Pure lead, or otherwise?

[Corner Pocket]

A friend of mine just gave me a big bar of lead. I'd guess it to weigh 25 pounds or more. Is there a way to test this stuff to see if it needs to have some antimony mixed with it to harden it up? Thanks!

Corner Pocket

 

[Ridgerunner665]

Brinell hardness tester...pure lead should test between 4 and 5. (too soft for most things, will work in muzzle loaders)

 

[bullseye308]

You could slowly heat it up and see what temp it melts at. It won't tell you what is in it, but it can tell you if it is pure or not.

 

[noylj]

There is always the old thumb scratch test. Is the bar blue? If so, it is just lead.

 

[fecmech]

Drop the bar on concrete, if it rings at all it probably has some antimony, if it just goes "thud" it's lead.

 

[ReloaderFred]

The drop test is the quickest, even though it's not scientific. Most testers require a bullet size object to test, except for the LEE. My SAECO lead hardness tester requires a bullet, but gives consistant readings.

Hope this helps.

Fred

 

[snuffy]

Do the "bars" look like these?



If so, then it's linotype, or some kind of lead cast in a linotype PIG mold. Linotype pigs were made that way so they could be lowered into the melted lead in the pot to replenish the lead supply to the type machine.

If it's lino, then it's very hard if used as is. You would need to dilute it with soft lead like pure lead, or wheel weights to make bullets for handguns.

 

[Fatelvis]

Show a pic of the bar. Chances are good we can tell you what it is by looking at it.