I found a good source of pure lead. Free shipping if you buy in quantity on some items if ordered online. Also seems a relatively good source of lead shot in sizes 8.5 to 4. Rotometals Inc. is in California.
There are other vendors I am sure. But the hundred pounds of lead (2 pigs) I ordered came in two days via priority mail with no shipping cost. Nice people. Be advised that the pigs are about 3-inches thick and you need a way to cut them up in order to get them into a lead pot.
sparks seen a pig of lead placed on a bench with the end over hanging the side.Then an torch was used to melt the lead in to a ladle for final heat and pouring.Tried a power saw once and just once,the blade tends to clog up and a ax just didnt work for me.
Posts: 1236 | Location: La Grange,Maine | Registered: 11 February 2007
California sounds like a perfect place to get lead...they can't use it there!
Cutting the lead pigs...went to a friends house and he used his "saws all" with some lubricant to keep the blade cool. Took quite awhile (hour or so to cut the pig into several pieces...some of which may not yet fit into the pot). I asked the vendor for his suggestion and he said a band saw and about 3 cans of wd 40. I was ready to try an 8# splitting mall or maybe single jack and a cold chisel, but haven't done that yet. Price and compare value with smaller pieces and see if the difference adds up to be worth the cutting effort.
I use my old Sears 12" bandsaw fitted with a 1/4" skip tooth blade and paint thinner or kerosene to keep it cool and clear. I can cut 40 lb ballast pigs very easily. Nice even feed pressure and a spritz every few seconds from a spray bottle. I do it on my driveway so I can sweep up the sawdust and toss it into the pot. Kero or thinner evaporate in just a few minutes so no problems on that front. Plain ol' paint thinner or kerosene works every bit as well at 1/4 or less cost of WD 40 which is just kerosene with perfume in it.
The ballast pigs have a cross section of approx. 3x3 in.
Three Hawks
Posts: 432 | Location: Puget Sound Area | Registered: 26 May 2008
Might I suggest a potentially free source of lead. If there is a NUCLEAR pharmacy close by, mainly in larger cities, they receive radioactive material daily, all shipped in lead. I get the containers that Thallium is shipped in and they are pure lead. The half life of Thallium, used in nuclear stress tests, is 73 hours. After storage for 10 half lifes, roughly 30 days, the lead is considered radio-active free and must be disposed of in some manner. Sometimes they sell it to the metal dealers, but if you get to know the pharmacist, it can be a good deal. And no, it doesn't glow in the dark. I picked up 60 pounds this past Friday, all free....the best price.
Hey LD, It's about time I was able to put an installment on paying you back for that outstanding NORA patch knife you sent me when we were on the "old" Campfire together. I've made a sheath for it and use it as a patch knife. It really holds an edge and I just make three or four passes along the crossed stick sharpener at the end of the day and I am good to go for another day of range shooting.
