A visit from the lead fairy...

[jason280]

Making nice with the scrap yard guys seems to have paid off, one of the local guys was holding this for me when I stopped by the other day....

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a377/Jason280_5/3%20Screw/Ingot_zpsbfllqfvs.jpeg (http://s15.photobucket.com/user/Jason280_5/media/3%20Screw/Ingot_zpsbfllqfvs.jpeg.html)

Weighs in at 55+ pounds, and should be pure lead....makes around 100lbs that I have picked up this week of soft lead (at $0.25-.30/lb).

[BNE]

That's cool. It definitely pays to treat those guys nicely.

[adam_mac84]

Solid! Literally. [emoji106]


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[Sasquatch-1]

Did the 20 come with it? :grin:

[runfiverun]

if he threw in 20$ your being waaaay too nice.

[308Jeff]

Gotta love the Lead Fairy. Her cousin the Tinsel Fairy is a b**** though.

[country gent]

Dad worked for National lead for 33 years in Toledo Ohio plant 1. It later became Dohler Jarvis and then Farley Industries. Its now closed

[country gent]

Also Maybe pure lead but could also be a babbit lead or linotype as all were cast in big pigs for industrial use.

[dondiego]

Drop it on a concrete floor. If it thuds it might just be pure. If it dings, you might really be happy.

[ghh3rd]

What's that, about 400 lbs? or so

[jason280]

Not quite, closer to 55lbs....

How would I go about determining whether it's pure or babbit/linotype?

[Sasquatch-1]

Lead hardness test. There are a couple threads about using art pencils if you don't want to spend the money on a tester.

[TexasGrunt]

Not quite, closer to 55lbs....

How would I go about determining whether it's pure or babbit/linotype?

1. Drop it. Thud = soft lead. Ping = hard lead. I've never gotten my hands on any babbit so I don't know what it sounds like when you drop it.

2. Scratch it. You should be able to make a mark with a thumbnail on soft lead.

[lightman]

Whatever it is, its a good score! Those are the kind of connections that pay off.

[RogerDat]

Right around 50# was the common size for large commercial lead ingots, there is another style of about the same weight that is thinner at both ends but thicker in the middle. Nice score. Few donuts, a pizza, some cold beverages, it doesn't take much to let the yard guys know you appreciate them putting up with your butt in the air while you are head down in a bin searching for "good" lead. If those guys like you and start "figuring" you might be able to use it so they set it aside you are golden.

[Victor N TN]

Congratulations !!! Looks like you scored a good one.