Using Babbitt Ingots for Casting Metal

[Riceguy]

Does anyone use Babbitt Ingots as a source of tin for Bullet casting?

Roto Metals say theirs is 90-92% tin, 4-5% Antimony, 4-5% copper.

Mine one bar said Nickel XXXX, and the other 5# bar just says Hewitts Special Hardened Babbitt Metal. No other stamping or Number.

[NyFirefighter357]

I don't personally but I know people who do. They usually buy off of the auction site.

[dtknowles]

I bought some but have not used it yet.

Tim

[beshears]

I have some scrap babbit and use 1 lb babbit to 20 lbs soft lead. Shoot everything frin 32-20 to 50-90

[bangerjim]

There are at least 15 different alloys and types of Babbitt alloy, so you need to research the number designation stamped in the ingots you have. All vary WIDELY as to Sn. I have at least 3 different types, all stamped with the alloy # from the foundry.

Good stuff..............IF you know hat is in there!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

banger

[Wots]

I use it. As it was explained to me use it as tin.

[MostlyLeverGuns]

Long ago,1964/5? my uncle regularly brought Babbit flashing home from the Bethlehem Steel for me to cast my 31141 bullets. I had no one advising me in reloading or casting at the age of 14, only books. The Babbitt shot OK if I was careful and it was well-lubed with the black Lyman graphite(?) lube, it would 'lead'(tin? the barrel if shot too fast in my Microgroove 30-30. The bullets were very hard, I have no idea which Babbitt it was, it did cast very nicely and I do remember a coppery sheen in the pot.

[oley55]

Long ago,1964/5? my uncle regularly brought Babbit flashing home from the Bethlehem Steel for me to cast my 31141 bullets. I had no one advising me in reloading or casting at the age of 14, only books. The Babbitt shot OK if I was careful and it was well-lubed with the black Lyman graphite(?) lube, it would 'lead'(tin? the barrel if shot too fast in my Microgroove 30-30. The bullets were very hard, I have no idea which Babbitt it was, it did cast very nicely and I do remember a coppery sheen in the pot.

Off topic, but isn't it amazing the details we remember from when we were young, while we can't remember the details from something we did 6 months ago?

[JSnover]

I use it. Bought some tin babbit from a member (he analyzed it and included the specs). Sn content was over 90% so I poured it into 1lb and 1/2lb ingots and add use it to make my 16::1 alloy

[243winxb]

The 5% copper may plug a bottom pour spout of a Lee 10 lb pot.

Blended with other alloy, may not be an issure.

[William Yanda]

There are 47 different known recipes for Babbitt, or to say it another way, Babbitt can vary widely in its composition.

[rockrat]

I use it, but mainly to add copper to my alloy. I then adjust the tin content with bars of solder I picked up from the scrap yard (still in factory box!!)

[Budzilla 19]

#11 Babbitt-86%SN, 10.6%SB, balance is Cu. Use it like tin, it works great. That’s what I have and I couldn’t beat the price.

[gpidaho]

The 5% copper may plug a bottom pour spout of a Lee 10 lb pot.

Blended with other alloy, may not be an issure. I have used copper hard babbit to good effect but as mentioned if you use a little too much, you will have bottom pour spout freeze. I was lucky enough to have been gifted about 30lbs. of copper hard from an old friends machine shop. Gp

[Martin Luber]

Why would the copper freeze the bottom spout? If it came out of solution, it would float.

If it stays dissolved are you suggesting that it changes phase with a slight temperature drop? Like alpha and beta phase lead and tin in a coler mix?

If so, would that problem be eliminated at a higher casting temperature?

Thanks

[gpidaho]

Martin: Me not knowing the science or anything about alpha or beta phases it would be hard for me to say. I can assure you if used in moderation the bit of copper added is a good thing but if too much copper is added to your alloy bottom pour spouts will freeze. Gp

[243winxb]

I was given some Babbitt metal or bearing metal years ago. When melted it acted like a thick soup at maximum heat. Not good for casting. Kept plugging the bottom pour.
I read in an old American Rifleman Magazine how to get copper out. Slowly bring the cold alloy up till it just starts to melt.
The surface will look like oatmeal. Skim this off. This gets rid of the copper. But antimony may go too.

Just how i remember it?

[JSnover]

In my case the copper content is so low and the tin is so high, the amount I add to my pot results in about .4% copper in my finished alloy. Not enough to worry about. If I wanted to increase the copper to any meaningful amount I'd end up with way too much tin and antimony. No need to waste either of those.

[phidelt208]

I use it like tin and it works great, super silky pours is the only way I can describe it.

[Scrounge]

Does anyone use Babbitt Ingots as a source of tin for Bullet casting?

Roto Metals say theirs is 90-92% tin, 4-5% Antimony, 4-5% copper.

Mine one bar said Nickel XXXX, and the other 5# bar just says Hewitts Special Hardened Babbitt Metal. No other stamping or Number.

I've bought several ingots of Babbitt to use for bearings in old machine tools. I'm not wasting it on bullets. I can get lead for that. YMMV.

Bill

[glicerin]

Ni or Cu babbit are still mostly tin(80-90%). I suspect that ni-cu are included as compounds-salts? Use as an excellent source of tin.