Identify Lead Ingots By Shape And Weight?

UtopiaTexasG19 · August 23, 2011, 07:12 AM

I just bought a number of lead ingots and wondered if anyone have ever seen this shape and weight in lead? I am curious as to what industry if any where they were used. 2" x 10" all weigh right at 5 pounds. Thanks...

Shootest · August 23, 2011, 07:24 AM

Never seen anything like it. I have seen a lot of other shaped ingots, mostly from home smelters. This could be one of those, thus almost any alloy could have been used.

Rifleman1776 · August 23, 2011, 07:45 AM

Impossible to learn anything about that lead from just looking at it.
I used to buy lead from a smelter directly. It came in 5 lb. ingots that were octagonal shaped. Very difficult to cut up for remelting in small pots.

kadima · August 23, 2011, 07:48 AM

Looks like one of my ingots, however I don't think that they ever made "your" side of the pond.

In my case the ingot mould is a waterpipe sawn in half. Works well!

K.

UtopiaTexasG19 · August 23, 2011, 07:56 AM

I realize the shape and weight will not tell me anything about the consistancy of the lead. I was just wondering if anyone had seen this size and shape before in any particular industry. For example, I have in the past bought in sailing boat lead ballast from different sources and all were the same shape and weight (26 pounds) so I thought these ingots may be familiar to someone. I have enough to last me a lifetime so I suppose if I test a dozen or so at random for hardness they should all be similiar in composition.

Uncle Buck · August 23, 2011, 08:05 AM

My grandfather used to have ingots that were long and thin. I know he cast some himself. He had a plumbers pot (From back when lead pipes were common in every household.) and the thinner size were easier to melt in his pot.

I do remember him making ingots, but I do not know if he made all of his.

August 23, 2011, 07:12 AM	#1
UtopiaTexasG19 Senior Member Join Date: July 3, 2011 Location: S.E. Texas Gulf Coast Posts: 743	Identify Lead Ingots By Shape And Weight? I just bought a number of lead ingots and wondered if anyone have ever seen this shape and weight in lead? I am curious as to what industry if any where they were used. 2" x 10" all weigh right at 5 pounds. Thanks...

August 23, 2011, 07:24 AM	#2
Shootest Senior Member Join Date: February 9, 2011 Location: Just outside Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 722	Never seen anything like it. I have seen a lot of other shaped ingots, mostly from home smelters. This could be one of those, thus almost any alloy could have been used. __________________ The private ownership of firearms is an American Heritage. Anyone who disputes that is Anti-American and unpatriotic. NRA Life Member

August 23, 2011, 08:05 AM	#6
Uncle Buck Senior Member Join Date: June 21, 2009 Location: West Central Missouri Posts: 2,592	My grandfather used to have ingots that were long and thin. I know he cast some himself. He had a plumbers pot (From back when lead pipes were common in every household.) and the thinner size were easier to melt in his pot. I do remember him making ingots, but I do not know if he made all of his. __________________ Inside Every Bright Idea Is The 50% Probability Of A Disaster Waiting To Happen.

August 23, 2011, 07:45 AM	#3
Rifleman1776 Senior Member Join Date: April 25, 2010 Location: Arkansas Posts: 3,309	Impossible to learn anything about that lead from just looking at it. I used to buy lead from a smelter directly. It came in 5 lb. ingots that were octagonal shaped. Very difficult to cut up for remelting in small pots.

August 23, 2011, 07:48 AM	#4
kadima Senior Member Join Date: June 21, 2010 Posts: 190	Looks like one of my ingots, however I don't think that they ever made "your" side of the pond. In my case the ingot mould is a waterpipe sawn in half. Works well! K.

August 23, 2011, 07:56 AM	#5
UtopiaTexasG19 Senior Member Join Date: July 3, 2011 Location: S.E. Texas Gulf Coast Posts: 743	I realize the shape and weight will not tell me anything about the consistancy of the lead. I was just wondering if anyone had seen this size and shape before in any particular industry. For example, I have in the past bought in sailing boat lead ballast from different sources and all were the same shape and weight (26 pounds) so I thought these ingots may be familiar to someone. I have enough to last me a lifetime so I suppose if I test a dozen or so at random for hardness they should all be similiar in composition.