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» Stats |
Members: 7,991
Threads: 13,373
Posts: 101,948
Top Poster: nova (1,737)
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| Welcome to our newest member, bassingaround |
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June 29th, 2008
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Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Arkansas
Posts: 48
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Lead Quality
I bought about 75 lbs of soft lead from a metal recycler and when I melted it down, it had alot of blue and copper stuff floating on the top. I would scoop it off then in a minute or two, more copper looking stuff on top. I never seemed to get it all of, it would just keep coming back. When I finally poured it into ingots, the ingots didn't have that brilliant 'silver-chrome' look to them, but more of a blue hue to them. Is this lead worth saving?
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June 29th, 2008
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TU Club Member
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: NE Oklahoma
Posts: 383
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Re: Lead Quality
The lead is definitely worth saving. The colored stuff that surfaces is just more impurities in the lead. I get the same thing but once I have made my ingots for later use in the melting pot, I don't worry about it. When it returns in the melting pot, I just skim it off to the side before I dip with the ladle. It never seems to build up too much to worry about and don't seem to effect the pour any.
__________________
George Reeves
H&P Tackle
Welch, OK
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June 29th, 2008
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Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Arkansas
Posts: 48
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Re: Lead Quality
I was just worried that it might have too much copper in it??? That copper looking color and the blue made me wonder if the lead would be tough enough. Thanks for your reply.
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June 29th, 2008
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Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Arkansas
Posts: 48
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Re: Lead Quality
I also had 2 5 lb bars from Doe Run that I bought from a junk dealer. When I melted them down individually, one had a nice brilliant shine to it and the other had some blue at the top.
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June 29th, 2008
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TU Club Member
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: NE Oklahoma
Posts: 383
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Re: Lead Quality
Javelin,
You won't be melting any copper in your lead pot, it doesn't get anywhere near hot enough to melt copper. Not sure what causes that color, but it is not copper. It sounds like the Doe Run stuff might have some tin in it which would give the shiny appearance. It may not be as soft as pure lead would be. Either way, everything you have is good to use for your lures. Have fun.
__________________
George Reeves
H&P Tackle
Welch, OK
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June 29th, 2008
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Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Arkansas
Posts: 48
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Re: Lead Quality
Thanks
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June 29th, 2008
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Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Arkansas
Posts: 48
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Re: Lead Quality
Do you think I should add a little hard lead to it for my spinnerbaits?
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June 29th, 2008
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Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Northern California
Posts: 234
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Re: Lead Quality
Quote:
Originally Posted by Javelin
I bought about 75 lbs of soft lead from a metal recycler and when I melted it down, it had alot of blue and copper stuff floating on the top. I would scoop it off then in a minute or two, more copper looking stuff on top. I never seemed to get it all of, it would just keep coming back.
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That "copper and blue" stuff is composed of oxides of lead, and is not caused by any contaminant in the lead. As a matter of fact, that copper and blue stuff is a good indication that you have fairly pure lead with no contaminants or significant alloying elements. If the lead had any significant alloy components, it would not likely turn that characteristic color.
What happened, simply, is that the lead was overheated. And that's why the copper and blue oxides just keep coming back. You can't scoop the contaminant off, because it's just lead that you're removing. Even if the lead is 100% pure, when overheated it will turn yellowish, and then coppery or blue.
Solution: Just reduce the heat a bit! 
Quote:
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When I finally poured it into ingots, the ingots didn't have that brilliant 'silver-chrome' look to them, but more of a blue hue to them. Is this lead worth saving?
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Again, what you're seeing is the lead becoming oxidised a bit. If you reduce heat slightly, and flux before pouring ingots-- which is the proper procedure-- the ingots will be shiny. The hotter ya get 'em, the less shiny they'll be. Yup, the lead is worth saving.
I know it's common to blame anything unexpected on "contaminants" in lead, but I'm sure someone with a lot of lead pouring experience will confirm my advice here.
Be safe and best of luck!
Last edited by sagacious; June 29th, 2008 at 11:17 PM.
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June 30th, 2008
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Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Big Island HI
Posts: 282
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Re: Lead Quality
Agree with "sagacious" that blue, copper, or gold oxide crust on an overheated melt is usually an indicator of good soft lead, as is this same appearance on a hardened ingot. Another indicator of lead purity I've noticed is depressed veins on the top ingot surface exposed to air.The more hardening metals alloyed into the lead the more even and satin shiny the top ingot surface. In my experience mirror shiny is a tin content indicator.
Last edited by hawnjigs; June 30th, 2008 at 12:59 AM.
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June 30th, 2008
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Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: in a hourse
Posts: 10
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Re: Lead Quality
Quote:
Originally Posted by sagacious
Again, what you're seeing is the lead becoming oxidised a bit. If you reduce heat slightly, and flux before pouring ingots-- which is the proper procedure-- the ingots will be shiny. The hotter ya get 'em, the less shiny they'll be. Yup, the lead is worth saving.
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Err...'scuse a Newbie question here....but what is flux and how does one do it to lead?
Thanks
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