Lead that rings

[armednfree]

I was given a bit of lead. On piece is a disc about 3/4" thick. It looks like lead and is heavy like lead, but it is hard. It rings when you hit it with a hammer. What could it be?

[quilbilly]

Probably has a lot of antimony or zinc in it. Can you scratch it with your fingernail? If you can it will be useable as is. I would plan on cutting it with pure if it is antimony lead alloy.

[armednfree]

I'm thinking I should take a bit of it and heat it with lead over my propane stove and see how it casts. No way I'm putting it in the pot yet. But what ratio? If it is very high antimony then I will save it for deer hunting bullets.

[Cherokee]

High tin and or antimony. Cast some up and compare the weight to some you have cast from your other alloys. If lighter, then cut with pure lead. How much depends on how much lighter the unknown alloy cast up. You can also be alert to signs of zink in the alloy.

[runfiverun]

If it is very high antimony then I will save it for deer hunting bullets.

well that's the backwards way of doing it but go ahead.

[blackthorn]

If you are concerned about the possibility of it being (or containing) Zinc, put a drop of Muriatic acid on the surface. If it bubbles it's Zinc.

[dverna]

If you are concerned about the possibility of it being (or containing) Zinc, put a drop of Muriatic acid on the surface. If it bubbles it's Zinc.

Best advice so far - and from a damn Canuck!!!!

[dilly]

Where do you guys get this muriatic acid? Is it sold as something readily available? If it's not readily available, is there a substitute that is readily available?
I have a very similar mystery disk that rings as well.

[Sweetpea]

You should be able to find it at your local home depot, ace, etc.

It's been more than a few years since I had chemistry, but I believe muriatic is just a fancyname for hydrochloric acid.

Brandon

[Lizard333]

You'll find it in the pool section of your hardware store.

[blackthorn]

Even a blind squirrel finds the odd nut eh!!!