First Time Melting Scrap - Concerned

[308Jeff]

Tonight was my second time melting lead, and I'm concerned about the results. I had done one previous melt (clean stainless vessel, previously cast bullets) and everything went and looked great. Tonight left me with a lot of questions, and an uncertain outcome. One of my roofers gave me about 25lbs of lead flashing and pipe jacks (dirty, painted) and I melted them all down in a brand new 12" Lodge Pre-Seasoned frying pan. The first thing I noticed was a rainbow affect on the surface of the lead once it started melting, but I figured that was probably normal. I got everything melted down and started skimming the dross but the surface just wasn't looking right. It kept taking on a "pewter" color.

Not sure what the problem is, if there really even is a "problem". New pan issues? Too hot? Not hot enough? Something other than lead in the roof flashing?

I snapped a pic after the lead started cooling and I drug the utensil through it. Illustrates pretty well what I'm seeing.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

[RedRiver]

Just oxidizing lead. Looks pretty pure. Mine looked identical when smelting.

[RedRiver]

On a second look. Its not hot enough. It looks thick.

Never mind. Just read that you had it cooling.

[ascast]

Looks good to me, can't flux too much.

[pworley1]

Flux and pour it up. it looks good.

[farmerjim]

Looks good, I use a skimmer exactly like yours.

[Yodogsandman]

You've melted almost pure lead. Pure lead, when melted exhibits blue, purple and a straw colored stain across the surface. It looks like it's supposed to. Good job!

[MaryB]

The rainbow ingots are great to ID when you forget to mark them!

[308Jeff]

Thanks for the feedback, all. Very much appreciated.

[runfiverun]

you'll get all kinds of colors on pure lead but that gold color is Tin.
you probably had some in the roof jacks.

[308Jeff]

you'll get all kinds of colors on pure lead but that gold color is Tin.
you probably had some in the roof jacks.

Well, crud. What does that mean?

[rda72927]

Tin is good.

[Plate plinker]

Yep tin helps make nicer boolits.

[308Jeff]

Well that's good news. Thank you! How do I get it into an alloy? It all seems to want to float to the top. I tried fluxing a couple of times with candle wax.

[runfiverun]

just hold the heat down in the 700 range.
when your working with soft lead you get all kinds of oxidization and weird colors on the lead.
I just cherry pick the alloy out with my ladle and keep on returning the oxides back to the pot.

[308Jeff]

just hold the heat down in the 700 range.
when your working with soft lead you get all kinds of oxidization and weird colors on the lead.
I just cherry pick the alloy out with my ladle and keep on returning the oxides back to the pot.

So I should be able to work the tin back into the lead if I keep it @ 700?

[runfiverun]

yes it starts to come out quicker around 750-f.

to return it you just need an oxygen free barrier on the surface.
wax and fire.

[308Jeff]

yes it starts to come out quicker around 750-f.

to return it you just need an oxygen free barrier on the surface.
wax and fire.

Awesome. Thank you!