Lead hardness

[tink77]

I have some lead containers, they weigh 55lbs, they're 98% lead, and 2% antimony. That makes them 53.9lbs lead, and 1.1lbs of antimony. If looking at the lead calculator that should about a 10 on the hardness scale. Does this sound about right?

[OS OK]

That's correct based on Bumpo's calculator but his calc. figures lead at (8.6 or 9-?) BHN. Pure Pb is less by 2 - 3 BHN so your mix could be softer.
The range could be 6.8 - 9.8 BHN.

Pb @ 5 - 8 BHN + (% Sn @ .29 BHN) + ( % Sb @ .92 BHN) = Mix BHN

I think this is right?

[Oklahoma Rebel]

has anyone noticed that for every 10 lbs of antimony you add, the resulting antimony % doesn't climb quite as much as it should. it is 12%sb, I added 10lbs, and the resultant alloy climbed from 3.80 to 4.42. tell me if that figgers right in your head? thanks p.s, I forgot to mention I was talking about the lead calculator. Travis

[tink77]

So to harden it I would add by % of weigh? If I add 5lbs of super hard which is 70% lead and 30% antimony which is 3.5lbs of lead, and 1.5lbs of antimony.

[runfiverun]

the 1.5 lbs of antimony you add would be 3% of 50 lbs.

base your weights in parts of 100 lbs total to come out at percentages.


if you look at how antimony hardens lead versus a BHN scale thing look weird.
12% antimony gives 22 bhn, 5-6% antimony gets you 15 bhn, but 3-4% antimony gets you 11-12 bhn.

[montanamike]

my all around alloy is 96/2/2 and it is about 12bhn with my Lee tester.