"Michael" wrote in message
news:XTghe.54720$vN2.17663@clgrps13...
and I was
wondering if there was an easy way to tell the difference between lead
and babbit before I begin to melt any of it down.

Babbit is an alloy of any number of combinations of lead, tin, antimony,
zinc, cadmium, copper and so on. Basically any of the white metals with
small amounts of other metals to harden it. As such, it will have a wide
melting point (slushy range), as opposed to pure lead which melts at 620°F.
If the lead is good and pure, it will also solidify with a nicely
crystalline surface. Pure lead is also very soft.

Aside from that, I'm sure there are chemical tests you can try. Can always
try a drop of muriatic acid on a cleaned surface of each piece and see what
it does. (Lead should turn white or gray, alloys may turn black or produce
a colored solution. Yes I know, very definitive!)

Tim

--
"California is the breakfast state: fruits, nuts and flakes."
Website: http://webpages.charter.net/dawill/tmoranwms