auto body lead

[lylejb]

does anyone know what's in auto body lead ( yeah, i know that's wayyyy old):wink:

is it pure lead? has anybody here used it?

Thanks,

LB

[Johnch]

Most of the time it is 50/50 lead tin

I have a bunch I scored a while back under the casting bench in 1 lb sticks

John

[kywoodwrkr]

Always thought it was 70/30 or 60/40.
Actually there are a couple of % variations I think.
http://www.eastwood.com/autobody/leading-body-solder/body-solder-stick-1-4-lb.html
Eastwood sells it.
Dave

[leadman]

When I was young (a long time ago) one of my neighbors was a bodyman. He did repairs on the side at home. He showed me how to use lead to fill the repairs or seams in the bodies.
Don't know the exact mix, but it was not real hard like WW alloy. My quess is mostly lead with tin back then. Now might be alot more tin than lead.

[lylejb]

so, it sounds like good stuff to have for the tin content, to be used like solder.

THANKS.

LB

[anachronism]

It's probably spoiled by now. Better send it to me for testing...

[briang]

Stuff has a pretty low melting point IIRC.

[bgokk]

I just today found 24 1/2 bars, marked "Dutch Boy Auto Body Solder N L CO Tin 30%". This was in some stuff that a man that I used to work with gave me when he moved to another state.

Make that yesterday IT'S AFTER 3 AM!!!!

[XBT]

Always thought it was 70/30 or 60/40.
Actually there are a couple of % variations I think.
http://www.eastwood.com/autobody/leading-body-solder/body-solder-stick-1-4-lb.html
Eastwood sells it.
Dave


Me too. All I have ever seen was 70/30 or 60/40 lead/tin. Good stuff.

[imashooter2]

Body solders are low tin high lead to provide as long a slush stage as possible.

[Dale53]

I used to run a large body shop (for the local Chevrolet dealership). We used 80/20 lead/tin ( it was in 1964 and we were the only LEAD ONLY shop in this city of 70,000). Then, nearly everyone had converted to fiber glass filler. I don't know, but I would guess, that there isn't a shop in this area that would even KNOW how to use lead.

By the way, in my stash, I STILL have some body solder in bars...

Dale53

[mpmarty]

I used Star body solder it was 60/40 as I recall and was extruded in five point star shape in long sticks. Wish I still had a bunch.

[longhorn47]

You should not use auto body lead now listen to the word LEAD it is unsafe it will kill you just send it to me and I know how to take care of it in a safe maner you are welcome

[Rusty W]

mpmarty I used Star body solder it was 60/40 as I recall and was extruded in five point star shape in long sticks. Wish I still had a bunch [/QUOTE][/QUOTE]

Did it look something like this? I have a few sticks and was wondering what it was. It has Federated Star with 3 stars stamped before and after the name.

[jameslovesjammie]

Don't know the lead composition, but I do know you have to tin the steel before, during, and after leading. Lead is quite a bet better than Bondo in that Bondo doesn't flex. If you've got a large dent it is better to lead because Bondo will break itself free where as lead won't. I think the only guys who do it anymore are the custom shops.

[Echo]

I really believe the body lead is no more than 50% tin, probably more like 40%, or down to 20% as someone said. Sixty/forty is eutectic - doesn't go to a plastic (clay-like) stage when heated, but goes directly to a liquid stage. Bad for pushing around on a car body. Can't push a liquid.