Melting lead in summer

[jordanka16]

Who doesn't love melting lead when its 95 out?

Well usually I don't, but I had some free time and didn't want to waste it. I had a whole tote full of roofing lead to process, and some new NOE ingot molds to play with. They worked really well, but I think I need 2 of each size mold for a proper cadence. About 96 pounds of pure soft lead ready for whatever.

I also just got 20 lbs of Woods metal I'm not entirely sure what to do with. It seems I can add lead to it to turn it into cerrosafe for chamber casting, but that's probably more than I need.

 

[fiver]

1% bismuth acts just like antimony.
I wouldn't add any more than that, but it can easily be used up.
it also works well with a low Zinc low antimony alloy and even works quite nicelyer if you slip a little copper in the alloy. [you might even be super surprised what a 1-1-1-.3 alloy is capable of]

 

[jordanka16]

1% bismuth acts just like antimony.
I wouldn't add any more than that, but it can easily be used up.
it also works well with a low Zinc low antimony alloy and even works quite nicelyer if you slip a little copper in the alloy. [you might even be super surprised what a 1-1-1-.3 alloy is capable of]

Well at 1% bismuth it will sure last a while. I could get 20 more lbs of it if I wanted as well.

What about the cadmium in it? Will that mess with anything? I guess I can start adding it to lead to see what happens.

 

[Ian]

Cadmium is deadly in very small quantities depending on route of exposure. I'd avoid it entirely even in trace amounts if you know for sure it's there. Lots of us probably expose ourselves to the stuff inadvertently in small amounts when rendering various scrap/unknown alloys but normal PPE and precautions taken for handling lead and antimony help. Problem is cadmium dust or in extreme cases vapor exposure can get you before you know what happened. Do a little research on cadmium poisoning and decide the risk for yourself.

 

[jordanka16]

Cadmium is deadly in very small quantities depending on route of exposure. I'd avoid it entirely even in trace amounts if you know for sure it's there. Lots of us probably expose ourselves to the stuff inadvertently in small amounts when rendering various scrap/unknown alloys but normal PPE and precautions taken for handling lead and antimony help. Problem is cadmium dust or in extreme cases vapor exposure can get you before you know what happened. Do a little research on cadmium poisoning and decide the risk for yourself.

From what I read the small amount that's in there is only really dangerous if you eat it, which I won't do, or if you heat the mix to it's boiling point, also won't do. Otherwise all you can do is get it on your hands but I wear gloves. And just like regular alloy don't hover over the pot breathing in the fumes. FWIW commercial cerrosafe that people use all the time also has cadmium in it.

I appreciate the warning though, I actually normally just take a shower and change my clothes after a casting session, usually I'm sweaty and gross anyway, and I figure that helps get residue off me and out of my hair.

 

[fiver]

yep,, basic precautions really go a long way.
tiny amounts of most anything isn't a problem, there's a lot of junk in old recycled lead anyway.
indium, cadmium, cobalt, nickel, all that kind of stuff is probably in most tin or lead mixes.