Any way to salvage lead from lead paint?

[Juan Jose]

A pal has a few gallons and wants to be rid of the stuff. The cans are heavy!
If there is a way to do it, I'd be happy to help but I'm not exactly sure if it can be safely done.
Anyone try this?

[GregLaROCHE]

I can’t say I’m an expert, but logically even if you could, I don’t think it would be worth your time and costs.

[mdi]

I may be wrong, but I always thought the lead in paint is lead oxide....

[Traffer]

I may be wrong, but I always thought the lead in paint is lead oxide....

Yup they call it white lead. Don't know how hard it would be to turn back into lead. Some kind of witchcraft alchemy going on for that I suppose.

[Kraschenbirn]

From my 'working on the railroad' days, I seem to recall that the 'lead' paints used as anti-corrosion coatings did not contain any straight lead; the pigments were a mix of various lead oxides. To reclaim any actual lead, you'd have to boil off the solvent(s) from the liquid, then chemically break down the remaining pigment into it's base components. Considering that you're in California, I doubt you'd get through step 1 without a visit from your friendly local EPA guys...not to mention that the fumes just might be sufficiently toxic to kill you.

Bill

[RogerDat]

I also recall the lead was lead oxide. That would be the nasty white powdery covering that lead gets as corrosion. Highly toxic if separated and not in the least useful. With a bunch of fluxing one can drive that oxide dross back into the melt but...

Let us suppose there was a grossly overestimated 2 lbs. of lead in a gallon of paint. Gallon does 300 sq. ft. of painting. All of the paint in a 10 x 10 room with 8 ft. ceiling would be worth about $2.50 or $3 if you just went to S&S and bought it. IF lead was 2# to the gallon lead content (not even close to that much) and you could recover 100% (doubtful) and the lead content was way higher than I think it is.... Work your tail off and risk your life to get a couple of bucks worth of lead?

Way easier to send $30 and get 20+ some pounds of it in a SFRB delivered and ready to go.

[JimB..]

If I had a couple buckets of lead paint I’d use it to paint something! It sticks like nothing made today.

[Hickory]

It would probably be easier to build a rocket ship and mine for lead on the next passing asteroid.

[RogerDat]

It would probably be easier to build a rocket ship and mine for lead on the next passing asteroid.

You should be aware the Chinese are already going for this same process. They can get sort of prickly when they claim something and others come near it. Even those that already owned it so.... maybe not a great source of lead. Now if one wanted 400 billion in gold there is an asteroid for that! Expect the line to form at the moon for going to claim it.

[Hickory]

You should be aware the Chinese are already going for this same process. They can get sort of prickly when they claim something and others come near it. Even those that already owned it so.... maybe not a great source of lead. Now if one wanted 400 billion in gold there is an asteroid for that! Expect the line to form at the moon for going to claim it.

I read about that.
I wonder how those space traveling sourdough prospectors will make out?

[richhodg66]

If I had a couple buckets of lead paint I’d use it to paint something! It sticks like nothing made today.

Plus 1. What color is it? I don't think I'd paint any interior house surfaces with it, especially where children are present, but outside stuff, no problem.

[Kraschenbirn]

Plus 1. What color is it? I don't think I'd paint any interior house surfaces with it, especially where children are present, but outside stuff, no problem.

You don't want to apply it to anything even remotely connected to 'residential'...take that from an old restoration contractor. Under most building codes, even exterior materials coated with lead-based paints MUST be treated as HAZMAT which means they can't go into a public landfill. Old exterior wood (siding or trim), painted with lead-base, can be left in place and painted over with an oil-base enamel or you can apply new siding over the old but, if you strip it off, it must be disposed of in accordance with EPA requirements for lead-contaminated waste. Been there, done that on a neighborhood restoration project, and it ain't cheap!!

Bill

[JimB..]

You don't want to apply it to anything even remotely connected to 'residential'...take that from an old restoration contractor. Under most building codes, even exterior materials coated with lead-based paints MUST be treated as HAZMAT which means they can't go into a public landfill. Old exterior wood (siding or trim), painted with lead-base, can be left in place and painted over with an oil-base enamel or you can apply new siding over the old but, if you strip it off, it must be disposed of in accordance with EPA requirements for lead-contaminated waste. Been there, done that on a neighborhood restoration project, and it ain't cheap!!

Bill

You’re more the expert, but when I lived in Chicago the rule was that an individual could do whatever he or she wanted with lead and asbestos removed from a residence, it only got prickly when a contractor got involved. That said, I agree with your suggestion, I’d pain the shed but not the house.

[Winger Ed.]

It might be easier to get the lead out of old gasoline.

[Kraschenbirn]

You’re more the expert, but when I lived in Chicago the rule was that an individual could do whatever he or she wanted with lead and asbestos removed from a residence, it only got prickly when a contractor got involved. That said, I agree with your suggestion, I’d pain the shed but not the house.

Many individuals repairing/upgrading their own property don't obtain a Building Permit and, therefore, there's no Building Safety Inspection upon completion of work or requirement to account for disposal of hazardous waste...which is okay as long as there's no hazmat or structural, electrical, or plumbing beyond limits of local codes. On the other hand, if the work does fall under code and the owner fails to obtain a permit and gets caught...it can get very sticky. Knew of a case once where a homeowner didn't bother with an electrical permit and had to rip out all the drywall and insulation from a family-room addition to prevent the electrical inspector from tagging the whole house as 'Unsafe for Occupancy'.

Bill

[NyFirefighter357]

I wouldn't use that paint now, first test done to a home for sale would be lead testing, inside or out you may cause problems. Especially in a place like Cali, you'd have to be crazy to use it. Once found/reported you'll need a certified company to remove it...$$$$$$.

California Civil Code Section 1941.1; California Health & Safety Code Sections 17961, 17980, 124130, 17920.10, 105251 to 105257

Deems a building to be in violation of the State Housing Law if it contains lead hazards, and requires local enforcement agencies to enforce provisions related to lead hazards. Makes it a crime for a person to engage in specified acts related to lead hazard evaluation, abatement, and lead-related constructions courses, unless certified or accredited by the Department. Permits local enforcement agencies to order the abatement of lead hazards or issue a cease and desist order in response to lead hazards.

Real Estate Disclosure Requirements

(California Civil Code Sections 1102 to 1102.16)

Requires the disclosure of known lead-based paint hazards upon sale of a property.
http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/fa...2.&article=1.5.


http://www.homesafetraining.com/pdfs/CAregsHandOut.pdf