Melting Lead?

[ricky5042]

Hi all I am just getting into cannoning and I need to melt some lead down into ingots before I start to melting it down into balls Smiley so any tips guys? ie: best place to get lead and what type, what flux, best type of pot ect also does anyone know where to get a small soup ladle with a pouring spout or will I have to buy a lee one?
Thanks

Rick

 

[hanshi]

Actually, pure (soft) lead doesn't have to be fluxed. Just stir it and impurities will come to the top and can be skimmed off if you wish. Fluxing is used to keep alloys from separating; lead is not an alloy so doesn't need fluxing.

 

[ricky5042]

Actually, pure (soft) lead doesn't have to be fluxed. Just stir it and impurities will come to the top and can be skimmed off if you wish. Fluxing is used to keep alloys from separating; lead is not an alloy so doesn't need fluxing.

Hi thanks for that most of the vids iv seen they all flux with wax and or saw dust! and I did wonder if it was necessary.

Rick

 

[rodwha]

The recycling center will sell at a good price. I can get it at $1/lb.

I've read of many who talk to roofers and plumbers for free scraps.

The shooting range may give you what's in their dirt backstop, but it won't be pure.

 

[ricky5042]

The recycling center will sell at a good price. I can get it at $1/lb.

I've read of many who talk to roofers and plumbers for free scraps.

The shooting range may give you what's in their dirt backstop, but it won't be pure.

Hi im going tomoz to see what the scrap yard will sell it for, my club wont let me sift for lead as they collect it and put it in the kitty for Christmas doo I have a friend who letting me have some on Saturday

Rick

 

[Many Klatch]

Jeff Tanner http://www.jt-bullet-moulds.co.uk/moulds.htm sells molds for cannons that make a hollow ball. Solid lead cannon ball can cause a serious pressure spike. They also take a lot less lead to make.

Many Klatch

 

[George T.]

What size bore. I don't think that the larger cannons use lead.

Geo. T.

 

[ricky5042]

Jeff Tanner http://www.jt-bullet-moulds.co.uk/moulds.htm sells molds for cannons that make a hollow ball. Solid lead cannon ball can cause a serious pressure spike. They also take a lot less lead to make.

Many Klatch

Thanks il check them out
Its .69 cal so not huge, one of the guys at my club has a .73 cal and he uses solid balls and yes very heavy so if I can make hollow ones I shouldn't need as much powder either so will save a few pennies
Thanks

Rick

 

[Rifleman1776]

Antique shops and flea markets are your friends for casting equipment.
Cannons do not require pure lead. And, for you that is a good thing. All kinds of scrap, non-pure, leads are available at salvage yards.
Finding pure lead has become very difficult. Just spread the word you are looking for some and you might just get a call saying "come and get this junk for free".

 

[ricky5042]

Antique shops and flea markets are your friends for casting equipment.
Cannons do not require pure lead. And, for you that is a good thing. All kinds of scrap, non-pure, leads are available at salvage yards.
Finding pure lead has become very difficult. Just spread the word you are looking for some and you might just get a call saying "come and get this junk for free".

Hi thanks iv put the word out and im picking some up at the weekend and my local scrap dealer sells it for £1.60 a kilo oh is there any advantage in quenching them over letting them cool naturally?

Rick

 

[Many Klatch]

Ricky, when you said cannon I was thinking it was a lot larger bore than .69. If you aren't going to shoot it with roundball just a whole lot, I'd just buy some precast ball from Track of the Wolf http://www.trackofthewolf.com/List/Item.aspx/127/3 and forget about the whole casting thing.

Many Klatch

 

[ricky5042]

Ricky, when you said cannon I was thinking it was a lot larger bore than .69. If you aren't going to shoot it with roundball just a whole lot, I'd just buy some precast ball from Track of the Wolf http://www.trackofthewolf.com/List/Item.aspx/127/3 and forget about the whole casting thing.

Many Klatch

Hi thanks il have a look

Rick