lead from car/truck batteries

[Sean McKown]

Is lead from car batteries safe to use?  I have a customer that recycles batt.  and the im interested in the lead if it can be used for our intended purpose.   any suggestions.

[R.M.]

Don't even think it.  
Bad Mo-Jo
Not worth the consequences from what I understand.

[Uncle Russ]

Don't even think it.  
Bad Mo-Jo
Not worth the consequences from what I understand.

Same what R.M. seez.....bad stuff, and not worth the effort to do it properly.

Uncle Russ...

[Three Hawks]

Battery plates are sintered, not cast and contain liquid inside them.  When the liquid flashes to steam as can happen when a plate is melted it can and does throw molten alloy many feet.  Another problem is the alloy contains cadmium, arsenic, selenium, and some toxic stuff, too.  

In short,  NO !, do not try to salvage battery lead.  

Of course, we are going to hear from the "It's ok, I done it." crowd shortly on.  

And they probably did, just like the guy who cleans his guns without checking to see if they're unloaded.  He'll get away with it, too.  For a while.

They're your eyes, your skin, and your health.   Do what you wish.

Three Hawks

[Wyoming Mike]

I'll chime in with the same message as the others.  In addition to the reasons given by everyone else, battery lead has a lot of nasty additives to make it do it primary job of holding a charge.  It contains a lot of cadmium and other elements that are not very nice.

[Captchee]

can it be done ? yes
should you ? no  not unless you have the right  set up  for recycling  it .
 like others have said there is some pretty nasty things inside batteries  and frankly for the amount of lead you  will get in return , its not worth the hassle or possible consequences ..
 There are a lot of safer places to get lead then  messing with batteries

[Sean McKown]

Thanks guys!   I heard it was OK from a couple of REAL redneck types, but me being the paranoid sort thought I would ask first..

[jbullard1]

Thanks guys!   I heard it was OK from a couple of REAL redneck types, but me being the paranoid sort thought I would ask first..

Hey I resemble that remark  
I did it many years ago but would not do it again after I found out what some of the harmful fumes are coming from the pot
Lungs already damaged enough from 35+ years of cigarettes
Been quit 4 years though

[Loyalist Dave]

antimony [exposure] causes headache, dizziness, and depression

source Wikipedia

Gee and I thought that was due to over exposure to my wife, not melting down a few lead plates from car batteries.  

Funny though that antimony, selenium, and cadmium are found in wheel weights too, AND both the modern ammo shooters as well as several BP websites advocate using wheel weights for projectile casting.  The ratios for the non-lead ingredients are about the same as in battery lead too.

LD

[the Black Spot]

besides, all the power is gone when the battery died and you can't get any extra boost in velocity! ....lame, i know....

[Bountyhunter]

You can get lead from old batteries by selling them for the core value and then taking the money and buying safe lead.  

Recyclers have closed systems with scrubbers where they can separate the heavy metals and catch the fumes.  It isnt worth the risk to breath those fumes.