Removing quenching oil from lead

[AndyP]

Acetone is vile? You're mad pal.

Acetone's ok, it's non-toxic, it'll clean your shot really quick. Why use paraffin? That's vile, and it means you're just introducing another un-necessary procedure. (actually, why use paraffin, then gunk, which you then have to wash off - that's TWO un-necessary procedures. Mental)

It's up to you like, none of my business, but why make work for yourself when there's a simple solution?

Eh eh, calm down

Maybe I've got it wrong

Tell you what I'll buy some and give it a try

Now where's the best place to get it

Cheers Andy

 

[Archie]

I'd agree with Si and Snowey and go with acetone, tbh. It's bloody good at removing greases etc and volatile so it won't linger around.

If you're just planning to give it a go and don't need a large amount to start with, anywhere like Boots should sell it as nail varnish remover. Just don't buy the non-nasty, green, eco-friendly form that doesn't actually contain acetone. It's 'effing useless! If you decide you want it in larger quantities then I'm not sure where is best to look.

 

[Sparkey]

Hehe! just have a look in your missus's stuff!! we use that to get our nailpolish off!! (not that i ever wear any....imagine a welder with nailpolish??)

 

[Drains]

Eh eh, calm down

I get my acetone from a local paint supplier - not b&q, but the place the trade goes to. Car paint suppliers should have it too. Or possibly industrial suppliers.

Price wise, I believe I pay about £20 a gallon, so it isn't that cheap, but you can do a pretty good job of making it last, and once youve compared the price with paraffin and gunk and hassle, it'll seem like a bargain..

What i'd do.... is stick a load in a metal/glass bowl, throw in the shot, swirl it around, and pour the acetone through a sieve and funnel (both metal), into another sealable container. Keep the clean and dirty separate. The used stuff will do you for a good while. It'll break up the quenching oil in a matter of seconds, leaving the lead squeaky clean.

 

[snowcat]

Movac paints around a tenner a gallon (youve been had mate), I think there a national, so you should find a local branch, sometimes they want proof of trade, VAT no, as there trade only, sometimes not

 

[hareng]

What about a vibratory deburer, some use them for cleaning up brass with corn cob. Maybe shot and a water based mix of some sort, just leave it running while doing something else.
Or a vibratory flat pan of some decription with sieve at bottom, just leave it running.

 

[Welderpaul]

Acetone is vile? You're mad pal.

Acetone's ok, it's non-toxic, it'll clean your shot really quick. Why use paraffin? That's vile, and it means you're just introducing another un-necessary procedure. (actually, why use paraffin, then gunk, which you then have to wash off - that's TWO un-necessary procedures. Mental)

It's up to you like, none of my business, but why make work for yourself when there's a simple solution?

Think you've hit a nerve wi Drainage!

 

[AndyP]

Think you've hit a nerve wi Drainage!

Someone on another forum who also makes lead shot suggested that acetone could dissolve lead and make lead oxide, would this be true

 

[Drains]

Someone on another forum who also makes lead shot suggested that acetone could dissolve lead and make lead oxide, would this be true

I'll get me coat....


I think they're thinking of acetic acid (vinegar), which does react with lead. In fact the Romans used to boil vinegar in lead pots to make a nice sweet drink. Which poisoned them...

An oxide layer will form on the surface of lead in contact with normal atmosphere. The layer is impermeable to further oxygen, which is why it's used on roofs etc. eg, it doesn't rot. That's also one of the reasons it needs good cleaning in order to weld the stuff.

I imagine that a continued reaction between lead and some form of acidic solution could dissolve the lead, as long as any oxides formed also go into solution, allowing the reaction to continue with fresh lead. However, even if (and I find this fantastically unlikely) acetone were capable of dissolving lead, the amount of time required for full cleaning to occur, and the speed it would take for the acetone to dry would make any effects negligible.

As stated above, BOILING vinegar with lead will create a reaction. But i'm not sure that's what you are doing?

All the best Andy.

Si

 

[bill_gj]

I thought that shot was traditionally made by dropping the moltem metal from a height and that the height was sufficient for the solidification to complete before dropping into water.......ooo errr, I just looked it up to make sure I wasn't talking bol#ocks and found out why you're NOT doing it that way. Shot towers are usually bloody tall
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chester_Shot_Tower
I'll be quiet not.

 

[zardoz]

Just out of interest. This shot tower is visible from my house:

Chester shot Tower
It is on the site of the old Chester Leadworks, where my dad used to work. Now a listed building. It is the oldest surviving shot tower in the world, lead shot was made here for the Napoleonic wars.

 

[lexi]

That`s an amazing process Andy. I think maybe put some shot at a time in a metal sieve . spray with Jizer from trigger spray and steam it with wallpaper steamer nozzle then wash.

 

[steve nunn]

i undedrstand about the reaction, but I would try vinegar overnight and see what happens, its only going into cartridges anyway.

Why the need o get rid of the smell? Or is the residue making the shot stick together?

Do they come out fairly uniform and the same size?

Do you have to spend ages sorting them out and to separate any that stick together?

Can you tell Im fascinated by this, even if it is a simple process lol. Try using a different oil, veg oil, engine oil ect, see if the results are any different.

What seive do you use, just a normal metal houseware type seive?

steve

 

[steve nunn]

Another thought, try GUNK engine degreasant.

steve

 

[lexi]

Can anyone confirm that instant mashed pototoes were made using the same method ?

 

[steve nunn]

Had another thought, try talk/ graphite dust/ french chalk in a tumbler with the shot. That would help break any up that do get stuck together and might help the coating a bit.

Not sure about the mash tho lol.

 

[AndyP]

Had another thought, try talk/ graphite dust/ french chalk in a tumbler with the shot. That would help break any up that do get stuck together and might help the coating a bit.

Not sure about the mash tho lol.

That happens anyway but the oil needs removing first.

What I did in the end was to get the manufacturer of the oil to give me an emulsifying agent to add to it. This means that once the lead has been drained it can simply be rinsed with hot water and detergent, job done!

Thanks for your replies on this subject