Many new casters have no idea where to come by scrap lead cheap.
I have been sourcing scrap lead for decades now - initially to make my own RPG lead figures, and now bullets.
Here's my process - all done outside in dry weather. ( dry weather as steam can explode coming into contact with molten lead, and high humidity will cause bubbles, gaps, and voids in your castings )
Where-ever it comes from, I typically always smelt and flux it in a pot and pour small muffin tin ingots. This gets out most grease, paint, other metals, dirt, etc. To scoop out the crap from the rough smelt pot, I have a large metal spoon with a couple holes drilled in it to allow lead to flow. I do this in a scrap metal handled pot sourced from goodwill. The pot is on a cheap electric hot plate to keep it molten. I "help" larger scrap pieces go liquid quickly with a home depot hand propane torch initially to break it down.
I avoid battery lead altogether to avoid acid disposal problems and dangers and to not damage my gear or lungs with said acid.
FMJ bullets is my LEAST favorite scrap as you very often have to cut through the copper jack hulls.
Other lead I have harvested & used -
fishing sinkers & fishing net weights
scrap yard and found
old wheel weights
scrap yard, found, sourced whenever I buy tires - just ask and have a bucket
leaded glass window edging / frames
old windows & doors
roofing lead
scrap yard and from roofing job sites - usually used as roof vent edging
cast bullets
range back stop mining
old battery terminals
note not from a battery itself - mostly from very old cars electrical systems and old RV battery harnesses
old circuit board solder
usually from very old circuit boards and used as more of an alloy amendment to harden your bullet alloy - not used for cast rounds by itself.
For flux, I usually use a small amount of clean sawdust and or a piece of candle and or a spoon of cheap borax detergent.
As to lead toxicity - I never eat or drink while casting and I stay out of the fumes of the smelter and smelting pot. When done, wash your hands and scrub. I've had myself tested a couple times in the last few decades for lead levels in my system and have never once had a test come back with a problem. You risk more lead contamination from the residue off used primers than you will doing your own casting safely. Most people warning about lead exposure entirely over-blow the threat. With that said, those who remove primers at the dining room table or in their kitchen are idiots and will have more of a family lead problem than I ever have or will. This board has more detailed notes on this subject.
I have been sourcing scrap lead for decades now - initially to make my own RPG lead figures, and now bullets.
Here's my process - all done outside in dry weather. ( dry weather as steam can explode coming into contact with molten lead, and high humidity will cause bubbles, gaps, and voids in your castings )
Where-ever it comes from, I typically always smelt and flux it in a pot and pour small muffin tin ingots. This gets out most grease, paint, other metals, dirt, etc. To scoop out the crap from the rough smelt pot, I have a large metal spoon with a couple holes drilled in it to allow lead to flow. I do this in a scrap metal handled pot sourced from goodwill. The pot is on a cheap electric hot plate to keep it molten. I "help" larger scrap pieces go liquid quickly with a home depot hand propane torch initially to break it down.
I avoid battery lead altogether to avoid acid disposal problems and dangers and to not damage my gear or lungs with said acid.
FMJ bullets is my LEAST favorite scrap as you very often have to cut through the copper jack hulls.
Other lead I have harvested & used -
fishing sinkers & fishing net weights
scrap yard and found
old wheel weights
scrap yard, found, sourced whenever I buy tires - just ask and have a bucket
leaded glass window edging / frames
old windows & doors
roofing lead
scrap yard and from roofing job sites - usually used as roof vent edging
cast bullets
range back stop mining
old battery terminals
note not from a battery itself - mostly from very old cars electrical systems and old RV battery harnesses
old circuit board solder
usually from very old circuit boards and used as more of an alloy amendment to harden your bullet alloy - not used for cast rounds by itself.
For flux, I usually use a small amount of clean sawdust and or a piece of candle and or a spoon of cheap borax detergent.
As to lead toxicity - I never eat or drink while casting and I stay out of the fumes of the smelter and smelting pot. When done, wash your hands and scrub. I've had myself tested a couple times in the last few decades for lead levels in my system and have never once had a test come back with a problem. You risk more lead contamination from the residue off used primers than you will doing your own casting safely. Most people warning about lead exposure entirely over-blow the threat. With that said, those who remove primers at the dining room table or in their kitchen are idiots and will have more of a family lead problem than I ever have or will. This board has more detailed notes on this subject.