How to identify alloy

[popper]

Unless you resell some, who cares. I use Roto alloy, cast my recipe and use a vice smash test to compare 'unknown' with known. If it comes out small from sizer die, it's softer. Not very scientific but works as does shoot testing.

 

[glassparman]

Well, I had him check better. He said he could scratch it with his nail but really had to push hard so he lowered it to $50. Maybe I'll grab it for that price.

 

[CWLONGSHOT]

Ha yup normal folks finger nails wont scratch Lino.

Still worthwhile @ that cost.

CW

 

[Dusty Bannister]

Please take along some muratic acid or toilet drain cleaner containing acid and scrape a clean spot on the lead. A drop will normally just darken the surface. If it produces lively bubbles, it probably is contaminated with zinc. OK, if you are casting door stops or dive weights, lousy for bullets.

 

[fiver]

i'd be on it either way.
i'd be happier if it was dead soft since that's what i need the most and have the hardest time getting.

so much so i passed on a 400+LB. pallet full of lino pigs at 65 cents a pound not too long ago.

 

[glassparman]

He was guessing on the weight . . . now he tells me. LOL.

He put it on a bathroom scale and it weighs in at 103# so I'm guessing regardless of how hard, 50¢ a pound is a good price.

I'll pick it up this weekend and see for myself.

 

[CWLONGSHOT]

i'd be on it either way.
i'd be happier if it was dead soft since that's what i need the most and have the hardest time getting.

so much so i passed on a 400+LB. pallet full of lino pigs at 65 cents a pound not too long ago.

I have been flogged for less...

 

[JWFilips]

Pure lead Is a real fixer for me! Blend and test hardness with Stadaler's! wait 3 week before testing!
I shoot low velocity. air cooled alloy. Really don't care about the make up so much is what it test in a month! Pistol -10/11 bhn! Rifle 11/ 13 bhn Don't need harder then that especially if PC coated I have not seen a difference with what is in it as much as how hard it is!
JMHO!

 

[fiver]

oh.
but wait,,, there's more.
they called them 20lbs. each because the first one they picked up and scaled had a big hole in the center from being poured too fast.
i let them know on my way out after buying '300 lbs.'

 

[glassparman]

Ok so I picked it up last night. It is 9x6.5x4 and definitely weighs 103 lbs.

I did the Staedtler pencil test and 2b was the first to scratch it so I would put it at around 11 bhn.

I still think it was a half way good deal at $50.

 

[Dusty Bannister]

That is a good hardness of alloy for a lot of uses. The price is excellent compared to what I am seeing. A lot of bullets packed in that block of lead.

 

[Cadillac Jeff]

You done well!

 

[nanuk]

i'd be happier if it was dead soft since that's what i need the most and have the hardest time getting.

Dead soft is not my problem

I bought 1/2 ingot direct from a mine

Could have bought all 18,000# at $0.20/# if I had had more $ back then

My 1/2 ingot weighs over 1T

If shipping was cheaper, I’d trade 2-1 for WW or Lino

I’m gonna try my hand at marketing balls and conicals for Muzzy shooters

 

[JustJim]

Ok so I picked it up last night. It is 9x6.5x4 and definitely weighs 103 lbs.

I did the Staedtler pencil test and 2b was the first to scratch it so I would put it at around 11 bhn.

I still think it was a half way good deal at $50.

Think of it as ~3,500-4,000 bullets for 8mm or smaller rifle, or .41 mag or smaller pistol all from one lot of alloy. That's a lot of consistency for $50.

 

[Bazoo]

That's a sweet score. I bet its a wheel weight ingot.

 

[glassparman]

Back to this thread . . .

What is the best way to cut off pieces of this block? (See picture a few posts up)

Or do I just use a little propane torch to melt some off?

 

[Michael]

I have often wondered how someone would approach cleaving smaller pieces off a large ingot or splitting one into smaller chunks.
thinking a maul might work if the alloy is not too hard. Would make for a good workout.

 

[CWLONGSHOT]

If these are lino pigs they will crack easily. I put against a edge like a curb and strike. They will snap.

 

[Rick H]

I have cut a large piece of 12-14 BHN lead up. It was a 2'x1' by however thick to add up to 107 lbs. I placed it on 2x4's on top of one of those cheap blue plastic tarps that they used to give away at Harbor Freight. I used a Sawsall with a wood cutting blade. The tarp collects the crumbs. I cut it up enough to fit in a cast iron dutch oven smelting pot. I tried an axe and chisel first. The Sawsall worked, not easy, but worked.
If I was you I would look for a big enough smelting pot and melt it all at once, pouring it into ingots.

 

[glassparman]

Good idea Rick. I have a sawsall with metal cutting blades