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Posted: 4/26/2017 10:30:47 PM EDT
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I smelt all the lead I get in a large cast iron pot and flux with saw dust 2 times. The pot holds about 70 pounds +\-
I first make 25 pound bricks just for the ease but when I need to make smaller pucks I melt one or two bricks down and flux again but this time I add a candle (heard this was good) so it gets cleaned a 3rd time. Well I recently made about 75 pounds of 1/2 pound pucks and left them in a 5gallon bucket on my porch where I do my casting. I noticed severe color variations after about 3 months in the pucks. Yes I did manage to get some liquid in with them and I know that the white residue is from that. I found what looks like rust on some of them. The lead is sourced from old telephone junctions so I know it has a tin content to them or at least that is what I read. The pics are all from the same bucket and smelting session so any input would help. Attached File This is how the bricks are kept Attached File Rust!!!!! Attached File Attached File Attached File |
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How the lead is in the bucket
Attached File Good lead in the same bucket Attached File Attached File |
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Lead doesn't rust. Just something that reacted to the lead. Dissimilar metal corrosion perhaps.
Just melt as you intended when you need it. Use sawdust every time you flux, which is every time you melt your lead. Read the chapter (4) on fluxing for more. http://www.lasc.us/Fryxell_Book_Contents.htm |
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I once had a bit of surface rust form in my melting pot and had a similar outcome on my ingots with a light fluxing.
On my next melting session I fluxed heavy with pine animal bedding pretty heavy and they have been fine ever since. At any rate I wouldn't be too worried about it and just clean them up before casting |
My guess, high iron contend with a poor flux job. Iron will rust. Whats in scrap lead? Some of everything.  The samples which had been hardened as described were also analyzed for metal content and had the following metal content:______________________________________ metal wt. %______________________________________ Copper 0.038 Arsenic 0.16 Antimony 3.0 Tin 0.25 Zinc 0.0001 Cadmium 0.0001 Nickel <.0001 Bismuth 0.018 Silver 0.0038 Tellurium 0.0015 Sulfur 0.0005 Iron <.0001 Lead Balance_ If you own a hardness tester, even better. Bullet Sizes & Weights – How to Vary Them
The bullet diameters and weights presented in this list are based on the use of Taracorp’s Lawrence Magnum bullet alloy (2% tin, 6% antimony, 1/4% arsenic, 91.75% lead). Bullet diameters and weights will vary considerably depending on the lead casting alloy used. This variation can be as much as 1/2% on the diameter, and 8% on the weight among the most commonly used casting alloys. For example, a .358-158 grain bullet might show a diameter variation of .002", and a 13 grain difference in weight. Of the most commonly used alloys, wheel weights (.5% tin, 4% antimony, 95% lead) will produce bullets having the smallest diameter and heaviest weight, with such bullets running approximately .3% smaller in diameter and 3% heavier than bullets cast with Taracorp's metal. Linotype will produce bullets with the largest diameter and lightest weights. This alloy will produce bullets approximately 1/10% larger and 3% lighter than Taracorp. Other alloys of tin and antimony, with antimony content above 5%, will produce bullets with diameters and weights falling between those cast from wheel weights and linotype. Alloys containing little or no antimony will cast considerably smaller than wheel weights and in some cases will produce bullets too small for adequate sizing. Within the limitations given above, the weight and diameter of a cast bullet can be adjusted by varying the alloy’s antimony content. The size and weight of bullets of a given alloy will also vary according to casting temperature. Higher temperatures will result in greater shrinkage as the bullet cools, thereby producing a slightly smaller and lighter bullet than one cast of the same alloy at a lower temperature. |
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