Is it lead?

salvadore · October 27, 2014, 04:13 PM

I found some metal in a coffee can someone gave me years ago. They are barrel shape about 2" across and almost 2" tall with a hole in the middle about 1.25" across. I gave it the garage floor drop test and believe they are pretty close to pure lead. Does anyone know what they are and what alloy?

Sure Shot Mc Gee · October 27, 2014, 04:28 PM

Could be weights for a fishing net maybe. I really can't say for certain what it is you have there without seeing one.

DD4lifeusmc · October 27, 2014, 04:30 PM

Hard telling. What part of country you in.
Years ago, before illegal, could of been fish net anchors, although the center hole seems a little large.
Balancing weights in a machine shop.
It would be best if you had a hardness tester or a place nearby that had an electronic scanner. Lot of scrap metal salvage yards have them to confirm
various metals.

mehavey · October 27, 2014, 04:40 PM

See The Pencil Test about 2/3 down the page here
http://www.texas-mac.com/Evaluations...s_Testers.html

NOTE: The pencil tip is made absolutely square/flat (not pointed),
and used as a 45° push chisel (not used as in writing)

salvadore · October 27, 2014, 05:43 PM

Do these help?

B.L.E. · October 27, 2014, 08:35 PM

If you can nick it with your thumbnail, it's likely pure lead or close enough for muzzle loading bullets.

44 Dave · October 27, 2014, 11:11 PM

I have some of those that I salvaged long ago. They are counterbalance weights for the sprinklers on "side roll" or Wheel Line irrigation. Mine are close to pure lead.

salvadore · October 28, 2014, 12:10 AM

Hey thanks Dave, I live in Idaho the home of the center pivot, I bet that's it.

DD4lifeusmc · October 28, 2014, 10:44 AM

Yep look similar to ones we used in Nebraska when I was growing up.
Never paid much attention back then to what they were made of.
Were just heavy for as small as they were.

But still nothing like a real hardness tester to confirm.

**4V50 Gary** · October 28, 2014, 10:45 AM

Thank you 44Dave. I was puzzled over them too.

October 27, 2014, 04:13 PM	#1
salvadore Junior member Join Date: January 1, 2007 Location: Idaho Posts: 2,282	Is it lead? I found some metal in a coffee can someone gave me years ago. They are barrel shape about 2" across and almost 2" tall with a hole in the middle about 1.25" across. I gave it the garage floor drop test and believe they are pretty close to pure lead. Does anyone know what they are and what alloy?

October 27, 2014, 04:30 PM	#3
DD4lifeusmc Senior Member Join Date: October 12, 2012 Location: Wyoming Posts: 351	lead? Hard telling. What part of country you in. Years ago, before illegal, could of been fish net anchors, although the center hole seems a little large. Balancing weights in a machine shop. It would be best if you had a hardness tester or a place nearby that had an electronic scanner. Lot of scrap metal salvage yards have them to confirm various metals.

October 27, 2014, 08:35 PM	#6
B.L.E. Senior Member Join Date: December 20, 2008 Location: Somewhere on the Southern shore of Lake Travis, TX Posts: 2,603	If you can nick it with your thumbnail, it's likely pure lead or close enough for muzzle loading bullets. __________________ Hanlon's Razor "Do not invoke conspiracy as explanation when ignorance and incompetence will suffice, as conspiracy implies intelligence and organization."

October 28, 2014, 10:44 AM	#9
DD4lifeusmc Senior Member Join Date: October 12, 2012 Location: Wyoming Posts: 351	weights Yep look similar to ones we used in Nebraska when I was growing up. Never paid much attention back then to what they were made of. Were just heavy for as small as they were. But still nothing like a real hardness tester to confirm.

October 28, 2014, 10:45 AM	#10
4V50 Gary Staff Join Date: November 2, 1998 Location: Colorado Posts: 21,833	Thank you 44Dave. I was puzzled over them too. __________________ Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt. *Molon Labe!*

October 27, 2014, 04:28 PM	#2
Sure Shot Mc Gee Senior Member Join Date: January 2, 2012 Location: Minnesota Posts: 3,876	Could be weights for a fishing net maybe. I really can't say for certain what it is you have there without seeing one.

October 27, 2014, 04:40 PM	#4
mehavey Senior Member Join Date: June 17, 2010 Location: Virginia Posts: 6,894	See The Pencil Test about 2/3 down the page here http://www.texas-mac.com/Evaluations...s_Testers.html NOTE: The pencil tip is made absolutely square/flat (not pointed), and used as a 45° push chisel (not used as in writing)

October 27, 2014, 05:43 PM	#5
salvadore Junior member Join Date: January 1, 2007 Location: Idaho Posts: 2,282	Do these help?

October 27, 2014, 11:11 PM	#7
44 Dave Senior Member Join Date: February 24, 2013 Posts: 584	I have some of those that I salvaged long ago. They are counterbalance weights for the sprinklers on "side roll" or Wheel Line irrigation. Mine are close to pure lead.

October 28, 2014, 12:10 AM	#8
salvadore Junior member Join Date: January 1, 2007 Location: Idaho Posts: 2,282	Hey thanks Dave, I live in Idaho the home of the center pivot, I bet that's it.