The Shop > Metal Stuff

Lead...

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RichardShute:

--- Quote from: Dean W on October 21, 2010, 07:36:46 PM ---Melt off the lead to use for shop stuff, like the hammer mentioned, or for a soft beater pad that can be handy for shaping
thin metal.  Then send the copper to the scrapper.

--- End quote ---
I wouldn't melt it off. Split the lead sheath for an inch or two at the end with side cutters or whatever, pull the cores to one side and clamp them in the vice then pull the lead sheath at 90 degrees and it'll open up like peeling a banana. Way faster, cleaner and less aggro than melting it off. You can then just chuck the lead in the pot and the copper at the scrappy. I spent many happy hours casting lead weights on a paraffin stove as a kid with all the old wire my Dad stripped out when re-wiring. Happy days

Richard

AdeV:
Richard - good idea, I'll try that on the weekend (only time I get to see the rubbish dump side of the house in daylight...), sounds a lot easier than melting it off...

Thanks all for the ideas; I have a plastic hammer which currently does all the major redesign work around the shop; and anything it can't manage, I have a series of lump & sledge hammers for...

The beater pad could be interesting.... I know a few people who might need to be on the receiving end of that...  :lol:

bigmini:

--- Quote from: AdeV on October 29, 2010, 01:23:52 PM ---Richard - good idea, I'll try that on the weekend (only time I get to see the rubbish dump side of the house in daylight...), sounds a lot easier than melting it off...

Thanks all for the ideas; I have a plastic hammer which currently does all the major redesign work around the shop; and anything it can't manage, I have a series of lump & sledge hammers for...

The beater pad could be interesting.... I know a few people who might need to be on the receiving end of that...  :lol:

--- End quote ---

Back in my workshop trainee days I made a few lead hammers. I found that adding a little bit of aluminium to the melt made the hammer last longer without compromising its non-marking properties too much. Can't remember how much I added, it was a bit trial and error, but I ended up with a soft hammer that I used for years.

tomrux:
be sort of careful about not breathing any fumes when you melt this stuff.
lead sheathed cable often has antimony in it to improve workability and resistance to work hardening/fracture.
any sort of a pink wrapper inside the cable will indicate antimony.

Tom

AdeV:
I don't recall seeing any pinkness. There's a paper wrapper inside, then the cores themselves, which are also paper wrapped (one red, one black). Thanks for the warning though, I will be careful...

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