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Offline Stape

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Making an alloy?
« on: March 10, 2013, 05:23:05 PM »
I was at the salvage yard the other day buying some lead, and they have tons of old sheet lead, looks like roof flashing.  So my question is, how do I mix up an alloy? Do you do it by weight, as in 20 lbs lead and one part tin?  What do you use for tin?  Bar solder?   I usually use wheel weights but those are getting hard to find in these parts.
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Offline Hairy Chest

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Re: Making an alloy?
« Reply #1 on: March 11, 2013, 03:41:23 PM »
Just get some Super Hard Alloy, a bar of tin from Rotometals, mag shot, Marvelux and a 5 gallon bucket of water and you will be making bullets that are second to none.  Trust me, there's nothing that will hit a coke can harder than an LBT WFN or LFN.  I launched a soup can 30 yards with an LBT WLN and it blew the can to smithereens and it's accurate to boot.  The gun though has to be capable and by there I see limits.  But it is good to know what it can do and I'll tell you, there is nothing better than cast bullets moving at jacketed, or better, performance. 
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Offline Stape

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Re: Making an alloy?
« Reply #2 on: March 11, 2013, 11:59:14 PM »
What's your ratio?
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Offline Hairy Chest

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Re: Making an alloy?
« Reply #3 on: March 12, 2013, 05:46:16 AM »
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Offline Hairy Chest

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Re: Making an alloy?
« Reply #4 on: March 14, 2013, 05:26:29 AM »
Quote from: Hairy Chest on March 12, 2013, 05:46:16 AM
Quote from: Stape on March 11, 2013, 11:59:14 PM
What's your ratio?

92, 6, 2

Or you can add internet bought bullets.  I had some BTB's that horribly leaded my barrel.  I added a few dozen to the pot and that provided the tin I needed. 
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Offline Ranch13

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Re: Making an alloy?
« Reply #5 on: March 14, 2013, 06:31:52 AM »
Quote from: Stape on March 10, 2013, 05:23:05 PM
I was at the salvage yard the other day buying some lead, and they have tons of old sheet lead, looks like roof flashing.  So my question is, how do I mix up an alloy? Do you do it by weight, as in 20 lbs lead and one part tin?  What do you use for tin?  Bar solder?   I usually use wheel weights but those are getting hard to find in these parts.
Yes if you are looking to make 20-1 you need 20lbs of lead to 1 lb of tin, or if your pot is smaller then 10lbs lead to 1/2 lb of tin etc... If you use bar solder then you'll end up with a little anitmony which will harden the alloy a bit more. The main thing is to make your alloy consistant from batch to batch.
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Offline Hairy Chest

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Re: Making an alloy?
« Reply #6 on: March 14, 2013, 08:01:48 AM »
Quote from: Ranch13 on March 14, 2013, 06:31:52 AM
Quote from: Stape on March 10, 2013, 05:23:05 PM
I was at the salvage yard the other day buying some lead, and they have tons of old sheet lead, looks like roof flashing.  So my question is, how do I mix up an alloy? Do you do it by weight, as in 20 lbs lead and one part tin?  What do you use for tin?  Bar solder?   I usually use wheel weights but those are getting hard to find in these parts.
Yes if you are looking to make 20-1 you need 20lbs of lead to 1 lb of tin, or if your pot is smaller then 10lbs lead to 1/2 lb of tin etc... If you use bar solder then you'll end up with a little anitmony which will harden the alloy a bit more. The main thing is to make your alloy consistant from batch to batch.

1/2 # of tin with 10#'s of lead?  I sometimes had to resort to using tin and when I do I use 6" of a 1/2 # roll of lead-free solder with a 20# pot of lead. The roll lasts for thousands of bullets.  But that is because I don't rely on tin.  Tin is only pinched if there is a fill-out problem.  Or if I am making a 2-part bullet that has a soft point, I need a ratio of 6 to 1 lead/tin so I can even seat the bullet. 
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Study after study has shown how dangerous distracted driving is yet people continue to talk on their cell phones while driving. Driving in the U.S. requires your full attention. Many states and countries have made it illegal to use a cell phone while operating a motor vehicle and the federal government should follow their lead. Banning the use of cell phones while driving would have the added benefit of making the no-texting law enforceable.

Offline Ranch13

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Re: Making an alloy?
« Reply #7 on: March 14, 2013, 08:13:38 AM »
Hairy your math skills are simply spell binding ::) .
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Offline Ranch13

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Re: Making an alloy?
« Reply #8 on: March 14, 2013, 08:23:37 AM »
Stape here's an article on alloy that might help you figure out what you havehttp://www.lasc.us/Kelter_Cast_Bullet_Alloys2.pdf
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Offline Hairy Chest

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Re: Making an alloy?
« Reply #9 on: March 14, 2013, 10:57:29 AM »
Quote from: Ranch13 on March 14, 2013, 08:13:38 AM
Hairy your math skills are simply spell binding ::) .

What's the problem?   ???
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Study after study has shown how dangerous distracted driving is yet people continue to talk on their cell phones while driving. Driving in the U.S. requires your full attention. Many states and countries have made it illegal to use a cell phone while operating a motor vehicle and the federal government should follow their lead. Banning the use of cell phones while driving would have the added benefit of making the no-texting law enforceable.

Offline Hairy Chest

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Re: Making an alloy?
« Reply #10 on: March 15, 2013, 08:03:33 AM »
Here's one I made with no tin added. 


 





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Study after study has shown how dangerous distracted driving is yet people continue to talk on their cell phones while driving. Driving in the U.S. requires your full attention. Many states and countries have made it illegal to use a cell phone while operating a motor vehicle and the federal government should follow their lead. Banning the use of cell phones while driving would have the added benefit of making the no-texting law enforceable.

Offline Lloyd Smale

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Re: Making an alloy?
« Reply #11 on: March 16, 2013, 01:39:13 AM »
First thng id try is to just water drop some of your roof flashing. Some of it had traces of antimony in it and will water harden. tin is expensive to use for hardening. I use it for bullet fillout but use other methods for handening. You can mix that roofing lead 5050 with ww and then water drop your bullets and they will be about as hard as #2 air cooled bullets. Another way is to add about a lb of hardened shot to 10lbs of lead and then water drop. Type metal is great if you can find it. 5050 lineotype/pure makes a good alloy air cooled or try 1/4lino 3/4 pure and water drop. Linotype can be bought on line for around 2 bucks a lb. tin goes for over 10bucks a lb. Even at 20 to one tin added to lead your only going to get a harndess of about 10bhn which is still a bit softer then alot of ww you will find. My advice is if you find tin trade it to someone who needs it for lineotype. You should be able to find a 1-5lb swap
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Offline Flash

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Re: Making an alloy?
« Reply #12 on: March 21, 2013, 01:17:10 AM »
I make small batches of alloy until i get the results i want then, i duplicate it on a larger scale. I start with one pound of lead and add tin until i get the hardness i prefer.
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Offline Hairy Chest

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Re: Making an alloy?
« Reply #13 on: March 21, 2013, 04:34:11 AM »
Quote from: Flash on March 21, 2013, 01:17:10 AM
I make small batches of alloy until i get the results i want then, i duplicate it on a larger scale. I start with one pound of lead and add tin until i get the hardness i prefer.

I do that also.  Tin will harden up lead.  Otherwise, it is like putty. 
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