Hit The Mother-load Of Lead Weight!

[HorseFixer 2,013]

I need to make some front wheel weights and had a friend that ended up giving me a BUNCH of LEAD PIPE a mater of fact 85' and weighs in at 210 lbs. He says If I need more not a problem. Looks like I will be doing a little melting skimming and pouring over the holidays. I will cast them right to the wheel. and was thinking about using aluminum foil to line the rim before pouring. Pouring lead is some tricky stuff and everything needs to be 100% dry and in a well ventilated area. Now I can save my 125 lb Ingot for bullets when we have a revolution!

[rickv1957 74]

That will sure make some weights!!.Rick

[refracman 167]

Dang Duke, thats a bunch of lead!

To bad your not closer I could hook you with the proper refractory materials, clothing and safety gear to do it safely.

If you never have melted before heat slowly to a liquidus state as with any melt-in wether lead, alumium or steel if heated to quickly it can boil vigorisly and/or explode because of the impurities in or on your scrape.

[Operator 7]

This post I have to keep an eye on I saved a bunch of lead at work and wanted to do that for my back wheels! Couldn't figure out a good mold.

As always Duke you'll have great pictures.

Randy

[Save Old Iron 1,571]

If you never have melted before heat slowly to a liquid state as with any melt-in wether lead, aluminum or steel if heated to quickly it can boil vigorously and/or

[VinsRJ 723]

Ahhhhhhh.... just don't chew on it

Question: To melt just one of those pipes, how the heck would you do it anyway? And I know, put a lot of heat to it. I mean.... would you put it in a concrete pot on the gas grill? :thumbs:

[stevasaurus 23,276]

Duke...that doesn't look like lead pipe, would need to see inside the end...it looks like phone cable lead sheath to me, with the copper wires taken out. m That stuff was pulled out of a manhole run and chopped in those lenghts. That cable was placed maybe late 40.s, 50's. Lead...like asbostos...is not really harmful until you move it, and it is the white coating on that sheath that is dust and is the harmful stuff. Do not try to clean it in it's present state.

If you are going to melt this...you need a cast iron lead pot...of conciderable size to pour something the size you want...you will get a cold pour if you can't pour the whole thing at once. The lead will melt in the cast iron pot on a propane type heater or furnace. Will take a good part of the day and is a lot of fun. Use a ladel to skim of the imperfections...slag.

I would not cast in the rim itself. You need a flat piece of iron or steel, a little larger then the size of the rim for the bottom. You need an iron or steel rim or piece of pipe the size you want and depth. This lays on the sheet of iron and you pour into the mold. You will pour 3 or 4 times and remelt in order to heat the mold to the proper temperature so as to not get a cold pour. Same as for fishing weights. You can buy iron pieces at TSC and maybe bend the circle you need. You can also bend a iron for the hub piece and put slugs for the holes if you do not want to drill. There are only a few of us phone guys left that know how to work the lead. It was the craftmanship part of the trade, beating in lead sleeves and wiping melted lead to seal the sleave.

The lead will not stick in the mold and will loosen as it cools. Sterine is the flux for cleaning and sealing the lead. Perifin will work. PM me or call me before you get into this. It can be dangerous and harmful. :notworthy:

[wh500special 2,267]

From one know-it-all to another, just go down to Chandler's and order a set of Cast Iron Flush Mount Weights. #81117 (or 8-1117). They're not cheap, but unless you try to swallow one or drop one on your foot they are harmless.

The white stuff on the outside of the pipe is an oxidation product. It can cause cancer and respiratory problems. And it is difficut to completely wash it off of your skin.

The lead metal itself can cause brain damage and you're going to be heating and breathing vapor from that pile for an extended period if you try to melt it all. Not all the effects are from chronic exposure either. Metal aerosols aren't easy to protect yourself against and there is no way you'll pull this off outside since it is so cold this time of year.

We used to pour lead sinkers, jig heads, and duck decoy weights. I have a lot of memories of having molten pots of lead sitting on the gas stove and skimming the crap off the top. But it's doubtful I'll ever head down that path again.

Steve

[bell 11]

I think I'd leave that stuff alone. It's just not worth the risks IMHO.

How about some weightlifting plates in a 8"-ish diameter... drill some holes and bolt them on? :notworthy:

[Kelly 1,033]

Heck Bob for the price of a hospital visit I'd sell you a set of cast iron weights not WH but will fit

[mcwh1950 2]

1]I need to make some front wheel weights. first off i may not be a very smart person , but i will say this , i hope you take all of you money off of your and buy a meter like this because lead stand for

L=Let

E=educate

A=all

D=dummy

or due like steve [wh 500 special said just go down to Chandler's and order a set of Cast Iron Flush Mount Weights. #81117 (or 8-1117). They're not cheap,

[pbradley68 1]

[HorseFixer 2,013]

Hmmmmm <_< I appreciate all of your concerns really I do but where is your sence of adventure! Steve WH500spcl I called you and you werent home so I talked to Doc and left a message 4 you. I told here to tell you to not worry about brain damage cause Im allready a Dumb azz If I dont set my garage on fire or blow myself up I will be okay! I will make sure I do it with Gargae door open put on my Canister Mask, face shield, and I just went and got fridge full of Ole' milwaukees best Ice so i will drink at least 10 oil can's to get lubed up real good in case I SPILL SOME LEAD ON ME I wont give a chit anyways! Hey Steveasorus I still think I have that magnum of wine ya game me!

Steve Yer right My Pal Jim at chandlers is not cheap. Everytime he see's me he calls me Easy Money I dunno where he gets that? But He does like to get in my wallet reel good, and I suppose he has cause I have traded with him for 35 years. I will turn the valve stem and zert side of the Rim inside and the weight will be on the outside. I have to use lead cause I need the heavyest metal to fill the rim in the least amount of space I need the most weight I can get cause I dont want to fool with liquid.

Steve remember when they put the bypass in from Niles to Berrien Springs? The FAA was trying to find out and catch who ever was shooting touch and go's on the highway when it was under construction! and then who ever it was flew their plane under the bridge on St. Joseph River at NilesBuch Rd exit, they never did catch that guy! I wonder who he was musta been the Red Baron! :banghead:

[Kelly 1,033]

Well if you really want some weight on the front, use the 6" wide rims from the 417, the tires you have are made for the wide rim anyway, not the old style narrow rim, you will be able to put a few more lbs in there, and belive me even with a few beers in you you will feel the burn if hot lead gets on you, ask me about my scar from hot lead on my arm, making ingots for my brother to use in his little smelter to make bullets.

[sorekiwi 761]

From one know-it-all to another, just....

:notworthy:

[Save Old Iron 1,571]

Just wait until Bob finds out the heaviest naturally occurring metal is plutonium !!

I will be spending some time today with Google maps calculating the blast radius to my house when he starts his home brew nuclear reactor project. Just give me a few days running head start, please !

I would like this week's sense of adventure not to be my last one!

Currently still alive and living in Albany NY - 701 miles from ground zero !!

[oldandred 15]

Hay Duke its not you we worry about its your wife after all she has to put up with all of your junk RIGHT ??

hummmm I adding some insurance on you buddy

good luck or sweet dreams

[64s 83]

Hey Duke, If you think you can, you can, if you think you can't, you can't - either way your right. Just have a hose ready and let the adventure begin!

:notworthy:

[rwilson 128]

remember duke. and lots of them!!