Anyone Know How to Clean Lead Back to Shiny?

[AusTexDude]

I find a LOT of fishing sinkers while detecting. Usually a minimum of 40 and on the high side over 100 on each detector outing. I'm literally finding 1 lb to 3 lbs in my pouch when done.

Half of them are beaten up and will go into the melting pot to make new sinkers to sell on Ebay. But about 1/2 of the sinkers are in great shape they just need to be brought back to original luster.

I don't want to melt them down, especially all the egg weights, if there is a way to just clean them and sell them.

I have tried vinegar, vinegar and baking soda, CLR, and Aluminum wheel cleaner with no luck. Was thinking about throwing a bunch in my rock tumbler for 30 mins and see what happens but it's currently running a cycle and I have 6 days left.

Any ideas?

 

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[pepperj]

I find a LOT of fishing sinkers while detecting. Usually a minimum of 40 and on the high side over 100 on each detector outing. I'm literally finding 1 lb to 3 lbs in my pouch when done.

Half of them are beaten up and will go into the melting pot to make new sinkers to sell on Ebay. But about 1/2 of the sinkers are in great shape they just need to be brought back to original luster.

I don't want to melt them down, especially all the egg weights, if there is a way to just clean them and sell them.

I have tried vinegar, vinegar and baking soda, CLR, and Aluminum wheel cleaner with no luck. Was thinking about throwing a bunch in my rock tumbler for 30 mins and see what happens but it's currently running a cycle and I have 6 days left.

Any ideas?

 

[Chilli]

I find a LOT of fishing sinkers while detecting. Usually a minimum of 40 and on the high side over 100 on each detector outing. I'm literally finding 1 lb to 3 lbs in my pouch when done.

Half of them are beaten up and will go into the melting pot to make new sinkers to sell on Ebay. But about 1/2 of the sinkers are in great shape they just need to be brought back to original luster.

I don't want to melt them down, especially all the egg weights, if there is a way to just clean them and sell them.

I have tried vinegar, vinegar and baking soda, CLR, and Aluminum wheel cleaner with no luck. Was thinking about throwing a bunch in my rock tumbler for 30 mins and see what happens but it's currently running a cycle and I have 6 days left.

Any ideas?

Iv actually never seen that an issue here in Oz.
Iv known guys finding lead and selling it no probs to fishermen.
I used to give mine away to people who just made them into the sinker size they liked.
Why cant you just sell it to anyone without them looking shiny out of the packet sinkers? Surely anyone would know weighing it that its lead?
Its not like its a precious metal!
Why bother!? Seems a bit overboard to need to show visually its lead!

 

[AusTexDude]

Iv actually never seen that an issue here in Oz.
Iv known guys finding lead and selling it no probs to fishermen.
I used to give mine away to people who just made them into the sinker size they liked.
Why cant you just sell it to anyone without them looking shiny out of the packet sinkers? Surely anyone would know weighing it that its lead?
Its not like its a precious metal!
Why bother!? Seems a bit overboard to need to show visually its lead!

Because where I hunt the lead is covered in a thick white limestone and they look uglier than homemade soap.

 

[AusTexDude]

View attachment 2186135

Well, the peroxide and vinegar actually worked but there is one problem. The limestone seems to slightly eat into the lead, leaving it feeling very bumpy and rough like sandpaper after being cleaned.

Guess I have no choice but to melt it all down and recast them.

Thanks for the help

 

[ConceptualizedNetherlandr]

Seems a waste to clean fishing weights. Why?

 

[AusTexDude]

Seems a waste to clean fishing weights. Why?

I find so many of them, lbs and lbs. On Ebay sinkers are going for about .70 to $1.00/ounce on small orders. Most fisherman don't want to buy large bags of 1oz weights that cost $25 for a couple lbs, they just want a 5 pack of this and a 5 pack of that.

I'm just going to melt everything down and recast it into pyramid and bank sinkers and stick with that. I was just wondering if cleaning and reselling some of the egg weights would be easier than melting and recasting.

As many lbs of lead as I find there is much more profit in the form of fishing sinkers than scrap.

 

[Chilli]

Because where I hunt the lead is covered in a thick white limestone and they look uglier than homemade soap.

Oh, ok. There's a difference in minerals where I am then, and visa versa.
I get that. Happens with detectors too. 👍

 

[Tesorodeoro]

Lead oxidizes quickly. They will not remain shiny for long if you do figure it out.

 

[Back-of-the-boat]

Maybe and this is just a thought run a flame over them from a torch. Or maybe a cigarette lighter it might work.

 

[Red-Coat]

I discovered these products years ago from a roofing specialist who recommended them for restoring the leadwork on my period property. I primarily use the G3 formula for finds.

https://portal.sigroofing.co.uk/userfiles-sig-exterior/documents/Associated%20Lead%20Milled%20Envirolead%20Guide.pdf

Lead Sheet Cleaner based on sodium metasilicate is designed to remove all types of grime, bird fouling, airborne pollution and dust from lead surfaces, either as part of a general clean-up or as a pre-treatment in preparation for surface restoration. Lead Sheet Cleaner will not remove Patination Oil, bitumen or tar.

Lead Sheet Restorer Formula G1 based on nitric acid is designed to remove oxide/carbonate patinas that form before the slower developing, but more adherent sulphite/sulphate based patinas. This will be on leadwork ranging from recently installed, up to as much as 50 years old.

Lead Sheet Restorer Formula G3 based on ammonium acetate is designed for renovating leadwork during the restoration of old buildings and statuary. As it is in gel form, it will remain in contact with the surface to be restored for a period of time long enough to break down the adherent patina found on leadwork greater than 50 years of age. It may also be used to restore an area of leadwork to match an adjacent new lead repair.

They’re from a British company, but I expect that similar products must be available in the US from roofing specialists. The company also makes patination oils to protect the appearance of new lead or lead which has been restored.

 

[Gene Mean]

Maybe some 2000 grit sandpaper.

 

[ncsuwolf]

I’m of the opinion….why? Obviously found/detected weights, but their end goal is to hold a piece of bait to the bottom. I’d reduce price by 10% over the “shiny” version and save yourself the effort. As a fisherman I could care less what it looks like.