<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; = charset=iso-8859-1"> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2800.1479" name=GENERATOR> <STYLE></STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY bgColor=#ffffff> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Ron N said: "<FONT face="Times New = Roman" size=3>>Hmm... I had it wrong, then; I had thought that it was = impurities in lead <BR>>that accelerated oxidization (making that white stuff).<BR>><BR>>--Cy Shuster--<BR><BR>It is. Pure lead is stable. = The surface oxidizes, but it doesn't exfoliate. <BR>Just lies there quietly = like a lump of lead.<BR><BR>Ron N,</FONT></FONT></DIV> <DIV>Hmmmmmm? Having worked with most of the lead alloys, in my = bullet/ball making hobby, I'd say we're both right. And we're both wrong.</DIV> <DIV>The stuff that gets really swollen, etc., when melted/cast seems to = be soft. This stuff is very good for the bullets in a black powder rifle. = (I suspect it may have a small amount of tin. The pure lead, that I've = melted, for use in balls for my Black Powder Pistol, is softer than the stuff above. = It deforms more when loaded, which makes for a better seal in the cylinder. = Wheel Weight lead, on the other hand, is only suitable for modern weaponry, as = it holds it's shape better, in the reloading dies, etc., and in target shooting.</DIV> <DIV>In conclusion, I suspect that the nasty stuff has small amount of = tin. Because of this, you have two disimilar metals that will interact and = cause electrolysis, which really what is happening here. Wheel weight lead, on = the other hand, has so much tin in it, that is resists = electrolysis/corrosion, IMO. As all of this is speculation, on my part, gained by melting the various = types and using as bullets/balls. K?</DIV> <DIV>Best Regards,</DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Joe Garrett, R.P.T.<BR>Captain, Tool Police<BR>Squares R I</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>