pig identification?

[CiDirkona]

A buddy of mine got a few of these he'd like me to sell for him, but doesn't know what alloy they are:

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a110/cidirkona/SU1BRzAyOTUuanBn.jpg
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a110/cidirkona/SU1BRzAyOTYuanBn.jpg

Is there any way to determine the alloy without melting down a chunk? They weigh 64.0 lb each. A staple from a staple gun seems to sink into them further than it does a standard wheel weight ingot, and it's way too large to melt a NRA-comparative squish test sample with my tiny little 2qt pot.

Thanks!

[sqlbullet]

Metalex (http://www.metalexleadrecycling.com/index.php?page=8&section=1)

This is almost certainly what you have. Unfortunately, unless the pig is marked, even they may not be able to tell you what it is. Since your comparison to WW shows it to be softer than WW, and they list 2.75% as their lowest antimony alloy, other than pure, I would guess you have pure.

[southpaw]

Break a small piece off and do a specific gravity test on it. It will atleast let you know if it is pure or a mix.

Jerry Jr.

EDIT: http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=91310

Post 5 explains it pretty well

[ph4570]

Metalex (http://www.metalexleadrecycling.com/index.php?page=8&section=1)

This is almost certainly what you have. Unfortunately, unless the pig is marked, even they may not be able to tell you what it is. Since your comparison to WW shows it to be softer than WW, and they list 2.75% as their lowest antimony alloy, other than pure, I would guess you have pure.

I require a few of the "sows" in the pic from their website. I would need a larger pot to accommodate it.

[deltaenterprizes]

If it goes "thud" when you drop it and does not ring, I would say it is pure lead.

[CiDirkona]

I did the 'staple gun' test to it and while I usually get 1/4 to 1/3 penetration in WW ingots, this embeds the both legs of the staple, and doesn't ring when I drop it, so I'm leaning towards the 99.98% lead pigs.

Man, one of those sows would be nice, but I can't even break this pig apart!

Thanks for your help guys. If I could break a piece off, I would, but this stuff is a pita to even handle!

[lwknight]

You never can say for sure by appearances but the bluish hues and shape of the shrinkage depression look like pure lead to me.
With that plus everything else you described , I would bet big time on pure lead.

[CiDirkona]

I was able to gouge a wedge into the side of one, and it was pretty dark blue/grey inside, and not the silvery beauty I'm used to with wheel weights, so I'm leaning in the same direction.

Thank you everyone for your experience and input!