isotope lead casting

[1986travis]

I have a buddy that has a few hundred pounds of lead isotope containers. Does anyone have any experience with casting this lead?

[Munk]

run them by a Geiger counter, these can still be dangerous after having been used for storage.

If they're clean, then they're just lead and can be chopped and melted like any other.

[rsrocket1]

Unlikely to be hot.
I believe these are dead soft lead. If you can scratch it with your thumbnail or if it hits the ground with a thunk rather than with any hint of a clink, it is pure lead.

A propane fired turkey fryer works good as does a cast iron pot.

If you are going to cast buckshot, muzzle loaded balls or slugs, you are good to go, maybe add a bit of tin or solder to aid fill out.

If you are shooting pistol, a little more tin or tin/antimony would bring the hardness up a bit.

If for rifle, you need to bring the hardness up quite a bit more.

I wish I could score some of that stuff. Any more where you got that from in Sac?

edit: looks like a small capacity cylinder from this site which has a BHN of about 10 which is good enough for 38 special, 45 ACP or other fairly low velocity pistol rounds right out of the pot.

[1986travis]

Asking if they were radioactive was I first question I asked too. They're not so I melted it down and cast some .45s and put them in my lee lead hardness tester. They tested lower than 8 BHN so I believe they are pure lead. I would like to shoot .45 and 9mm with it. Would adding wheel weights to the mix make them hard enough to shoot?
rsrocket1 if you what to PM me your number we can get you some.

[TKM]

Pure lead is of interest to muzzle loaders. Contact CSACannoneer.

[BossHaug]

PM sent to OP.

Lots of FUD here...

Information at this site...

http://www.fellingfamily.net/isolead/index.html

[Munk]

PM sent to OP.

Lots of FUD here...

Information at this site...

http://www.fellingfamily.net/isolead/index.html

No FUD here; Your own site says it can take a month to clear them.

That also only covers pharmaceutical isotope storage. There are other processes besides those which use radioactive materials.

[BossHaug]

The "month" (actually 6 weeks minimum) is done by the Nuclear Medicine people, so when you get it, there is nothing to worry about. There is no way in this day and age that anything even remotely "hot" could get into the hands of mere civilians. This lead is not even remotely radioactive, it is a shield for the low dose, very short half-life isotopes used in medicine. It shields the radioactivity, but does not absorb it.
Also, that is not my site, just one I found that helps explain what isotope lead is all about.
And since lead wheel weights are outlawed in Ca now, this source for casting lead is the new best thing. Get it while you can, only a matter of time before you lose this too.

No FUD here; Your own site says it can take a month to clear them.

That also only covers pharmaceutical isotope storage. There are other processes besides those which use radioactive materials.

[Inkman]

The "month" (actually 6 weeks minimum) is done by the Nuclear Medicine people, so when you get it, there is nothing to worry about. There is no way in this day and age that anything even remotely "hot" could get into the hands of mere civilians. This lead is not even remotely radioactive, it is a shield for the low dose, very short half-life isotopes used in medicine. It shields the radioactivity, but does not absorb it.
Also, that is not my site, just one I found that helps explain what isotope lead is all about.
And since lead wheel weights are outlawed in Ca now, this source for casting lead is the new best thing. Get it while you can, only a matter of time before you lose this too.

Well said.

Just wish i had a cheap source for it. Asked friends in the medical field and they didn't even know where to begin or who to talk to about getting it or how.

Al

[Munk]

Well said.

Just wish i had a cheap source for it. Asked friends in the medical field and they didn't even know where to begin or who to talk to about getting it or how.

Al

Have your medical friends talk to the radiology department and get contact info for the people or companies who maintain the machinery. Most X-ray techs never have to directly interact with the materials, but the companies that install or repair the machinery will probably have access to the storage containers and decommissioned parts.