Identify this metal, please

[juststarting]

Hi All

A friend collected some lead for me (he had spare time, I didn't) and a guy at the junk yard gave him this (see pic), saying that I should try casting bullets with this... I have no idea what it is and he didn't remember. I am guessing based on the shape someone may have an idea?

I'll have a go at casting in the next couple of days and test it for hardness. However, in the meantime, any ideas about what it could be, details, etc?


Thanks

[Noisydad]

Could be linotype. It's what printers used to cast their type face from. Assuming that's what it is then it's excellent stuff to use as a (slight) hardening alloy for bullet casting. If you can get it in volume you're a lucky bloke!

[pomemax]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/50-Lbs-Lead-Pri ... 1221164600
looks the same to me
may wish to look at this one too
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/10kg-LEAD-IN ... SwjXRXcKnq

[juststarting]

What would be the mixing ratios for it? For example with lead or wheel weights?

[brett1868]

Could be linotype. It's what printers used to cast their type face from. Assuming that's what it is then it's excellent stuff to use as a (slight) hardening alloy for bullet casting. If you can get it in volume you're a lucky bloke!

I bought 100kg of linotype in 20kg ingots a while back for $200. I've cast a couple hundred 125gr 9mm and lubed with the lee product. Due to the amount of fouling I suspect it's a bit soft so I'll wait till I get a hardness tester before doing any more. I'll also give your lube recipe a go Noisydad once Dave gets back to work and I can get some bees wax off him.

[Noisydad]

My lead requirements are softer than what you blokes need and I haven't used linotype before. However, this is the reference you'll need. If you cant find what need here it doesn't exist...http://castboolits.gunloads.com/cmps_index.php

[BRNO_Bigot]

From what I've been reading, linotype is relatively hard, so either your ideas differ from old Elmer Keith's or there's something else going on.

[reloader762]

From what I've been reading, linotype is relatively hard, so either your ideas differ from old Elmer Keith's or there's something else going on.

Being in the printing industry for the past 40 years I've come across various type casting metals quite often mainly Lino & Mono type lead although when I started in the business type casting was pretty much a thing of the past as it had been replaced by electronic typesetting machines.

Linotype in general runs around 18+ BHN while Monotype will be 25+ BHN. Both alloys loose some of the hardness after multiple type casting secessions and are usually batch melted and reconditioned with an enrichment alloy to bring them back to the proper BHN for type casting. Type cast for Lino is basically a short use metal as type is cast and used a couple time before being recycled an cast again while Mono type is generally cast in single characters for jobs printed multiple times where single or groups of character can be replaced as the information on the printed piece changes. I have 40lb. Linotype pigs I've picked up from various print shops over the years as well as Monotype but I mainly use mine to alloy with soft lead to harden it as I have plenty of wheel weight alloy that can be cast as is or water quenched or heat treated to get the BHN I need.

Although I have been a member of CastBoolits for many years there are several other sites that have lots of good info.

http://www.lasc.us/CastBulletNotes.htm

http://www.artfulbullet.com/index.php

https://30eca00a039f-002391.vbulletin.net/