billofca Posted November 14, 2010 Posted November 14, 2010 (edited) I searched the web for the last couple of hours trying to find Lead-Antimony hardened balls for use in my large ball mill. The largest ball size I could find was 1/2 inch. I wanted larger, like 3/4 inch and could not find any from multiple searches using different search terms. This encouraged me to look for ball mold round bullet casting tools, a good electric fired melting pot, and lead-antimony ingots. I found all three to my delight. The largest ball mold I could find casts a 0.7 inch ball - close to the 3/4 inch (.75) balls I want. The lead-antimony ingots are for making hard bullets and contain 2% tin, 6% antimony, and 92% lead. The tin is to cut down on oxidation while melting and casting thus reducing slag and producing cleaner, purer balls. The use of lead-antimony hardened balls will increase the efficiency of ball milling with the advantage of heavy milling balls, while at the same time reduce any lead contamination. Hardened lead does not dent or flake off, and will last longer than the mill itself. Now here is a good question for you folks: Is anyone interested in having me make and sell them these larger lead-antimony balls for their ball mills? If you can find a good supplier of 3/4 inch lead-antimony hardened balls anywhere, I will give up the idea of making them myself and buy them instead. But I found it an impossible task searching the web. If I invest in the equipment, I would like to get some of my investment dollars back and that means I need to know if there is anyone else that is in "want" of this product that can help make it worth my efforts. I would make them at a very reasonable price at about $5 per pound selling cost. Most of the larger batches in the big mills don't use more than 4 lbs of milling media. I have no idea yet how many 0.7 inch balls can be made from a pound of lead-antimony, but if anyone else knows, let me know. Otherwise you'll have to wait until I get the equipment and start casting, weighing and counting. These milling balls would be guaranteed non-sparking, which got me looking in the first place. Some one posted here that marbles and ceramic can spark. I never heard of anyone that was making BP blow up their mill, so I'm not sure marbles and ceramic cylinders can spark and do that. Since ceramic media is sold in a lot of places where ball mills are sold, and specifically for BP, I'm sure there are many out there using ceramic. But the mere suggestion that it can spark scares the shit out me. I've milled two bathes of BP using ceramic cylinders, a mix of 1" OD and 1/2 inch OD. I am not going to do it again having read here recently they can spark. Stainless steel is not likely to spark, but if you ever ground stainless steel with a grinder, you know it can. Chrome plated steel can chip off the chrome and then spark. Brass bar stock (cut cylinders) can chew up the inside of the mill after awhile unless its a ball or the edges are chamfered. Regular lead is too soft. Hard lead-antimony balls are perfect. So, those who would be interested in getting 0.7 inch OD lead-antimony balls for their ball mill, please contact me by emailing me at willyman@optonline.net or leave me a message on my profile page, and let me know that you are interested. If enough people are interested, I will invest and buy all the tools and equipment and start stock piling these 0.7 inch OD balls. If not enough show an interest, I will have a friend of mine who has the equipment, cast a set of balls just for me. I just have to get the one-pound ingots of lead-antimony for him. Bill O. Edited November 14, 2010 by billofca
AdmiralDonSnider Posted November 14, 2010 Posted November 14, 2010 Although I´m not based in the US, I´m pretty sure there is a demand since hardened lead media is hard to find. Here in Europe there is not a single source. I´m making them myself by alloying lead with about 10% antimony. For me this is cheaper than buying pre-alloyed lead. You could have a look into it. The only snag I see about selling 3/4" media is that people do at least need a 5" diameter jar, probably better a 6" to make reasonable use of this size balls. I found the 1/2" grind more efficiently (more surface area) and these can be used in all jar sizes (see Sponenburgh). The point I´m trying to make is: consider offering smaller balls also, otherwise you´ll probably scare off those who are using small mills (i.e. the majority as far as I´ve followed questions/threads on that topic).
dagabu Posted November 14, 2010 Posted November 14, 2010 Interesting conversation in that over at Passfire, there is a chap selling super hard 1/2" lead balls for $5.00 a pound, I am buying 25# for a 6" BP jar. No way will I make my own with these prices.
billofca Posted November 16, 2010 Author Posted November 16, 2010 (edited) Okay guys, I gave up on this idea of investing in the equipment. I bought 10 pounds of antimony-lead alloy in 1 lb. ingots, and my friend is going to cast 5/8" balls for me. The ingots cost $2.60 each. I settled on the 5/8" size as a compromise between 1/2" and 3/4" for my 6.5" diameter 1 gallon jar. I think the added weight over the 1/2" balls will be a little more efficient. I'm going to keep the ceramic media and use it only to mill oxidizes by themselves. BTW, my friend has 1/2", 5/8" 3/4" .... up to 2.5" ball molds. He's been shooting a full size muzzle loading cannon for over 30 years in competition and has enough trophies to fill a house! He makes various sized lead balls for "grape" shot canister loads. Edited November 16, 2010 by billofca
moondogman Posted March 3, 2011 Posted March 3, 2011 So where can i get these $5.00 a pound balls?? Steve
oldguy Posted March 3, 2011 Posted March 3, 2011 So where can i get these $5.00 a pound balls?? Steve DITTO on that question, I'm interested.
nater Posted March 3, 2011 Posted March 3, 2011 The seller on passfire had a sale on the milling media, it has now ended.
Mumbles Posted March 3, 2011 Posted March 3, 2011 The price has increased a bit, but you can get them from skylighter now. Otherwise you can probably get on passfire, and talk to the guy and get them at a reasonable rate. http://www.skylighter.com/mall/tools.asp?fl=search#TL5017
moondogman Posted March 4, 2011 Posted March 4, 2011 The price has increased a bit, but you can get them from skylighter now. Otherwise you can probably get on passfire, and talk to the guy and get them at a reasonable rate. http://www.skylighte...l=search#TL5017 They are a good bit more on skylighter and to get started on passfire thats another $50. Somone on ebay had them for 25 including shipping that may be the way to go. Steve
Mumbles Posted March 4, 2011 Posted March 4, 2011 It's $8/lb vs. the special of $5/lb. Even if you get them direct they may not be much cheaper. If you get them on ebay they wont be as high of quality. You may as well get 50 cal shot for $10-15/100.
ballmill Posted March 5, 2011 Posted March 5, 2011 I picked up 9 boxes of 50cal shot at my local ammo supply.. They are very soft but will have to work for now. I paid $10 a box, figured I would buy from there instead of midway and save on shipping. Quick question, will I need to clean these off before milling any chems?
Algenco Posted March 5, 2011 Posted March 5, 2011 I picked up 9 boxes of 50cal shot at my local ammo supply.. They are very soft but will have to work for now. I paid $10 a box, figured I would buy from there instead of midway and save on shipping. Quick question, will I need to clean these off before milling any chems? No
toster Posted March 5, 2011 Posted March 5, 2011 I picked up a .600 cal ball mold, got some reclaimed shot from a local gun club, and bought some Antomony on ebay. I figure most of the reclaimed shot is about 4% to start with, and with the added antimony, I am pushing 6-7%, It takes FOREVER making the balls! With the .600 it is a single ball mold, so one at a time. I have a 12lb drum, and 2 - 6 lb drums. So far I have gone through close to 50lbs of lead! Yes, there is some waste becouse of the dirt, and other junk, but that comes right off to the top when melted.
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