lead alloying

[Ruger007]

I just melted down about 100lbs of wheel weights. The standard alloy is 9 lbs to 1lbs of 50/50 solder. I happen to have a lot of 95/5 solder (95% tin, 5% antimony). Would this solder work??

 

[Andy]

Yes, but only add about 2 lbs of the 95/5 solder to 100 lbs of wheelweight (or 4 lbs of 50/50). Anything more than 2% tin is a waste. It improves "castability" (alloy flow), but does almost nothing to make the alloy harder.

 

[Dogleg]

The 95/5 is all I use, after a local blackpowder enthusiast put me onto it. (Thanks Randy)For those that don't already know, this is the stuff sold as "lead-free" solder.

 

[blacksmithden]

I've been using straight wheel weights for a long time now without any problems.
I got hold of some high tin content bar solder and put some in a batch and I didn't find any difference at all. It was just tin/lead solder through....no antimony.

 

[ben hunchak]

The Tin makes the melt flow better and produces nicier(shinier) bullets it also makes a big difference when looking at cast bullet performance(expansion). It helps prevent bullet fracturing on expansion, and bullets are not as brittle as bullets that are heavy in antimony content without extra tin. In my expansion tests some very hard bullets fractured at 2000+fps, and did not when 3% tin was added, these bullets where over BHN20. The reason most people don't add much or any tin, especially commercial outfits is the high cost of tin.

 

[H4831]

Ben, I'll bet even you don't remeber when toothpaste tubes were made of tin?
I used to just cut off the top with the base and threads which were made of something else and throw the rest in the melting pot.

 

[Win Shooter]

Ben, I'll bet even you don't remeber when toothpaste tubes were made of tin?
I used to just cut off the top with the base and threads which were made of something else and throw the rest in the melting pot.

I remember doing this with my father in the late 60's and boy what a stink. he being a machinist/mill wright would save all mannerisms of tubes with lubes, glues etc. Some of the residues problably aided in the fluxing as well.