Got 110 Lbs of Linotype for $100 today!

[Boosted98gsx]

So, I got hooked up FAT with 110+ lbs of pure linotype from a friend at the local gun range. $1 per lb. Yea, you heard that right!

It came in 10ish lb bars, and that just won't do for feeding the RCBS Pro Melt. So, A SMELTING WE SHALL GO!

Got out the tools. 5# bottom pour ladle, 1# bottom pour ladle, dutch oven and turkey fryer stand, and my perfect ingot molds!

BEGIN THE MELT!

http://i.imgur.com/xaBPNR9.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/GROvlDJ.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/N5MX9u2.jpg

First batch of "muffins" poured
http://i.imgur.com/EetdH07.jpg

Second batch poured, and all lead is now in the pot
http://i.imgur.com/ssEdF61.jpg

650 Pour Temp. Perfect!
http://i.imgur.com/i5T9Rmq.jpg

Remember kids, even though we're not near boiling point, always wear an anti fume respirator to keep the cancer away!
http://i.imgur.com/B73S0Na.jpg

When your down to your final pounds.... MINI MUFFINS!!!
http://i.imgur.com/BFIKpZh.jpg

And 113 lbs of Linotype ready for Boolits!
http://i.imgur.com/ocfWVSt.jpg

[JASON4X4]

That is a great deal congratulations

[btroj]

A respirator to keep cancer away?

I usually keep my Lino in the original bars, they are easy to store and can easily be cut if needed.

[Boosted98gsx]

These weren't original bars. These came from an ex Linotype worker who left with some of the lead. He had poured them into long ingots, which wouldn't have worked in the boolit furnace.

And yea, I'm not risking things with lead (and possible lead fumes) in the area.

[btroj]

I understand the respirator, it is the cancer part I don't get. Cancer from what? Lead fumes? Heavy metals don't tend to cause cancer, they cause metal toxicity.

Wash your hands well when done and take a shower, those thing few I'll provide more protection than as respirator ever will.

Fear of lead just won't die.

[detox]

What caliber are you casting for?

Linotype bullets can be difficult to size. I first size using the press mounted Lee sizer. Next i lube in my RCBS Lubramatic using same size sizer. Linotype will not compress under excessive neck tension like softer alloys will (no gas cutting). Lino shoots verywell in my guns.

[Boosted98gsx]

I understand the respirator, it is the cancer part I don't get. Cancer from what? Lead fumes? Heavy metals don't tend to cause cancer, they cause metal toxicity.

Wash your hands well when done and take a shower, those thing few I'll provide more protection than as respirator ever will.

Fear of lead just won't die.

Meh. Better safe than sorry.


What caliber are you casting for?

Linotype bullets can be difficult to size. I first size using the press mounted Lee sizer. Then i lube in my RCBS Lubramatic. Linotype will not compress under excessive neck tension like softer alloys will (no gas cutting). Lino shoots verywell in my guns.

Right now, I'm not. Just stockpiling mostly. I do and have cast a bunch of 250gr RNFP for .45 colt, and a few failed attempts at the 230gr blackout lee bullets.

[detox]

Should work good in the Blackout...you need a hard alloy for that fast twist. I save my softer alloys for my 45 caliber stuff

[454PB]

If you didn't know.....bars of linotype can be easily broken into smaller pieces. The stuff shatters when struck, in fact I just strike two ingots together to break them.

[Beagle333]

Buck a lb for lino. Congrats! :drinks:

I was feeling good about my buck a lb isotope cores....til now.
Thanks! :kidding:

[Boosted98gsx]

Isotope cores?

[NewbieDave007]

Nice score!

[Echd]

Isotope cores?


If someone sold you some of those, would you wear a full HAZMAT suit to melt them down? :kidding:

[Boosted98gsx]

If someone sold you some of those, would you wear a full HAZMAT suit to melt them down? :kidding:

Depends on the element and the isotope (my minor is in nuke engineering).

[Beagle333]

It's just these things. 'Makes great boolits, if you can find em cheap enough. Click on the tab marked "CORE".

http://www.fellingfamily.net/isolead/index.html

[Boosted98gsx]

Ok, yea, I remember reading about that stuff before. Used to house nasty stuff, can have some fallout or daughter particles in it.

[lwknight]

It will half life out in a short time. Its just a LSA (low specific activity) anyway. No actual ionizing radiation.

[Defcon-One]

If you didn't know.....bars of linotype can be easily broken into smaller pieces. The stuff shatters when struck, in fact I just strike two ingots together to break them.

Ditto!

If it is Pure Linotype, he is 100% right. Very easy to break into what you need. Too easy in fact. Don't use it pure for bullets. Alloy it for economy and less brittleness!


Isotope lead is great stuff. I have processed literally a Ton of it and have no issues other than where to keep it all. If you are worried about "Fall out" then store it for a few months to be sure, but someone has already done that before you ever see it. Also, lead does not absorb or carry radiation. It would have to be a spill on the lead to cause anything significant and someone would have caught that long before you got it!

That mask is not really going to do much for you! It is mostly a psychological thing. A dust/particulate mask might be a better choice. It is the Lead Oxides and dust from the dross that posses the greatest threat from inhalation. You won't get fumes until over 1800 degrees F.

Wash your hands and clothes well before you do anything else like eating, drinking or smoking and you'll be fine.

[Boosted98gsx]

The mask was mostly a photo op for my friends on facebook, precautionary thing. I wasn't even wearing it most of the time.

[Defcon-One]

The mask was mostly a photo op for my friends on facebook, precautionary thing. I wasn't even wearing it most of the time.

OK, I didn't want to talk you out of it, as it couldn't hurt, but there are better options.

Either way, a great stash at an excellent price!

DC-1

[Hardcast416taylor]

It must have been all those times I had bangs on my noggin running black pipe that screwed up my math skills. How do you end up with 2 lb. more than you started with?Robert

[Boosted98gsx]

estimation.

[lwknight]

A good digital scale is a valuable asset for mixing alloys.
A 100 pound scale can also weigh accurately on the low end as well as mid scale.

[Boosted98gsx]

I've got a digi scale, but it only goes up to 25 lbs. So I weighed a couple ingots, around 1.8 lbs each, and multiplied by the qty.

[Suo Gan]

They would have worked fine in the furnace...you just wanted a chance to gloat!

Good job

[lwknight]

Extreme accuracy is generally not that important for most applications.
Ingots do vary but you could weigh up 10-15 pounds however many times it takes
to get a better tally.
I get my mystery stuff into large mixed batches, then take a sample to work and analyze by spectrometer so I can be sure of the outcome from what I mix. So for my goal accuracy is kinda important.
Just for making boolits, close is good enough for me. Actually , bathroom scales work for personal alloy mixing.

[Boosted98gsx]

Extreme accuracy is generally not that important for most applications.
Ingots do vary but you could weigh up 10-15 pounds however many times it takes
to get a better tally.
I get my mystery stuff into large mixed batches, then take a sample to work and analyze by spectrometer so I can be sure of the outcome from what I mix. So for my goal accuracy is kinda important.
Just for making boolits, close is good enough for me. Actually , bathroom scales work for personal alloy mixing.

You willing to hook up members with spectroscopy? I have 3 samples I'd like to have analyzed.

[lwknight]

Ooops, sorry to stimulate all the brain cells and electrons on that account but, it is not generally opportune for me to get over to the lab. I also have to bother one of the Q.A guys. I really wanted to get my own analyzer but the 20 grand is just out of my league.

Several have entertained the prospect of buying a spectrometer for that purpose but large as this forum is, is still a small client base to pay for that kind of service.
What really stinks about it is that it takes only 5 seconds to do a sample and a little more time to get the right info to the right person. The prices charged by commercial testers are outrageous because there is no other cost besides the original investment.

I was going to PM this but thought that I had best put it up for all to see.

[MaryB]

After 27 years handling solder and breathing the fumes, even using my teeth to hold solder on occasion my lead levels are low. As mentioned wash hands before eating, don't chew on it...

[Boosted98gsx]

after 27 years handling solder and breathing the fumes, even using my teeth to hold solder on occasion my lead levels are low. As mentioned wash hands before eating, don't chew on it...

but what if they tell me to bite the bullet???? :kidding:

[RogerDat]

Totally awesome score! On accuracy of alloy mix don't forget size really does matter. Being 1lb off on a 10lb melt matters a lot more than being that same 1lb off on a 40lb melt. Especially when the critical ingredient(s) Sn or Sb are but a small percentage of the total for each pound of alloy. Not saying that trying for spot on is unimportant but recognize your max margin of error if your off by a couple of ounces is not that great.