melting lead for bullets

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kd5exp

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I have been making bullets the last couple of days and today making ingots. Last couple of nights I have woke up with the chills and sweating bad. Last night was the worst, fever broke about 2:30 and when I got up the bed was soaked. I don't know if this has anything to do with the lead. I am in an extra bed room with a box fan in the window just above the melting pot. Back door to garage open and fresh air coming in. I have made bullets before and not had a problem. If this is from lead what can I do about it. I feel it coming on again and need to figure it out. I have a Doc apt tomorrow and will ask him and maybe get a blood test. Last time I remember feeling this bad was when I had ammonia. Body hurt all over and fever with chills.
 
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From my experience and your description, the good news and the bad news are the same. Sounds like you have the flu. The poisons that are in lead alloys just don't work that fast, and your precautions sound very good. As long as you didn't ingest some lead, you should be good. Do what the Doc tells you.

My sons family lives in southern Texas. There is a virus down there that comes on in about 24 hours, has violent effects for about 4 or 5 hours, then in about 4 more hours, you feel fine. 3 in the household had it in 36 hour intervals.

Good luck, and I hope you get well soon.

Ivan
 
Care must be taken when making Your own Bullets.
Proper ventilation is a must to keep the fumes and smoke from being inhaled and You should wear gloves also.
I worked in a Shop that lined Acid Tanks with Lead Plates and They had to be joined at the seams by melting (a lot like oxy/acetylene welding) The People doing that work were sent to the Hospital twice a year to be treated to prevent Lead poisoning even though They had all the proper safety equipment.
 
From the reloading section

http://smith-wessonforum.com/reloading/232095-blood-lead-levels.html

I doubt your symptoms are from lead. Lead poisoning (heavy metal) is a long term exposure and settles in the fatty parts of the body.

It's main entry ways into the body are breathing dust, ingestion or through the eyes. Most exposure is from lead in the primers at indoor ranges.

It is not readily absorbed through the skin. Washing your hands removes it. Just do not eat , smoke or pick your nose after handling lead,;)

You do not seem to have any of the signs or symptoms of lead poisoning.

Lead poisoning Symptoms - Mayo Clinic
 
Lead does not go "atmospheric" until the temps get way higher than you attain whilst smelting or casting. The way to get lead into your system is handling lead with bare hands and then eating, smoking or rubbing your eyes, wash your hands after handling lead. Also shooting in a poorly ventilated indoor range will do it too. As already said it takes a long time to accumulate enough lead in your system to have symptoms. Now smelting wheel weights is hazardous to your health, I swear a few lung fulls of that and you will wake up next morning with tentacles or such!
 
Thanks Guys. My Wife was worried but I didn't think this was it. I have fresh air coming in and old air going out right above the melting pot. I have done this for years and no problems always be careful about fumes. Wash my hands after working with it. Good news is I was OK last night after melting down a big piece of lead of some kind a friend gave me he found in a pasture. Looks like they dug a small trench and poured in in there. Found a few small rocks in it. Got about 35 lbs. of it but seems a little hard. I will have to test. No telling what this is. I have been out of it for a while but after going to a nearby town and buying supplies I think it will pay off for my plinking. It's just a hobby and I enjoy it. Never learn enough about it. Any info on where to read up on mixing lead to get it right for pistols and rifles I would enjoy reading I would be thankful. Thanks < Gene
 
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kd5exp said:
Thanks Guys. My Wife was worried but I didn't think this was it. I have fresh air coming in and old air going out right above the melting pot. I have done this for years and no problems always be careful about fumes. Wash my hands after working with it. Good news is I was OK last night after melting down a big piece of lead of some kind a friend gave me he found in a pasture. Looks like they dug a small trench and poured in in there. Found a few small rocks in it. Got about 35 lbs. of it but seems a little hard. I will have to test. No telling what this is. I have been out of it for a while but after going to a nearby town and buying supplies I think it will pay off for my plinking. It's just a hobby and I enjoy it. Never learn enough about it. Any info on where to read up on mixing lead to get it right for pistols and rifles I would enjoy reading I would be thankful. Thanks < Gene
Click to expand...

This reminds me of a poorer past....When I was young we would take a pencil and drive it in the ground to make holes......We'd melt scrounged lead in a can on Dad's camp stove......We'd pour the lead into the holes....Dig up when it hardened......Cut into lengths with side cutters & split each piece 3/4 way through........Instant(free) sinkers for our bush lines & trot lines......Thanks for the memory.
 
kd5exp said:
Thanks Guys. My Wife was worried but I didn't think this was it. I have fresh air coming in and old air going out right above the melting pot. I have done this for years and no problems always be careful about fumes. Wash my hands after working with it. Good news is I was OK last night after melting down a big piece of lead of some kind a friend gave me he found in a pasture. Looks like they dug a small trench and poured in in there. Found a few small rocks in it. Got about 35 lbs. of it but seems a little hard. I will have to test. No telling what this is. I have been out of it for a while but after going to a nearby town and buying supplies I think it will pay off for my plinking. It's just a hobby and I enjoy it. Never learn enough about it. Any info on where to read up on mixing lead to get it right for pistols and rifles I would enjoy reading I would be thankful. Thanks < Gene
Click to expand...


Sounds very X Files like, I would avoid it entirely, is there any black "oil" looking stuff around?:D;)
 
unknow origin

I don't know much about where it came from. My neighbor traded for it and gave it to me. I melted it all down and made it into ingots and have it put aside for now. I have plenty of WW so not needed yet. I found some 1 pound sticks 50% Tin and 50% lead and mix this with 9 lbs of WW. Seems to do pretty good. I am almost positive that this mystery lead is WW but want to find out before I waste my time on it. I can just barely put a dent in it with the fingernail test. It didn't cost me anything so no loss yet.
 
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I used to cast for pistol, rifle and M/Loader. Then it got too time consuming with everything else I had going on.

Now I just take any lead I scrounge (and brass/copper/ect) to the scrap yard & buy cast projectiles from a local bulletier.
Lazy,,I don't think so,,just not enough hours in the day anymore.
I'd rather be reloading and shooting at the range than standing over the leadpot.
...But there is something special about making them yourself from free stuff isn't there!
 
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