The "Don't Try This At Home" Department

[Silver Creek Slim]

Yesterday, I was out in the backyard with the cookfire going making a roast in the dutch oven. The roast was on and going good. I had to stick around to babysit the fire to make sure it didn't become a forest fire.  I trimmed the branches on a boxelder that is west of the house. I cleaned out the kid's/dawg's wading pools (2) and refilled them with water. I decided, since I had the fire going, I would melt the lead alloy outta the 3' long by 4" pipe. I took it over to the fire on a handtruck 'cuz I couldn't lift it. I struggled to git it situated in the fire right. I put the closed end on a couple logs and the open end on an 8" cement block so the it angled down toward the open end. I put my smelting pot under the open end. I got the fire going good with pine branches. We have pine shelter belts 'round the yard. The majority of the heat was in the center of the pipe. I tried getting more fire at the open end but it was hard to do 'cuz the cement block was there. The fire started dying down so I went over to the shelter belt to get more pine branches. As I was collecting them, I heard a noice from the fire that sounded like a tennis ball gun. So, I went back to the fire. There sat a chuck of 4" diameter by 7" long lead alloy 3 feet from the end of the pipe.  The smelting pot was covered with lead. Lead was splattered all over the side of the firepit. The pipe had move about 6" backwards. After the chuck of lead colded, I weighed it. It is 28 lbs. My guardian angel was working overtime.

Slim

[Delmonico]

I never thought about it doing that, after thinking about it over night I almost bet there was some moisture in it as well as the expansion of the lead.

[Silver Creek Slim]

The moisture theory might be valid. Hmmmmmmm...


Slim

[Silver Creek Slim]

BTW, here is a picture of my "cannon" and projectile.



Slim

[Stump Water]

Ok... I just strolled in outta the weeds... and the only lead I handle shows up at the casa lookin' like boolits already.

Why was there lead in "the" pipe?

[Silver Creek Slim]

The pipe used to be 5' long, but someone cut 2' offa it 'cuz they needed a section of it. It was previously used as a counter weight for an overhead door. The 5' pipe filled with lead alloy weighed about 300 lbs.

Slim

[litl rooster]

How much fg will it take to launch it?.......Glad you and family are okay

[Silver Creek Slim]

At least a couple lbs.  The family was at a parade when the incident happened. Just me, the dawg, the cats, and the chickens were home.

BTW, welcome back from KY.

Slim

[Delmonico]

I talked to Gopher Grease this afternoon, he's like me, he thinks there was some water down in there someplace that built up pressure and when enough melted it let go.

[Stump Water]

The pipe used to be 5' long, but someone cut 2' offa it 'cuz they needed a section of it. It was previously used as a counter weight for an overhead door. The 5' pipe filled with lead alloy weighed about 300 lbs.

I see.  And, I've seen those at warehouses that are as old as Del.

A good find.

[litl rooster]

I see.  And, I've seen those at warehouses that are as old as Del.

A good find.

that's old

[Delmonico]

And how dangable old do you heathens think I am?

[Silver Creek Slim]

I see.  And, I've seen those at warehouses that are as old as Del.

A good find.

that's old

I didn't know there were warehouses that old. 

Slim

[Silver Creek Slim]

And how dangable old do you heathens think I am?

Aren'tcha Noah's brother? 

Slim

[Delmonico]

I ain't even ever got AARP junk mail in my name yet, but my wife has.   (I expect it soon.)

[Arcey]

Aren'tcha Noah's brother?

Slim

Lord, I hope not.  Noah is the one whut got in the cables last night - my grandboy.  I'd rather drive an F-150 then ta have Del as a grandkid...............

[Silver Creek Slim]

Lord, I hope not.  Noah is the one whut got in the cables last night - my grandboy.  I'd rather drive an F-150 then ta have Del as a grandkid...............

Slim

[Delmonico]

But Arcrey, down in the land I travel in, all the locals wave at me.  They don't wave at SUV's that is tryin' to pretend they is a Pick-Up.

[Lucky Irish Tom]

And how dangable old do you heathens think I am?

Old enough to know better than to ask that question in these here parts! 

[Delmonico]

I ain't skeered of none a ya!