Lead pipe and WW score questions.

[Elbow]

So I got about 35 pounds of old lead pipe and anothe 30 pounds of wheel weights today for 5 bucks. Question, will the pipe be almost pure? Pure enough for 45 cal round balls for deer?

[Beagle333]

Yep. Pipe is almost pure. You may have some solder in the joints, so save those to mix with your WW, but the pipe is ready for round balls! Good score!

[9w1911]

Yep pipe is pure or close enough, the experts here can tell you the percentage of it depending if its just pipe, joints etc.
I love getting scores like that one!!

[zuke]

Smelt them seperately and enjoy!

[dikman]

You did well. You don't have to use pure lead if it's for a patched ball. I've started using range scrap, which is about the same hardness as WWs, and it shoots fine.

[Hardcast416taylor]

Make sure there are no hidden water pockets in that lead pipe waiting to surprise you.Robert

[merlin101]

Do yourself and neighbors a favor and don't smelt that pipe around the house, that stuff STINKS!!

[mold maker]

Not all lead pipe is for sewer. There is lots of supply lines of lead. What I've smelted was cleaner than Wheel weights or plumbers joint lead.

[Beagle333]

The pipes I have gotten were cleaner on the inside than the out! 'Kinda scary what they might have been using them for. I hope it was a nice roof drain or something and not their main water supply line.

[dikman]

Make sure there are no hidden water pockets in that lead pipe waiting to surprise you.Robert

Good point. Yesterday I smelted my latest batch from the scrap yard. Some of it was old sheet stuff which I'd folded over. Overnight it rained and although it was undercover it got a few drops of water on it. I was feeding the stuff into the melted lead as I went - it was very spectacular when even a couple of drops of water were inside the folds!

I should point out that I was using my forge, covered on three sides and the top, and dropping the lead in from the side using long tongs, so I was quite safe - but I do not recommend doing this with an open pot!!!

[Elbow]

Well I smelted it all, total was 34 pounds of pure lead from the pipe and 19 pounds of WW. Guess ill mix 19 lbs pure with the 19 lbs WW for 3030 boolits and save 15 pounds pure for muzzleloader. Awesome!

[shadowcaster]

Well I smelted it all, total was 34 pounds of pure lead from the pipe and 19 pounds of WW. Guess ill mix 19 lbs pure with the 19 lbs WW for 3030 boolits and save 15 pounds pure for muzzleloader. Awesome!

Like dikman said.. It is not necessary to use pure lead for patched round balls. COWW's and range scrap work fine. Some will say use only pure because that's what the old timers used. It is what they used because it's what they had. As long as the alloy isn't tooo hard, you will be fine.

Shad

[dikman]

That 50/50 mix should be fine for patched balls. Just don't use it in a revolver!

[Hooker53]

Don't know what Kind of lead pipe I got into yesterday but all of it is coming in at 14. Very surprised. Would not think it is pure but was very carefull to not let it get uch above 700 F. So has anyone else noticed their pipe coming in that hard???

[GhostHawk]

I have been using lead pipe salvaged from when my water main broke last spring. I don't have a tester, but going by the ball peen hammer test it is significantly harder than pure lead, and seems about like WW. But I am purely guesstimating.

[Hooker53]

Yep. This stuff I poured into ingots last night came out bright silver just like COWW, not rainbow color like most pure I'v smelted. Where we know what it is or not, I think it's gonna cast some good stuff. I may have to post some pics and see if anyone has ever seen any like this. I'm calling it pipe but who knows!! Ha.

[Shooter6br]

Got some turned out to be close to 20/1 alloy

[Jayhawkhuntclub]

That 50/50 mix should be fine for patched balls. Just don't use it in a revolver!

Huh? I thought lots of people used 50/50 mix for light/medium revolver loads?

[mold maker]

I've used a 50/50 mix for all but magnum loads in all hand guns. Even softer in 38 and 45 ACP. Hardness is way over rated.

[dikman]

My apologies, Jayhawk. I only shoot Black Powder, so was referring to muzzleloading revolvers (I forgot that most of you shoot these new-fangled rear-loading contraptions :kidding: ).

[Jayhawkhuntclub]

Ah, now it makes sense. Thanks.