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Lead hammer (lead cast to replace hide insert)
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Although it doesn’t last very long, I prefer to use a lead hammer when for example, scrolling material that’s twisted, to avoid marring it. A wooden mallet is too light and a hide mallet smokes and smells, and a brass or copper hammer is too dense. The hammers depicted will last a few sessions though and the mushrooms are easily removed, far easier than a copper insert. Hide inserts are fairly durable, but drop out, which is why I have these.
As you can see, I hope, I take a cheap holesaw blade, tighten up a hose clamp, in order to make a form in which to cast the lead. NB Donning leather jacket, leather apron, gauntlets and visor beforehand. Tuck feet beneath an open drawer in case a droplet penetrates jeans and disappears behind tongue of boot. Which has happened more than once.
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Sourcing free lead (bring your own bucket)
Thanks for sharing, Philip!
Cheapo tip for free* lead alloy (app 2-3 % tin):
Some forty years ago I had a need for lead, and a few dozens of kilos would suffice (I won't tell what for),
so I fixed myself an improvised shovel from thin perforated steel plate with lotsa 4 mm holes in it.
Brought that and a few empty 10 L paint cans to the local .22 cal shooting range,
and (at a time it wasn't in its intended use) I dug thru the sand bullet trap (or whatever it's called in H M English).
The low energies of these bullets gives you fairly shallow and easy work. Sand sifts thru - bullets stays in the shovel.
15 minutes of labor and the filled cans couldn't even be budged (113 kg per 10L).
Had to empty them out to 1/3, and they still weighed app 35 kilos apiece...
Smart thing: .22 bullets don't have any jackets and the thin plating goes into the dross, giving you a clean pour.
*Don't know if this practise is acceptable or allowed today, tho.
I still haven't run out of lead, 40 years later.
Filled a crushed tomato can last February to easily achieve a Q & D 4,4 kg point load weight for a colleague,
instead of his suggested "Just turn away 55 % of this free cast iron block I brought you":
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How to:
Use a gas absorbing respirator and PPE as you already stated.
Melt on a stovetop in an aluminium saucepan, though it takes some time and is tedious
as the heat conductivity of lead is pretty bad, spoon out the dross and pour in mold/ into billets.
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Just my thruppence worth
