Lead

[7of7]

I have a source for about 3000 lbs of soft lead.. came off of an old saiboat that was scrapped.
I will be melting it down and making ingots out of it to sell...
Just wondering how many would be interested in it.. It won't be available until December or January, as it will take me some time to fit it into my schedule for melting it down,... between elk hunting and work, (sure do hate that four letter word ending in K) I am hoping to get it done after thanksgiving...

If there are people who wish to commit to a specific amount this is the thread to do it. I will post more information as I get this project done.

[1Shirt]

Keep us posted as you progress. Might be a lot of interest.
1Shirt!:coffee:

[docone31]

Count me in for a couple.

[montana_charlie]

I have a source for about 3000 lbs of soft lead...
It depends on what 'soft' means.

I bought several 50 pound boxes (from a member) that were also 'soft' lead.
I made up a hundred-pound batch of (supposedly) 20-1 alloy that turned out to be considerably too hard. Wasted five pounds of pure tin in the process.

Now that I have a tester, I went back to check the remaining pile.
Turns out the stuff tests at 12 BHN...which isn't what I call 'soft'...and means there is probably antimony in there, too.

If you can't provide the BHN of whatever you plan to ship, I won't be interested unless you are willing to send a free sample for me to test.

CM

[delmar]

I'd pay $52 for 70 lbs

[sargenv]

I would likely pick up one or two boxes at that price.. if after Christmas and the bills aren't that bad that is ;)

You could ingot a sample or two and water quench one, and air harden the other and have someone with a BHN tester give you an idea of what this stuff is..

My range scrap melts can vary between 8 and 14 BHN... and I water quench all of my ingots...

[7of7]

I wasn't aware that flat rate shipping for a large box went up to 13.95.. Last I knew it was about ten bucks. With that in mind, the total would be $55.95 a 70 lb box.

[Stick_man]

Depending on ingot size and shape and how you package, you should be able to get 70 lbs into a medium flat rate box. I have been able to get 70 lbs of raw stick-on wheel weights into a medium box without any difficulties. They ship for just under $10 if postage is purchased online.

[angus6]

as said before a med. flat rate box will easily hold 70 pounds of lead , I've sent several ton that way

[dominicfortune00]

I'd take 2 boxes of 70 pounds at around 50-55$ each.

[edsmith]

I am in for 2 boxes edsmith

[7of7]

I appreciate the information on the package size, and shipping. If I can get it cheaper, I will, and that will show in the total price for 70lbs.

[rtracy2001]

I'm in for a box around the January time frame. If it is all the same, I can take it in whatever form it comes, I'll make my own ingots.

Ray

[stubshaft]

I'd be in for at least 1 box @ $50 - $55 ea.. As long as it tests between 5BHN and 8BHN.

[grages]

I would go for 4 boxes @ $50 - $55 ea..

[armyrat1970]

Check the flat rate box shipping for the amount you can put in them. Even if not pure, I may be in for a box.

[mallard1]

I would be interested if this is pure lead . Let me know if you have it tested and i will take one unit if soft.

[fredj338]

I'm in for 120#-130#, should be able to get that into (2) flat rate boxes. Out here in Kalif. any kind of decent alloy is getting tough to find. PM me when you get ready. Just make sure there is no zinc in it before you start pouring up ingots. Sailboat balast can be just about anything.

[7of7]

I will be letting everyone know more when I start working on this project. Right now I am getting ready for Elk hunting. Gotta finish bluing my dads rifle, get it back together, and sighted in, as well as finish sighting in my rifle... all before November 18... Oh, I forgot, gotta show up for work too....

[jim4065]

... Oh, I forgot, gotta show up for work too....

C'mon now - you gotta get your priorities straight! ;-)

[7of7]

C'mon now - you gotta get your priorities straight! ;-)

My dad has the beginning stages of alzheimers, so, he can do something and forget about it in a couple of days... I don't feel like getting my butt kicked several times cause he forgot he already did it....LOL

It is up there on the list...

[canebreaker]

The last shipments I made in flat rate boxes was med. box 10.35. Large box 13.95.
The med. box would have cost 18.45 with kinko/fedx and 22.40 mail.

I think my doctor has alzheimers. He wants to put me back to work.

[7of7]

Still have some that hasn't been spoken for...

[JD Yellowhammer]

I can speak for some. I'll send a pm.

[delmar]

7of 7
Is the January time frame still looking good?

[7of7]

Yes, the january timeframe is still good, I will most likely smelt it all down right after christmas...

[7of7]

This project is taking more time than I expected.
Our weather here in the northwest isn't cooperating with me either, as it is now raining.
I also thought it would be much easier to cut through 5 inches of lead, and have not gotten it all cut up yet. I will keep you posted.
I do like playing with molten lead, it brings back quite a few memories of my dad teaching me to cast bullets when I was pretty young. (<14)
Please be patient.
When I get a few hundred pounds more done, I will start packaging it up for shipment, and contact you individually for payment.

[lwknight]

Melting stuff is fun. I even put milk and water jugs in the oven @300f to flatten them out.

[Tomkitty]

I would like to buy one of your 70# boxes if you still have enough to include me in the sale.

[7of7]

Due to the labor and materials I am expending on this, I am going to need to raise the price of this.
The 70 lb boxes will be $55.00 a box plus shipping.
I will get the BHN soon.

[canyon-ghost]

I'd be interested, should you have enough.

PS: casters know it's a lot of work too.

[bohokii]

wow that is a real keel haul

[randyrat]

2010 shipping went up again.
Med flat rate USPS box=$10.70
Large flate rate = $14.50
I would think twice maybe 3-4 times about 70 lb boxes. Just a word of advice,save your back for later in life.

[blackpowder man]

I would be interested in a 70lb. box. Will pm my email.

[7of7]

I was paying attention today as I was melting some of the lead. It was slush at about 480. Going by some charts on alloys, it appears that this is 30/70 tin/lead. At 600 degrees, it was very good to pour into the ingot molds.

[delmar]

I was paying attention today as I was melting some of the lead. It was slush at about 480. Going by some charts on alloys, it appears that this is 30/70 tin/lead. At 600 degrees, it was very good to pour into the ingot molds.
Would that be soft enough to make nice round balls for a percussion revolver?

[sargenv]

It will not be as soft as pure lead.. but it will be good stuff to mix with pure where Tin is desired and/or lacking.

[7of7]

Just picked up a lee hardness tester... it is 13-14 bhn.
It is just a little softer than Lyman #2 bullet lead.
I will be casting some boolits tomorrow, as well as making up some more ingots.... and will do some additional testing.

[sargenv]

13-14 is sometimes what I get when I mine the berms at the range I go to. It has come out as low as 8 and as high as 16. I must have gotten a lot of hard cast the day when I got the 16 bhn stuff.

[7of7]

I casted a few bullets from my new lee mold,... Haven't done any of that since I was about 12 or 13... anyway, they were supposed to be 158 grain, with the lee lead mix of 10lb lead to 1lb tin.
They came out at 151.4 grains. Which would support the lower lead content of the 30/70.... which melts at around 490 degrees. I was pouring some ingots, at 525 degrees,.. had to hurry as it was turning to slush as I poured... so I raised the temp to 550, and all went well.... I couldn't take a bunch of time pouring at that temp, but I didn't have to rush things.... At 600, it seems like I had all day....

[mt_sourdough]

Is there still some of this left? I would like to get my name on 70#. Thank you

[mt_sourdough]

Ok, can somebody clear some confusion? If this alloy is around 30% tin, than wouldn't it be much higher bhn rating than the 13-14 that was stated? I am still learnin all dis stuff. Wouldn't this lead be brittle? I am considering casting a dual density bullet, using a pure or close to pure lead front 1/3 of bullet and then a hard alloy back 2/3. My 300 grain bullets will be used for hunting and I am told that this will make a an excellent hunting bullet.

[7of7]

On the ammo brass trader forums, another post came up concerning the composition of this lead.
It melts at 490 degrees F has a slushy consistancy.
at 500 degrees, it is much less slushy.
At 525, it is all liquid. However, when scooped up in a ladle, it turns to slush within 15 seconds..
I casted some bullets with a lee mold for 158 grain bullets. (Lee uses 10 - 1 mix)
The bullets casted came out at 151.4 grains.
With calclulating lead tin percentages, and lead antimony percentages, it has to be either 80/20 lead/tin, or 82/18 lead/antimony.
I measured the hardness and it comes out to 14-15 bhn...
I figure with everyone here, and all this information, we should be able to come up with a probable composition...
I believe it is 80/20 lead tin, as the higher antimony content would not support hardness...

I also found this fun chart for lead and several other metals:
http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/docs/documents/1269/pb-lead-mixtures-melting-points.png

[eastwa]

I would be willing to try a box.
Send a PM when able with the info.

[warf73]

If there is some left I would take a box of it.
Drop me a PM on the addy when your ready for money.

Warf

[AviatorTroy]

Id try a box. When you are ready let us know...

[7of7]

After really looking at all the data, it really didn't seem correct. I casted a couple bullets from known pure lead, and the bullet came out light.. When I plugged this information in, everything fell into place.
This lead is 90-92% lead with 8-10% antimony.
From the chart I posted above, the 10% antimony melts at 485 degrees... the bullet falls into the correct weight based on percentages of materials..for the volume.

[sargenv]

I got mine today and I put one into my lbt BHN tester. I got about 14-15 BHN on it's scale today. I only tested one ingot. I wonder if the water quenched bullet will be any harder.. I guess I'll have to find out later..

Thanks for the shipment. The three boxes arrived beat up but intact.

[Fugowii]

Any of this stuff left? If so, please PM.

Thanks,

F

[bongo817]

Is any left? If so what quantity and what price?

[Echo]

+1 for "Any left?" and "What Price".

[7of7]

It is all sold, at least what I am selling off..
If I run across any more, you all will be the second to know...