Scrap Yard Score! (Pictures)

[Hanzy4200]

I made a trip to my local scrapyard yesterday. I intended to look for some pure lead for slug casting. They usually have some lying around. I couldn't fill my bucket fast enough when I opened the lid of the dump container. A large spool of solder, probably 2-3 lbs and a folded up ball of solder, at least 4 lb. After I pulled those, I then noticed a couple unmarked solder bars, and full bar of pure tin! What a score! All for $.40 a lb. And I picked up 30 lb of nice roof flashing that's as pure as snow. I can almost tear it with my hands. This is the 3rd time I've scored tin solder at this yard. If you have one in your area, it might pay to drop by from time to time.

One bar (two small pieces) is stamped "cast iron solder". It is very hard, but clearly a lead alloy. Any idea what it might be? Also, the birds nest of solder has a darker hue to it than the spool. I'm not a solder expert, so I'm unsure of what that implies. Any input appreciated.

I seem to remember a topic being discussed previously regarding a member here who offers metallurgy testing. Is there a member or place that will do this for a reasonable price?

[fc60]

Greetings,

Does the Scrap Yard have an X-Ray scanner?

Since you buy from them ($$$$) they may scan one or two pieces for free.

The Tin bar is self evident.

Sort the remainder into similar lots and melt down enough to cast a few clean ingots for analysis.

Cheers,

Dave

[Hanzy4200]

That's a good idea Dave. I have doubts, as it's a small town yard. It's actually built in the corner lot of a dairy farm. Worth a ask though.

[oley55]

That's a good idea Dave. I have doubts, as it's a small town yard. It's actually built in the corner lot of a dairy farm. Worth a ask though.

not that good of an idea! after they scan it and realize they are giving away tin/tin alloys for cheaper than cheap they just may start paying attention to what goes an out of that bin.

[Winger Ed.]

One bar (two small pieces) is stamped "cast iron solder". It is very hard, but clearly a lead alloy. Any idea what it might be? Also, the birds nest of solder has a darker hue to it than the spool.

The darker solder- is probably kind of old, and/or doesn't have much tin in it.
Old rolls of 60/40 and even 50/50 would turn gray after a couple years.
It's been on the way out for a long time, and is sort of hard to find anymore.

Since about the 80s, you had to use 95/5 on Copper water lines to meet code requirements.
Every once in awhile you'd run into copper drain lines where you could still use Lead based solder,
but it was so rare- it wasn't worth the trouble to go find a roll of it. So everybody just used 95/5 on it too.


The cast iron solder was probably marketed to Plumbers putting together the old school cast iron sewer lines.
What little bit of it I did years ago, we just used more or less pure Lead with a few feet of 95/5 to help the flow.

Depending on the application, there may have been some places where the higher alloy stuff was called for.

[lightman]

Great Score! And you can't beat the price.

[BNE]

Member BNE still does XrF testing. PM him ( me! ) for the details.

BNE

[elk hunter]

You're lucky to have a scrap yard that will sell lead. A few years ago I tried to buy lead and cartridge cases that had been turned in, No Go. The guy told me there was a federal law that prohibited him selling any of it to private parties. He could only sell to authorized recyclers. Even most of the local tire shops wouldn't sell wheel weights to individuals. I even tried the local radiator shop. They too said they couldn't sell to anybody but a recycler. I just walked away thinking "I wish the government would quit trying to save me from myself".

[Hossfly]

I think all boolit casters are recyclers.

[Beagle333]

My scrap yard stopped all sales to the public several years ago. You're lucky. Happy hunting!

[PhatForrest]

The same shady folks that don't have a problem buying catalytic converters from thieves.

[Hogtamer]

^^^^^^^
Or copper wire stripped from new constuction