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View Full Version : what is in my lead?


benny1636
05-08-2013, 10:20 PM
Im new to casting I set up my pot for the first time today and put in some indoor range recovered lead I bought that was double fluxed and i kept getting a ton of this dirt looking stuff i was spooning out. Im nto sure if it was dirt or if i had the potu p to high and was burning the lead or what the heck it was, sorry im very new. This is what it looked like ..http://oi43.tinypic.com/4re2w2.jpg
tomme boy
05-08-2013, 10:38 PM
It looks like lead oxide. That is the yellow color. What kind of pot and how high was it turned up? I run my Lee 20 lb. pot about in the middle of the adjustment of the dial. Use some saw dust and set it on fire. As it is on fire, stir the lead up. Push the black dust down into the pot as it is on fire. Then once it is done burning, scoop it all off.
454PB
05-08-2013, 10:39 PM
Your picture is blurry, but it's normal to get a lot of "dirt dross" when salvaging range lead, and "a ton of dirt" is a relative term.

I've had several tablespoons of dirt float to the top of 10 pounds of contaminated lead. It's nothing to worry about.
benny1636
05-08-2013, 10:48 PM
Your picture is blurry, but it's normal to get a lot of "dirt dross" when salvaging range lead, and "a ton of dirt" is a relative term.

I've had several tablespoons of dirt float to the top of 10 pounds of contaminated lead. It's nothing to worry about.

It was range lead but when I mentioned something to the guy about it maybe being dirty he said he's never had a complaint, that its indoor range lead twice fluxed. I tried putting some sawdust in but I dont think it was enough. It was a lee production pot 4 and i had it turned almost all the way up, stuff was getting read hot that I was scooping out and i scooped a lot of it out. It looked like dirt but thats what I was wondering if maybe I was oxidizing the lead. Sorry for the blurry pic.
454PB
05-08-2013, 10:55 PM
Yeah, you need to reduce the heat some, excess heat produces lots of dross.
benny1636
05-08-2013, 11:00 PM
I've only casted once before and it was on a bottom line smaller lee melter a friend had, obviously this one gets much hotter, thanks for the advice.
detox
05-08-2013, 11:18 PM
TOO HOT! Buy a casting thermometer and keep temp down under 700 degrees.
runfiverun
05-08-2013, 11:33 PM
i'd say keep it under 800 degrees.

yeah that orange is lead oxide.
shaper
05-08-2013, 11:50 PM
where would one purchase a casting thermometer?
tomme boy
05-09-2013, 04:21 AM
NOE has them on his website.