Just got a big bunch of lead line... maybe 300-350' of Sampson line. About 3/8" diameter one inch long cylinders. In use the working of the line peens the ends of the cylinders and the lead is forced into the braid to form small upsets like a multi-pointed star. I just melted a couple pounds to look at it before going to the trouble of burning the poly and nylon weaves off the outside. The cylinders are very close to .5 ounce each... so roughly 150+ pounds of lead.
Now I am concerned. It seemed to take quite a bit of heat to melt it and the muffin-tin ingots do not act like the soft lead I expected. The metalic ring when banged together is pretty high-pitch for lead. Also, the ingots cracked a bit in rings near the center. I am guessing they carry a bit of zinc for their intended saltwater use. They are still too hot to put a punch to them. And I would be guessing with what I find there anyway. I do have some known ingots of very soft lead to compare. I suspect the lead used this way is not the finest to start, nor would uniformity mean much.
Any experience or thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks.
art
Now I am concerned. It seemed to take quite a bit of heat to melt it and the muffin-tin ingots do not act like the soft lead I expected. The metalic ring when banged together is pretty high-pitch for lead. Also, the ingots cracked a bit in rings near the center. I am guessing they carry a bit of zinc for their intended saltwater use. They are still too hot to put a punch to them. And I would be guessing with what I find there anyway. I do have some known ingots of very soft lead to compare. I suspect the lead used this way is not the finest to start, nor would uniformity mean much.
Any experience or thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks.
art