lead tire weights w/zinc

[243winxb]

Removing Zinc-Bullet Casting

What does the zinc do?

The zinc coats my barrel, making it very hard to clean. Good read > http://www.lasc.us/FryxellFluxing.htm

the advantage of sawdust is that it does both jobs, returning the tin to the melt and removing the problematic impurities.

 

[snuffy]

Wheel weights contain toxic heavy metals, they have been banned in California and the other 49 states will be following shortly.

Why? What, or HOW does a lead wheel weight harm me? Would someone please explain how that lead wheel weight on my car harms me or any other person.

In countries like Britain that have socialized medicine where the government picks up your hospital bill, the government has stronger regulations protecting their citizens from toxic materials.

Well obamacare is just a better example of socialized medicine.

Here in the U.S. we have "deregulation" and less protection so companies can make more money.

Apparently it isn't working. The economy is in the toilet. Further regulation will complete the "FLUSH"

In 1982 the National Rifleman magazine did an article on bullet casters and the lead level in their blood. Bullet casters had lower lead levels than plumbers BUT had much higher levels of toxic heavy metals from using wheel weights. That article was written 30 years ago and they are just starting to do something about now......money talks and safety regulations walk.

Then why is my blood/lead levels so low? Since I can't read that article, I can't see how they were working. But, I do everything wrong, smelt those toxic heavy metals to recycle them into bullets, then cast indoors without vents. Oh and shoot indoors in an improperly vented range. Last level was 7.0.

If you like jibjab we can bring back asbestos, mercury, more toxic dumping like the Love Canal OR we can try and clean up the mess we made on this planet for our children and their children.

And while you're at it, why not bring back incinerators to pollute the air. Nobody is saying we should pollute anything. As far as that asbestos thing, how in the world were the companies using it for it's intended purpose supposed to know what it would do FIFTY YEARS IN THE FUTURE?

Some have said on this thread, that you have to fear lead fumes while casting. Lead does NOT produce fumes under 1200 degrees. Normal casting takes place at 7-800 degrees. The smoke produced may not be too good for you, but that's why I smelt outdoors.

 

[jerkface11]

As far as EPA regs, lead is considered a toxic substance and it is supposed to be tracked all the way to safe disposal.

Like when they clean up shooting ranges. They dig the lead out of the ground then take it and bury it in a government hole in the ground.

 

[jcwit]

I was sent an email stateing what i said above... Limit your content, as in pictures ect.. or be a member (as in send $) and post what you like. I moved on!

Been a member at castboolits since Sept 07, have close to 2,000 posts, never had that happen. Good folks there, same as here.

 

[bigedp51]

The days of getting cheap lead for casting bullets is long over and I stopped casting bullets in 1982 after reading the National Rifleman article. I found other cheap ways of shooting and having fun.

 

[jcwit]

Not nearly as cheap as my free lead.

 

[wkumatt]

Delete

 

[DM~]

Been a member at castboolits since Sept 07, have close to 2,000 posts, never had that happen. Good folks there, same as here.

I had been there a while too, i'm probably ? still a member there, but i no longer go there at all, and haven't for a long time now.

I believe i still have the email on my other puter, i'm not lieing about getting it! Too bad they feel that way over there...

DM

 

[jcwit]

Never said or insinuated you were lying about this, just has not been my experience there, like I said, I've had good experiences there as well as here.

My opinion it an excellent place with lots of information regarding all aspects of casting and shooting cast bullets.

 

[hogrdr]

no tire stores in my part of tn, will sell you any wheel weights anymore.

 

[joneb]

Well I tried the PM thing and it didn't work

If you like jibjab we can bring back asbestos, mercury, more toxic dumping like the Love Canal OR we can try and clean up the mess we made on this planet for our children and their children.

Any time a extremist viewpoint is allowed to control a government agency, It is not a good thing for anybody

biged51,
I agree with both of these statements. I don't want to live in a toxic environment either, but to much of a good thing can have a negative effect. If you visit impoverished third world countries you will get my drift, and right now this country is on the brink of economic collapse so where will the money come from to save the planet :banghead:
If you would like some examples of the EPA's insanity PM me and I will share them with you, if not just leave your head where it is.

 

[hang fire]

I was sent an email stateing what i said above... Limit your content, as in pictures ect.. or be a member (as in send $) and post what you like. I moved on!

Been a member at castboolits since Sept 07, have close to 2,000 posts, never had that happen. Good folks there, same as here

Same here, never even heard of such a thing.

 

[DM~]

Same here, never even heard of such a thing.

Well, now you have! lol

DM

 

[Beagle-zebub]

Let's put it this way: why should we care about the dangers of lead wheel weights when normal Americans have blood-lead levels well within the safe range? And if it's such a threat to anything else, how about they show us some cases where it actually killed something?

 

[Slamfire]

In 1982 the National Rifleman magazine did an article on bullet casters and the lead level in their blood. Bullet casters had lower lead levels than plumbers BUT had much higher levels of toxic heavy metals from using wheel weights. That artical was written 30 years ago and they are just starting to do something about now......money talks and safety regulations walk.

Good memory Eddie: I have not found that article yet, but I found this article from the American Rifleman on the health hazards associated with lead and bullet casting.

“Don’t Let Lead Poison You” , American Rifleman Nov 1984, pg 39. by Dr George W. Huckaba and Dr George C. Wood.

I don’t see blood lead levels in the article, but it is very comprehensive about lead vapors, lead particles and the effects of lead on the body.

This article totally makes the case that casting in the kitchen or in the house is very bad. Describes just how lead gets tracked around the house, how it gets into your clothes, and when you wash those clothes, how it gets on the other clothing in the washer.

Then, you touch those clothes, lead dust covered surfaces, eventually, you touch your eyes, your food, your mouth.

A quote from the article

"Once fine lead dust has impregnated rugs and furniture, conventional cleaning methods are ineffective in removing it and furniture may have to be discarded if it contains residual lead dust"

The authors were both medical Doctors , Dr Wood was a Professor of the Department of Drug and Material Toxicology, University of Tennessee, Memphis TN. Anyone in this post have credentials as good as a Doctor of Toxicology?

Let's put it this way: why should we care about the dangers of lead wheel weights when normal Americans have blood-lead levels well within the safe range? And if it's such a threat to anything else, how about they show us some cases where it actually killed something?

You know it does not take much effort to find warnings about lead exposure. Just google “Occupational Exposure inorganic lead”

I found this one, showing a significant risk of cancer due to lead exposure.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1128158/

Cancer and occupational exposure to inorganic lead compounds: a meta-analysis of published data.

H Fu and P Boffetta

OBJECTIVES--To review and summarize the epidemiological evidence on the carcinogenicity of occupational exposure to inorganic lead

RESULTS--The combined results show a significant excess risk of overall cancer, stomach cancer, lung cancer, and bladder cancer,……

 

[wkumatt]

Delete

 

[bigedp51]

I didn't stop casting bullets because of the lead hazard, I stopped casting because I had two boys under the age of three and wanted to protect them from heavy metal exposure. I stopped casting because wheel weights contain so much junk toxic heavy metals and exposure to heavy metals is WORSE than lead.

Now think about it, wheel weights are bought from the cheapest manufacture, and to keep the cost down a lot of scrap junk metal gets added to the lead. That is why in many places today tire stores and gas stations are not allowed to sell the wheel weights and the old weights must be properly disposed of.

It has nothing to do with being a extremest tree hugger environmentalist, it does have something to do with your health and an early death by slow poisoning by toxic heavy metals.

 

[snuffy]

A quote from the article
Quote:
"Once fine lead dust has impregnated rugs and furniture, conventional cleaning methods are ineffective in removing it and furniture may have to be discarded if it contains residual lead dust"

Uh-huh, just where does all that "fine lead dust" come from? The lead I'm using is not in the form of dust. It's solid ingots and solid scrap lead. If some joker is sanding lead with sandpaper to generate "lead dust", then I guess it could be a problem.

You don't need to be a doctor of toxicology, just have some common sense. Lead is heavy, which is why it's perfect for bullets. If it were to magically divide itself into dust, it would seek the floor or lowest place in it's environment. It would wash OUT of clothes to the bottom of the wash tub, to be drained during the wash cycle.

Everyone has something to fear. Those that unjustly fear lead is going to kill everybody are, UNFORTUNATELY in position of power, which is why we have seen lead being blamed/banned in our society. Clear thinking and common sense are very un-PC now days.

This article totally makes the case that casting in the kitchen or in the house is very bad. Describes just how lead gets tracked around the house, how it gets into your clothes, and when you wash those clothes, how it gets on the other clothing in the washer.

Then explain how while I'm doing just that, Casting for several hours twice a week AND shooting indoors at a poorly vented range, how does my lead/blood level test out at 7.0 last year? Unventilated back bedroom that's also my loading room. Also tumbling brass there too.

 

[snuffy]

I stopped casting because wheel weights contain so much junk toxic heavy metals and exposure to heavy metals is WORSE than lead.

And those "other" junk toxic metals are? Talk about grasping at straws to make a point! Lead IS a toxic metal, all by itself, it don't need any other junk.

Now think about it, wheel weights are bought from the cheapest manufacture, and to keep the cost down a lot of scrap junk metal gets added to the lead. That is why in many places today tire stores and gas stations are not allowed to sell the wheel weights and the old weights must be properly disposed of.

They are required to sell them back to the companies that made them to start with, or the company that's selling them batteries. They give them more than we're willing to pay, and they don't have to haggle price and wonder if we're coming back for another load.

It has nothing to do with being a extremest tree hugger environmentalist, it does have something to do with your health and an early death by slow poisoning by toxic heavy metals.

Which is why it's important to keep the area clean, wash hands whenever we go back to the loading room, and wear a dust mask when tumbling brass.

Everybody has to decide what is an acceptable risk. You can believe the greenies, or do things in such a way to avoid the dangers. Just quit telling me I'm gonna die from what I've been doing for over 50 years.

 

[wkumatt]

Delete

 

[joneb]

Geese Matt,
You make it sound like Pb is more of a threat than white bread, refined sugar and genetically modified food
I guess we will just wait and see if the Pb bullet ban in CA saves the Condors, if not maybe its just their time to go. Species have came and went with out us so why now is it always our fault ? Perhaps some species are not fit to survive with us

 

[Slamfire]

I found an older MSDS for lead Wheel weights, the composition is as below. Wheel weights did not have an industry purity standard, so they could have basically anything in them.

This manufacturer had antimony, arsenic, copper, tin.

Uncoated Weights, Lead

Manufacturer's Name: Perfect Equipment Inc. LaVergne, TN 37086
Date Prepared March 2007

Section II - Hazard Ingredients/Identity Information

Weight Percents

Lead 93.0 – 99.9 %
Antimony 0 – 6.0 %
Arsenic 0 – 0.5 %
Tin 0 – 0.5 %
Copper 0 – 0.1

Section III - Physical/Chemical Characteristics
Boiling Point Approximately 2700° F
Melting Point Approximately 621°F


If you are curious about what is in zinc wheel weights, look for the MSDS.

 

[Fishslayer]

Uh-huh, just where does all that "fine lead dust" come from? The lead I'm using is not in the form of dust. It's solid ingots and solid scrap lead. If some joker is sanding lead with sandpaper to generate "lead dust", then I guess it could be a problem.

Lead dust can come from primer residue, residue from inside cases, it can be brought back from indoor ranges.

I don't cast, but I shoot indoors & reload. Recently found my blood level at 18Dl/whateveritis. Normal should be around 0-2 Dl, 25Dl is cause for concern.

I'm doing things differently and will retest in a few months.