Diver's belt weights - lead composition?

Bertfish · Jul 1, 2021

When my parents bought their other house years ago they found a bunch of what look like lead diver's belt weights. Anyone know their general composition? Aka are they suited for being melted down for reloading? He thought about scrapping then lately but I said they may be worth more to a reloader than just general scrap

I'll get the 3% joke out of the way right now

wilcam47 · Jul 1, 2021

Bertfish said:
When my parents bought their other house years ago they found a bunch of what look like lead diver's belt weights. Anyone know their general composition? Aka are they suited for being melted down for reloading? He thought about scrapping then lately but I said they may be worth more to a reloader than just general scrap

I'll get the 3% joke out of the way right now

https://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?31923-Are-SCUBA-weights-pure-lead

Im going with 3% antimony of course

John from MD · Jul 1, 2021

If they are not marked, they could be anything. I would not mix them with any of your normal lead melt.

Bertfish · Jul 1, 2021

I don't cast. Trying to figure out if they are useful to a reloader or if I should just take them to scrap

StantonCree · Jul 1, 2021

Bertfish said:
I don't cast. Trying to figure out if they are useful to a reloader or if I should just take them to scrap

I have 6 and use them all the time for different chit. I was in the same position but I’m glad i didn’t. I use them all the time randomly

Blacksmith101 · Jul 1, 2021

Back in the day many divers had a mold and made their own and since they were only interested in the weight they would use anything that was heavy and could be melted. Sometimes lead, or wheel weights, or zinc, or solder, or linotype or combination of some or all of the above.

PowPow · Jul 1, 2021

Is it just me or did it get a bit hot in here at the mention of lead diver weights of unknown composition? I'd take a turn melting it down, please? lol

Glaron · Jul 1, 2021

I dunno melt them. Thats old school. When I was a diver I used steel pellets in soft bags.

Brickman301 · Jul 1, 2021

Like others have said, it could be anything.

Archeryrob · Jul 2, 2021

There is an easy way to find out.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0014E2S0Q/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Pencil_hardness_versus_lead_alloy_hardness2-653x455.jpg

Blacksmith101 · Jul 2, 2021

And here is a more accurate method of determining what they are made of:
Metals Analysis XRF
https://www.rotometals.com/metals-analysis-test-xrf-service-test-only-not-the-machine/

Pinecone · Jul 2, 2021

You can start by checking the density.

Submerge in water and see how the volume goes up. And weigh them.

Mostly they are pure lead, as most things you would alloy with them would make them lighter.

And when I dove, they were obviously very soft.

I would bet they are close to pure lead.

John from MD · Jul 2, 2021

The big problem with using unknown lead is whether or not it has any zinc in it. Zinc will ruin the whole melt and you can not separate it once alloyed with lead. :sad20:

Brickman301 · Jul 2, 2021

John from MD said:
The big problem with using unknown lead is whether or not it has any zinc in it. Zinc will ruin the whole melt and you can not separate it once alloyed with lead.

Exactly.

Blacksmith101 · Jul 3, 2021

Actually Zinc can be removed but not easily removed.
https://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?63082-Zinc-Removal-with-Sulfur-Report

Bertfish · Jul 3, 2021

What's lead scrap value per pound give or take?

John from MD · Jul 3, 2021

It is much easier to avoid getting it in the mix in the first place.

GunBum · Jul 3, 2021

Blacksmith101 said:
Actually Zinc can be removed but not easily removed.
https://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?63082-Zinc-Removal-with-Sulfur-Report

Best done on a windy day and standing upwind. It generates a lot if sulfurous and sulfuric acid fumes.

Sticky · Jul 4, 2021

You can also use a hardness tester (not expensive) and I agree with Pinecone, as a long-time diver, they were pretty much always pure, soft lead for the max density.

Melnic · Jul 4, 2021

I got my start with 70lbs of dive belt lead. Crummy for muzzle loader balls I learned the hard way and just fine for 9mm tumble coated I found.
When I learned about soft pure lead for ML, I dedicated a new pot to pure lead and used the dive weight lead and wheel weight lead in another. Eventually got a Lee hardness tester and dropped lead into muffin tin cups and marked the hardness after testing. Variation was everywhere from 10-15. Once I marked them I could regulate things better blending to match getting close to 12-13.

Diver's belt weights - lead composition?

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