BikeBrewer Posted February 25, 2011 Share Posted February 25, 2011 I pulled out my old drain pipes, which are lead. Is there any reason to keep it? It's about 15-20 lbs worth. Also, any idea how to stop the water from running out of the walls now? ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thingmaker3 Posted February 25, 2011 Share Posted February 25, 2011 Worth keeping? Depends. Is $17 to $23 worth keeping? Know any black powder afficionados you can barter with? Fishermen? Plumbers? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe C B Posted February 25, 2011 Share Posted February 25, 2011 could cast a few nice lead hammers or cast a flat plate to use as a soft "anvil" for straighting work without damaging the face... OR cast into 1 lb ingots and sell to a muzzel loading shooter for bullet casting. That pipe is likly pure soft lead. Joe B Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BikeBrewer Posted February 25, 2011 Author Share Posted February 25, 2011 Worth keeping? Depends. Is $17 to $23 worth keeping? Know any black powder afficionados you can barter with? Fishermen? Plumbers? Sorry, I meant worth keeping myself. Is there any reason I'd want to keep it because it would be useful for something in blacksmithing. Thanks for the black powder idea. Mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
infinityblacksmithing Posted February 25, 2011 Share Posted February 25, 2011 I've got a block of lead that I test punches, stamps, etc. with before I heat treat them. I've also read in old blacksmithing books that it would be cast into the back of some repousse work like faces once they were roughed in to allow basically a backing plate when doing detail work. Aaron Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nhblacksmith Posted February 25, 2011 Share Posted February 25, 2011 Lead is fantastic for backing when doing raised metalwork or repousse and can be reheated and flattened as the work progresses. Just melt and pour it into pieces of wide channel iron with the ends blocked. As has already been mentioned it works well for dead blow hammers or casting your own bullets. I have several hundred pounds stashed away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Turley Posted February 25, 2011 Share Posted February 25, 2011 I sometimes cold punch holes into sheet metal onto a lead block. The lead receives the burr. The sheet will require a little level-up and cleanup. http://www.turleyforge.com Granddaddy of Blacksmith Schools Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimbob Posted February 25, 2011 Share Posted February 25, 2011 If you should decide to melt that lead, be prepared as old drain pipe really stinks for some reason Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old N Rusty Posted February 25, 2011 Share Posted February 25, 2011 i have always heard and wondered about the old saying "a lead pipe cinch" now you got half of it what is a cinch? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mainely,Bob Posted February 25, 2011 Share Posted February 25, 2011 i have always heard and wondered about the old saying "a lead pipe cinch" now you got half of it what is a cinch? A "cinch" is a sure thing so I`m guessing that the task in question would be a sure thing as long as you used a lead pipe to accomplish it.A "lead pipe cinch" was something that could lead to matching SS bracelets and a ride in the back of a cop car if things didn`t go as planned. Not that I`ve ever been involved in anything of that sort. :rolleyes: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted February 25, 2011 Share Posted February 25, 2011 Lead is just one of those "handy things to have around the shop". Used to be quite common before the lead scare. (You do need to take standard precautions using it; especially washing your hands after working with it and before eating, playing with the grandkids, etc.) I have a few wheel weight blocks for working armour on and some soft lead sheet that's come in real handy for a bunch of odd things---making an adapter for a blower to hard pipe connection for example. Not to mention that lead makes a good weight... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Junksmith Posted February 25, 2011 Share Posted February 25, 2011 Once I cut the convex bottom out of an old gas cylinder to use as a dishing swage. It bounced around and rang like crazy until I turned it upside down and poured lead into the bottom. Much quieter and more stable now! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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