Traditional Muzzleloading Association

Shooting Traditional Firearms and Weapons => General Interest => Topic started by: Flinthawk on July 09, 2009, 10:59:07 PM

Title: How many use dental x-ray lead?
Post by: Flinthawk on July 09, 2009, 10:59:07 PM: Got some small lead plates from my dentist from used x-ray slides.
Pretty soft and pliable. Anyone ever melt this type of lead down and cast balls to shoot in their muzzleloader?
Title: X-ray Lead
Post by: snake eyes on July 10, 2009, 04:11:46 AM: Flinthawk,
Yes I have heard of x-ray lead being used in R/Bs.
I am sure someone here knows much more about it than
myself.
Along this line,I have a friend that developed a way to
remove the silver from x-rays. I don't know the process,but
I do know he is a wealthy man.Heck for all I know he is a
Bookie or Drug Dealer.
snake-eyes
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Post by: bluelake on July 10, 2009, 08:27:57 AM: Great idea! I have an appointment with my dentist next week and I'll ask him
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Post by: Two Steps on July 10, 2009, 09:20:36 AM: Yes sir. My dentist drops off a big bag or two (already cleaned) now and then. He doesn't have to pay to get rid of the lead...I have the makings for RBs. Works out well for both of us.
Al
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Post by: pathfinder on July 10, 2009, 09:26:44 AM: Picked 2000 lbs for free 20yrs ago, doesnt look like I've made a dent in it. My ranger sure steered light on the way home!
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Post by: Flinthawk on July 10, 2009, 01:41:02 PM: Thanks for the replies!
I wiil be a happy shooter now!
My dentist`s will keep me well supplied!
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Post by: Sir Michael on July 10, 2009, 04:26:44 PM: I pick up a large bag of it twice a year when I get my teeth cleaned. :cry: I shoot a 62 cal. At any rate it makes good balls as far as I'm concerned.
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Post by: Flinthawk on July 10, 2009, 04:41:38 PM: Quote from: "Sir Michael"
I pick up a large bag of it twice a year when I get my teeth cleaned. :cry: I shoot a 62 cal. At any rate it makes good balls as far as I'm concerned.
Sir Michael,
I guess I will get as much as I can because I will be casting for .62,.58,..54,.50,.40,.45, and .32!
I would guess that BHN of this lead has to be around 5 or 6 as soft as it feels.
Thanks for the information on the wax part of those little plates of lead. Do you have to skim very much dross off after you melt it down?
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Post by: butterchurn on July 10, 2009, 06:22:04 PM: My dentist has gone all digital for x-rays! HE gave me the evil eye when I asked for dental lead two years ago. He thinks it is poisonous or something.
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Post by: Captchee on July 10, 2009, 09:25:08 PM: I have two diffrent ones who save it for me . . it shoots good , no issues that i have found
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Post by: Lady of the Woods on July 14, 2009, 06:21:24 PM: cool! I'll check with mine too. good tip.
now, not to go too far off track; are you familiar with soapstone molds? pros/cons?

Zan
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Post by: Captchee on July 14, 2009, 06:48:47 PM: yes
soap stone moulds were used alot and a number of them still exsist .
pros , they dont warp . cons , the easly break . you also have to be carful aligning them so they cast true . also you have to be real carful and let them cool before you open them

but past that 2 thumbs up on soap stone moulds
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Post by: Chairslayer on July 14, 2009, 07:49:49 PM: Just went to the dentist today, have to go back tomorrow. Yeah,I did ask and yeah he will save them for me...........
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Post by: Gambia on July 14, 2009, 08:35:35 PM: Butterchurn my dentist went digital too.He used to give me the used plates,ah well.The digital system sure shortens up the time in the chair and thats a plus.
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Post by: vermontfreedom on July 25, 2009, 09:37:30 AM: Short answer: yes, it's good lead. But you DO need a lot to make a ball.

I weighed the strips once - something like 0.5 grains. I figured it took several hundred to make one 0.535 RB.

Long answer:

I used to collect it from my old dentist. Problem was they just put the bitewings in trash bags with their latex gloves and used paper towels. I'd spend 2-3 hours pulling out the lead sheets from a disgusting mix of all that used crap (covered with dried saliva and chewing gum from the dental assistants).

Not only was it way too much work, but I worried about 'catching something' from the crap.

So I stopped getting it. I never asked if they'd be willing to pull out the lead sheets for me, but I've since switched to another dentist and have a supply of 50 or 60 pounds of lead and do far less shooting than I did even just 3 or 4 years ago so don't go through it as fast as back then.

AND, perhaps more importantly, I recapture all my lead (well, when I hit my ball stopper) from the range. I usually recover about 80% of what I shoot, and it only takes a few minutes to plow through my cardboard box stuffed with magazines. The returns are diminishing, of course, but it's actually considerably more efficient than pulling lead sheets out of bitewings.
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Post by: Sir Michael on July 25, 2009, 10:09:18 AM: I hit the jackpot :? the last time I went to the dentist. In addition to the lead foil I got (as usual) he offered me two of those lead aprons they put over you when they take the x-rays. I had to leave on a road trip the next day so all I had time to do was take a quick slice into one of them to see just how they were constructed. Now comes the $64 question.

What would be the best way to separate lead from rubber? Solvent maybe? :(
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Post by: Flinthawk on July 25, 2009, 05:18:21 PM: Quote from: "Sir Michael"
I hit the jackpot :? the last time I went to the dentist. In addition to the lead foil I got (as usual) he offered me two of those lead aprons they put over you when they take the x-rays. I had to leave on a road trip the next day so all I had time to do was take a quick slice into one of them to see just how they were constructed. Now comes the $64 question.

What would be the best way to separate lead from rubber? Solvent maybe? :(
Sir Michael,
Is the rubber attached to the lead with some type of adhesive or is attached directly around the lead through some manufacturing technique?
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Post by: Sir Michael on July 25, 2009, 05:24:14 PM: The rubber sheets seem to be impregnated with the lead.
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Post by: Flinthawk on July 27, 2009, 03:06:00 PM: Quote from: "Sir Michael"
The rubber sheets seem to be impregnated with the lead.
I was thinking if the lead was stuck with an adhesive possibly acetone might have worked. but if the rubber is impregnated with
the lead, then that is a different ballgame!
How big are the lead pieces ?
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Post by: Sir Michael on July 27, 2009, 07:24:19 PM: I'm guessing the lead is in powder form and they rely on three layers of it to ensure full coverage with the required density.