Welcome to the Forum!
I originally came for info on the CVA Optima V2 pistol. Got lots of good info, liked the Forum, and stuck around!
Lots of knowledgeable, helpful folks here… on both modern AND traditional MLs.
Also one on the most “polite” Forums on the ‘net!
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Lead water pipes were the first thing I ever melted down, for round balls. Lots of hard water/mineral “scale,“ otherwise not bad.
Mine were a tangled mess. To make them more manageable, I tried cutting them up w/aSawzall. Too much lead “sawdust.” I know- whack with a hatchet to crimp it… then just fold back and forth to break it. Worked great!
There was some water left in the pipes, didn’t give it too much thought. When I’d stick another section of pipe into my cast iron pot, I’d stand it on end in the melt, and lean it against the side of the pot. You could occasionally see steam vent out of the end, and it was fun to watch. “The brilliant are easily amused!”
The excitement came when I had a piece with the end crimped shut pretty solid. I popped that in the pot, but instead of venting out the steam, it held it in- right up until the explosion!
That was my first visit from the “Tinsel Fairy”- lead splatter all over the driveway!
Boots, long pants, long sleeves, glasses AND face shield, and gloves kept me from any pain or injury!