grandutefan
Member
My family owns a print shop that, many years ago, used to use linotype lead to print a newspaper. The linotype was used for the body of the news stories and then remelted into large bars (called pigs) that would go back into the linotype machine. For headlines in the news stories, though, foundry type was used, then put back into a type case drawer. We have a bunch of both and will never use it, since we converted to offset in the early 70's.
Your mission, should you decide to accept it, is to tell me the difference between these two leads. I think the foundry type is harder than lino. Why am I reading that lino needs to be alloyed with a softer lead for casting? Why can't I just shoot bullets cast with this lino? Is the foundry type worth more for it's historic value (some is over 100 years old)? Years ago some of this lino lead was cast into 1 lb. ingots. At the same time some wheel weight lead was also cast into the 1 lb. ingots and has since gotten mixed up with the lino. I have ordered a Lee lead hardness tester to resolve that.
I am an experienced reloader but would like to get into casting and use all this lead. Any comments or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Your mission, should you decide to accept it, is to tell me the difference between these two leads. I think the foundry type is harder than lino. Why am I reading that lino needs to be alloyed with a softer lead for casting? Why can't I just shoot bullets cast with this lino? Is the foundry type worth more for it's historic value (some is over 100 years old)? Years ago some of this lino lead was cast into 1 lb. ingots. At the same time some wheel weight lead was also cast into the 1 lb. ingots and has since gotten mixed up with the lino. I have ordered a Lee lead hardness tester to resolve that.
I am an experienced reloader but would like to get into casting and use all this lead. Any comments or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.