix later.