Reply With QuoteMelt it. The lead will go down and everything else will float and you scoop it off and dispose of it. Good find. If you make a sifter out of 1/4" hardware cloth you might get more without having to pick em out one by one.
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Bullet lead
I've never dealt with any pouring before so please excuse if this is a stupid question. I have a coffee can full of spent lead, some copper jacketed, some full lead, from a bullet trap I cleaned out at work. Is it worth fooling with to melt down and reuse or should I chunk it?
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Melt it. The lead will go down and everything else will float and you scoop it off and dispose of it. Good find. If you make a sifter out of 1/4" hardware cloth you might get more without having to pick em out one by one.
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I figured something along these lines, but again I have no clue. Also have about 4 dozen 12 oz duck decoy weights as well. Guess I need to take up another hobby for rainy days!
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Yep as mentioned you will skim off impurities. The secret to making lead stuff is the temperature.If the lead is at the right temp it flows and fills the mold correctly. Too cold..no good...too hot no good. I use to pour sinkers for fishing in the major river systems.I would lose a lot fishing and snagging in the riprap and structure. Poured thousands...never wore gloves when handling them while breaking off the sprues and stuff,probably hung my head over the pot too much....probably shouldn't do that.
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Respirator buy a good one and use good ventilation
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I do all my reclaiming outside and pour jigs in front of a window with a fan pulling the air out. I always ask folks that would come in if they smelled lead, and they always said no, so I guess it was doing what it was supposed to.
When reclaiming you never know what else might be mixed in and melt off when remelted. I get some roofing vent stack covers that are pure lead, but they come with asphalt and other sealers. Best done with lots of ventilation and don't stand downwind. Wheel weights work good too and have grease and oil and God knows what the guys throw in the bucket before you get it. You see where I'm going, just think ahead and be careful of the temps.
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Self preservation>free jig lead! Thanks for all the tips. My grandpa used to pour his own jigs and I'd like to dabble with it. I know lots of people do it for money but I just like throwing wild stuff together and trying it out. Appreciate the input everybody!
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Mo, go on YouTube. Bunch of videos on melting and fluxing lead. Some pretty long and complicated but worth watching in the long run. If you have a fish cooker, get and old pot to use for nothing but melting lead and a good ladle. Need some thing to pour your ingots in one you get it cleaned. I use a little 1 lb weight pan mold I got from grizzly. They are perfect for your pouring pot. If you got questions just ask. Lots of experience on here. SAFTEY.
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Charlie Weaver USN/ENC 1965-1979
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Thanks Charlie... Hope to be posting again soon for some pouring pointers
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Do your separating outdoors if you can. I use the fish cooker and pot, ladle method. The lil woman wanted a new Teflon cupcake pan so I took the old ones and use them for lead ingots. Just pour in the size I want. Enjoy and be safe my friend.
