Casting bullets with salvaged lead from batteries

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What was your source of information? I think it is likely mistaken. The info I've seen is that melting battery lead makes poisonous gasses that are not easy to eliminate from the process.

Will look for a reference, unless somebody here has more definitive information to relate.

It may be possible that recycled lead is used, but its not the same as a do it yourself home program.


ETA: Just found this,

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?138362-Why-Car-Batteries-Are-Dangerous
 
I tried it once several years ago, never again. The lead is in lattice like plates and a pain to separate. Then you have to deal with all that acid that will eat through a galvanized bucket.
 
A year or two back my employer was scrapping a few old electric fork lifts. My boss claimed all the money is in the steel, with the batteries being worth next to nothing on the scrap market. This peaked my interest and I thought maybe I would get a hold of them and finally start casting.

Anyway, before commiting to it, I did some research into how to deal with lead/acid batteries and casting. I don't remember any sources off hand, but the consensus from various parts of the internet was that there would be considerable difficulty in extracting the lead in a safe manner. Maybe a guy with extensive smelting experiance could handle it, but that aint me.

Good thing I checked it out first before having several tons of useless lead hauled to my driveway. Too bad... I still havent found a decent enough source of cheap lead to justify starting up a casting hobby.
 
Bad deal. A friend tried it once and said the acid and fumes were awful. Please be careful if you try it.
 
Bullet makers might get most of their lead from batteries after another company that specializes in battery recycling deals with the battery acid and cleaning of the lead.
 
Pretty sure that the link over to Cast Boolits mentions the toxic metal that is NOW part and parcel of all modern automobile batteries. Think it's maybe cadmium.

BEFORE that design/alloy/chemistry change, yes, lead-acid batteries were a viable source of lead for the more...intrepid or determined. Hacking through a plastic case designed to withstand moderate car crashes was usually the first challenge.

These days, recycling lead-acid batteries is only for the most safety-equipped commercial smelter.
 
What they are referring to is the current lead alloy supply is coming from the secondary smelters, rather than primary smelters, the last of which closed a couple of years ago.

The secondary smelters do recycle lead acid batteries, but it's an involved production and can't really be safely done by the hobbyist. The chemicals involved in lead acid batteries can literally kill you, so don't try it.

Some of the secondary smelters are owned by the large battery manufacturers. Exide is one of the larger ones, and they do supply the bullet casting industry.

Hope this helps.

Fred
 
It's a general idea that battery lead is the only lead NOT to use. Re-check your source. Short of commercial casters with air scrubbers. Even then, not sure I buy it. Stick to wheel weights.
 
Just buy the alloy you need from Rotometals. Stay safe and healthy.

I get it, casting bullets is a lot about saving money. But when you factor in scrounging the metals, and testing and mixing lead/tin/antimony to (hopefully) get the "right" alloy mix, I'd far rather just make a phone call and have the right stuff delivered to my door, all clean and ready to use. Cheaper in the long run IMO.
 
Modern automotive type batteries actually contain very little lead. The battery plates are made from a thin matrix, sort of a lattice-like panel that is then coated in a thick heavy paste containing lead oxides. Maintenance-free batteries add metals such as cadmium to the lead paste. In order to reduce the oxide paste back to free lead requires chemically recombining the oxygen to separate the metals. The process is done in a high heat environment by bubbling chlorine through the molten lead.

Suffice it to say that there is no way a home smelter can do the process correctly, and the vapors given off are toxic. Not just molten lead vapors, but toxic gasses.

Once a battery recycler has smelted and reduced the oxides they are left with lead ingots which then can be used for anything including bullets. It's the steps before that will kill you.

You're better off to sell scrap batteries to a recycler- typically between $8-$12 a battery- and just buy some lead from a scrap dealer or online.
 
I think if I tried it I would throw them in a fire and come back later and dig the lead out of the ashes/dirt but I am not an EPA lawyer...
 
Did a job at a company that recycles lead acid batteries. Involved process that crushes the case for salvage, lead plates move on conveyor to a rotary smelter that has air handlers to capture fumes. All in all a messy process and not to be undertaken in the home under any circumstances.
 
Toxic Process = Toxic Answers!

Zero to 14 against… Wow, I’m glad I asked!

My source for lead had been the telephone company cable repair guys. Years ago they would wrap cables in lead sheets. Nowadays when the repairmen I made contact with find one of these old lead scrap heaps they save them for me. Lately the findings have been slim to none in my area and that’s why I was looking for a new source. This my still be a viable source where you live… it can’t hurt to ask.

Well, you convinced me to find another source. Thanks to all for the informative input….. Doc
 
Saw-Bones said:
I recently read that lead bullet makers get most of their lead from run-out lead-acid batteries.

Has anyone salvaged lead from used lead-acid batteries?

Is it difficult to do?

Are there any precautions necessary?
Click to expand...

From what I recall, many agencies like the EPA may have armed agents. They may show up and think your house and yard need to be declared an "environmental disaster area". You may be kicked off your own property and then be handed an invoice for millions of dollars.

chuck
 
From what I have read,There is no longer any "virgin" lead mined/smelted in the USA. All lead is recycled and gee, guess where it comes from?:mad:
 
The Basis for Compositional Bullet Lead Comparisons

https://www.fbi.gov/about-us/lab/forensic-science-communications/fsc/july2002/index.htm/peters.htm
Bullet Lead-Manufacturing Process

Lead used in the bullet-manufacturing process is generally obtained from secondary lead smelters where the raw material is made primarily of recycled automobile batteries. Under stringent environmental regulations, these smelters separate the batteries into plastic, acid, and lead components. This lead is then mixed with lead from other sources and melted in kettles with capacities of 75 to 100 tons. This scrap lead is reprocessed into ingots (also called pigs). Elements such as copper and tin may be present but are controlled within limits determined by the economics of the process and use of the product. For bullet manufacture, there are few physical requirements for the lead. Chiefly, the lead must be processable. Antimony may be added to harden the alloy, but its level will also vary with the requirements of the product and the economics of its use. Hardened lead is generally used in non-jacketed bullets, whereas soft lead (i.e., lead where antimony has not been added) is generally used in jacketed bullets. The other elements are present in trace amounts and can vary.
Click to expand...
Maybe more than you want to know? Photos at link. Leave the batteries alone. Tried it many years ago.
 
Last edited:
Muddydogs said:
Bullet makers might get most of their lead from batteries after another company that specializes in battery recycling deals with the battery acid and cleaning of the lead.
Click to expand...


It's not most of the lead, but some of it. 100% of most casters lead is recycled lead, not virgin. Most buy it from the same company, in Missouri.
 
There is a lot of info on batteries and battery lead. Just about all of them say that it is too dangerous. I recycled a few old lead acid batteries years ago (like 40) and the lead was so heavily oxidized that I realized very little lead for my efforts. The newer low maintenance batteries have even less lead and even more nasty stuff. DON"T DO IT!
 
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