Dental lead hardness

[Shuz]

FWIW-Yesterday I found some boolit hardness samples I had cast on 5/27/07 from dental x-ray film lead backers. Yesterday,the air cooled boolits were Saeco 4-5(Bhn 7.5) and the quench cast ones were still Saeco 9(Bhn 8). These are basically the same readings I got back on 5/27/07. According to the mfr of the x-ray film, the composition is supposed to be 99% Pb and 1% tin. However approx. 1 lb ingots dropped on a concrete floor have a definate ring and not the expected thud. Quien sabes?
I add 5 ingots of dental lead to about 30 lbs of mixed wheel weights and arrive at what I call "handgun alloy", which is Saeco 6-7(Bhn 10). This alloy works well in my .44 mags at velocities of 1000 to 1200 fps.

oops Saeco 9 is Bhn 18 not 8!--sorry

[454PB]

Your results agree with mine. Since there is no antimony, quenching them would have no effect on hardness. I cast some Lee 255 SWC from straight dental lead and they work fine up to 900 fps. Can't say what will happen above that velocity.

[randyrat]

Same results here. They make some real nice 45 acp 200 gr swcs. That dental lead fills out molds real nice.

[John Boy]

My lead tester says ... X-Ray dental lead shields have a Bhn of 8.7 which is a tad softer than 1:30.

And gents, I have the deal of deals:
* 2x times a year - gift boxes from my hygienist (about 60#'s)
* My daughter is a dental hygienist and saves the shields for me
* Plus she has her hygienist friends save their shields too
And I get 6-8 HEAVY Flat Rate boxes a year from my daughter! [smilie=1:

[mike in co]

My lead tester says ... X-Ray dental lead shields have a Bhn of 8.7 which is a tad softer than 1:30.

And gents, I have the deal of deals:
* 2x times a year - gift boxes from my hygienist (about 60#'s)
* My daughter is a dental hygienist and saves the shields for me
* Plus she has her hygienist friends save their shields too
And I get 6-8 HEAVY Flat Rate boxes a year from my daughter! [smilie=1:

savor that stuff...they are going to digital for xrays...

mike in co

[idahoron]

The dental lead I have is .075, or 12.5 BHN on my cabin tree tester. Ron

[Shuz]

Ron--Perhaps your dental lead is from another company and not Kodak? You might check with your dentist and see what brand film he uses. We all know there are many sources for wheel weights and the composition of them will vary, prolly the same with dental x-ray lead.

[idahoron]

You might be right. I will ask next time and let you all know. Ron

[shotman]

xray lead is LEAD the reason for the 1% tin is oxidation all is required to be the same content. in xray rooms we use PURE lead sheet but it must be covered. Any exposed is 1 to 2 % tin rick