Tin alloy and antimony sources for North SF Bayarea?

[browndude]

I found pure lead ingots but now I'm looking for the tin and antimony if it was that easy to find. Where do you guys look for the balancing metals?
I'll check through brinell hardness of the ingots once I buy but this would be for pistol no larger than 40S/W. Not hot or fast loads.

[jsanch03]

You can check with rotometals or find some pewter at your local thrift store and melt them down. If your lead is dead soft you can blend it 1-1 with Linotype


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[beenawhile]

Maybe try these guys in Santa Rosa
https://www.bataeffsalvage.com/

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[JagerDog]

Rotometals has antimony.

Tin often is added via bar solder.

[Jodykid]

I've always had good luck with Rotometals too.

Joe

[browndude]

Gonna have to find a good reason to drive down there, or pay brown santa to bring it up for me

[BIGOX]

I sell all types of lead but im out of state for another 2 weeks or so. I have a fair amount of Solder available. Running low on Linotype but I have some foundery & Monotype mix that is really hard.

[browndude]

So I go to buy some "pure lead" from. Alco in vallejo. And it's a scrap bin of you name it. So there were a bunch of SAECO ingots that I'm gonna scratch with HB and harder pencils see what I gots.

[BIGOX]

Always good to here of a company that's willing to sell to the public. Way too far from me but still good. Can I ask what they changed you for scrap lead?

[browndude]

Originally Posted by BIGOX

Always good to here of a company that's willing to sell to the public. Way too far from me but still good. Can I ask what they changed you for scrap lead?

40lbs 60 cash

[BIGOX]

Originally Posted by browndude

40lbs 60 cash

Sounds a little high for scrap lead but if it's a known pure source that's fair. If it's a hard lead alloy, linotype or solder then that's a good score.

[divingin]

Alco has a large shop/recycling center in San Leandro as well. All sorts of structural metal, but their minimum quantities make it tough for a hobbyist to shop there. I don't know if they have lead at that location (they do have both a ferrous and non-ferrous recycling station across the street), but Rotometals is a few blocks away.

[LynnJr]

Look on Craigslist for lead Ingots for anyone looking.

[BIGOX]

Learn to test your lead for hardness and zinc when buying from random people and youll be fine. I've unknowingly purchased zinc and lead with zinc in it in the past because the price was low and I didn't check it.

[kcstott]

lead shot is a good source for both. and it don't take much to get to hard cast levels.

[pacrat]

Originally Posted by BIGOX

Learn to test your lead for hardness and zinc when buying from random people and youll be fine. I've unknowingly purchased zinc and lead with zinc in it in the past because the price was low and I didn't check it.

How does one go about [zinc testing]?

inquiring minds

[bohoki]

with baked on powdercoat just use the lead you got unless its not filling the mold then you need a bit more tin just add some solder

zinc contamination is a concern for unknown chunks of salvage but if you shoot it within a couple months of making it it should be fine

zinc will make your liquid and solid lead look like oatmeal in that it it will kind of be lumpy as bits freeze at different rates

[browndude]

Took my kiddo to the free play arcade in alameda (high scores) and caught the nice ladies at Rotometals about to leave early b4 along weekend. Got some antimony and pure tin. Got my pencils out for the lead scrap I bought from Alco mare island(bring cash!)

[BIGOX]

Originally Posted by pacrat

How does one go about [zinc testing]?

inquiring minds

You can test for zinc with acid. You can use muriatic acid on exposed lead if there is zinc you will see a reaction (small bubbles). Lead will have no reaction to acid.
You don't what to accidentally get zinc contamination lead in a bottom pouring pot. Zinc become I sticky mess to clean up and will gunk up your pot and tools. A small percentage of zinc can be unnoticeable.

[BIGOX]

with baked on powdercoat just use the lead you got unless its not filling the mold then you need a bit more tin just add some solder

I think OP said he had pure lead so he should harden up his lead up a little even if powder coating to help prevent leading and to operate at higher velocity and pressure.

[browndude]

Yup def powdercoating after sizing slugs

[browndude]

Is a chunk of toilet bowl wax seal or 20 mule team Borax good for fluxing?

[BIGOX]

Originally Posted by browndude

Is a chunk of toilet bowl wax seal or 20 mule team Borax good for fluxing?

A wax toilet seal is made of bees wax so it's a great affordable source for flux and bullet lube.