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Cars & Coffee Killer
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: State of Failure
Posts: 32,246
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Battery Recycling
The lead-acid battery in my UPS started dying, so I thought I would replace just the battery.
That got me thinking about the old battery.... Can I "recycle" it myself? And by "recycle", I mean, can I reclaim the lead for bullet casting? My basic understanding of chemistry says that I could neutralize the acid with baking soda and take the lead out...
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Some Porsches long ago...then a wankle... 5 liters of VVT fury now -Chris "There is freedom in risk, just as there is oppression in security." |
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10-19-2010, 07:45 AM
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Detached Member
Join Date: May 2003
Location: southern California
Posts: 26,964
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What's the going price of lead about $1/lbs? What is your time worth?
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Hugh |
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10-19-2010, 07:54 AM
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Almost Banned Once
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Adelaide South Australia
Posts: 38,404
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It's certainly possible (easy) to cut open a battery and neutralize the acid...
But reclaiming the lead is not easy to do safely. You have to heat the plates with a blow torch or something and let the lead drip off into a container. Now this is the dangerous bit... The thing is as you do this there will be vapor in the air coming off the molten lead and you don't want to breath this stuff in. So you need a full face mask with an independent air supply like they use in a 2pak spray booth. You can get a face mask with a filter rated for metallic vapors but these are not easy to find. >>> If it was me I would go with the full face option. While you're considering this it may be easier to buy some lead in a block form and melt it down yourself for bullet making. I used to make my own fishing weights from lead when I was a kid and we followed some simple rules like standing upwind so we wouldn't poison ourselves. I'm not sure you could get away with that today. Lead poses special problems for kids developing brains.
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- Peter |
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10-19-2010, 07:59 AM
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canna change law physics
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Peter, this is where Chris gets the next door neighbor involved.
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James The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the engineer adjusts the sails.- William Arthur Ward (1921-1994) Red-beard for President, 2020 |
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10-19-2010, 08:17 AM
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Parrothead member
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Monmouth county, NJ USA
Posts: 13,843
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Chris, the lead in batteries is not pure lead. It is mixed with calcium or antimony.
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Vinny Red '86 944, 05 Ford Super Duty Dually '02 Ram 3500 Diesel 4x4 Dually, '07Jeep Wrangler '62 Mercury Meteor '90 Harley 1200 XL "Live your Life in such a way that the Westboro Baptist Church will want to picket your funeral." |
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10-19-2010, 10:08 AM
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Cogito Ergo Sum
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Lead is cheap... Don't do permanent damage to yourself for a few Oz of it...
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10-19-2010, 10:20 AM
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Friend of Warren
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Lincoln, NE
Posts: 16,494
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Quote:
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Kurt V No more Porsches, but a revolving number of motorcycles. |
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10-19-2010, 10:27 AM
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Cogito Ergo Sum
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Lots of beer....
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10-19-2010, 10:30 AM
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Parrothead member
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Monmouth county, NJ USA
Posts: 13,843
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But hey, if youre feeling ambitious, I have some batteries here at work for ya!
Bring some help, they are about 600 lbs a piece.... 
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Vinny Red '86 944, 05 Ford Super Duty Dually '02 Ram 3500 Diesel 4x4 Dually, '07Jeep Wrangler '62 Mercury Meteor '90 Harley 1200 XL "Live your Life in such a way that the Westboro Baptist Church will want to picket your funeral." |
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10-19-2010, 10:32 AM
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Cars & Coffee Killer
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: State of Failure
Posts: 32,246
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Swapped it out at Interstate Batteries for a new one.
This is why I asked. I know that batteries are recycled for their lead. The only other person I could ask is an environmental engineer (read: EPA compliance zealot) so, the very mention of lead in her presence would lead her to call the EPA on me.
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Some Porsches long ago...then a wankle... 5 liters of VVT fury now -Chris "There is freedom in risk, just as there is oppression in security." |
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10-19-2010, 12:17 PM
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AutoBahned
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get some old lead wheel wts.
my Dad & I used to melt these down for boat anchors when I was a kid of course... I had a test done and I DO have lead in my body |
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10-19-2010, 01:14 PM
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Cars & Coffee Killer
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: State of Failure
Posts: 32,246
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Quote:
Maybe next time you won't wear antlers to the Christmas party...
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Some Porsches long ago...then a wankle... 5 liters of VVT fury now -Chris "There is freedom in risk, just as there is oppression in security." Last edited by legion; 10-19-2010 at 01:19 PM.. |
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10-19-2010, 01:17 PM
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1970/1982 Porsche 914-6/911SC 2.7 RS
1986 Porsche 944 2.5l
