HammerMTB
07-25-2009, 09:22 PM
I am collecting all the Pb I can get my hands on. I read here and elsewhere of the hardness qualities of different alloys.
Let me give you a few of my results, and if you'd care to, chime in with some of yours.
From some very old WW that were in a shed for years, then smelted by me: 17-18 BHN, after 3 weeks to age! Can that be right?
From x-ray backers, all smelted down: 8 BHN
From some stick-on WW- less than 5 BHN. I thought 5 BHN was pure lead. This stuff measures softer than that. Izzat right?
From a recent WW smelt: 10.5 BHN. I am going to let these age harden to see if they rise much. (oops, typo- corrected to 10.5 BHN)
Casting some of this stuff, it looks to me like I could stand to add some tin. Guess I'll head for the hardware and see if I can still buy 50/50 solder.
What have you found?
Let me give you a few of my results, and if you'd care to, chime in with some of yours.
From some very old WW that were in a shed for years, then smelted by me: 17-18 BHN, after 3 weeks to age! Can that be right?
From x-ray backers, all smelted down: 8 BHN
From some stick-on WW- less than 5 BHN. I thought 5 BHN was pure lead. This stuff measures softer than that. Izzat right?
From a recent WW smelt: 10.5 BHN. I am going to let these age harden to see if they rise much. (oops, typo- corrected to 10.5 BHN)
Casting some of this stuff, it looks to me like I could stand to add some tin. Guess I'll head for the hardware and see if I can still buy 50/50 solder.
What have you found?