US lead smelter closing up shop - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: ampdoctor
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 08, 2013, 07:23:03 pm
content: Apparently one of the world's largest smelting plants for lead in Hurculaneum MO is shutting it's doors soon and will not be opening any other plants. From what I've read the primary reason for the shutdown stems from repeated violations of EPA regulations, and the firm has determined that it's cheaper to shut down than to clean up the mess and improve their handling of the waste.While I don't endorse destroying the environment with neurotoxins, with the removal of a raw materials supplier of this size, how is this going to affect the prices of items such as batteries lead based solder, and such. Moreover, if this is typical of the direction of the lead manufacturing industry outside of lead recycling, I wonder how this is going to effect the electronics industry as a whole over the next few years. 63/37 solder for 200 bucks/spool?

author: dr.diesel
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 08, 2013, 07:27:22 pm
content: Quote from: ampdoctor on November 08, 2013, 07:23:03 pmTriple whammy for me as an avid shooter.

author: ampdoctor
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 08, 2013, 07:43:35 pm
content: bullets are a non-issue in this case since virtually no ammunition is mfg from virgin lead. "and such" would refer to shielding products, architectural applications, self lubricating and wear reducing bearings, various glass and plastic products...and such.

author: Phaedrus
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 08, 2013, 07:46:14 pm
content: Bullets aren't made from virgin lead, but lead styphnate (primer compound) is.

author: free_electron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 08, 2013, 07:46:18 pm
content: and the chinese economy get's another boost ...

author: pinkysbrein
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: November 08, 2013, 07:58:31 pm
content: While Chinese IQ gets a dump (or more likely some Mexicans or South Americans).

author: dr.diesel
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 08, 2013, 08:04:10 pm
content: Quote from: ampdoctor on November 08, 2013, 07:43:35 pmQuote from: Phaedrus on November 08, 2013, 07:46:14 pmI hope you guys are right, hard enough to get these days anyhow. I would assume a crunch on virgin lead is a crunch on the entire industry, even if minor.

author: John Coloccia
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 08, 2013, 08:09:27 pm
content: Quote from: free_electron on November 08, 2013, 07:46:18 pmThey're already shipping all the lead we need. We just need to get it out of the toys and the pet food.

author: ElectroIrradiator
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 08, 2013, 08:10:41 pm
content: Car batteries?

author: free_electron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 08, 2013, 08:20:21 pm
content: Quote from: John Coloccia on November 08, 2013, 08:09:27 pmand tooth paste...and milk .. eh no that was melamin right ?

author: Bored@Work
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 08, 2013, 09:30:38 pm
content: Quote from: ElectroIrradiator on November 08, 2013, 08:10:41 pmNot made from primary lead.Googling around a bit it looks pretty much like the particular company Doe Run is not the nicest and well behaving company in the world. More the opposite. It sounds more like they are semi-criminals in several countries. Giving a toss about regulations and laws.They decided to close the particular smelter in 2008, when new regulations came out. The kicker, however, is that at that time they weren't even in line with the old regulations. They fucked up things for decades. And not only at that location.The closing is old news, and it looks a bit like someone recently dug out the "news", spins it and is running some media campaign. I found most recent mentions on right-wing US web sites, often linking it to ammunition, the right to arm bears, all the usual stuff ...

author: deth502
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 08, 2013, 10:17:51 pm
content: Quote from: Phaedrus on November 08, 2013, 07:46:14 pmthe entire shooting industry still doubts the longevity of lead based priming compounds for no reason ive ever seen. from kooks ranting about govt conspiracies to put a shelf life on ammo to "prepper" kooks going on about hermetically sealing and all this other nonsense to keep them "working".i think there would be a lot of happy people if they were to go back to the old mercuric corrosive priming compounds.

author: ampdoctor
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 08, 2013, 10:33:25 pm
content: Quote from: Bored@Work on November 08, 2013, 09:30:38 pmIf you don't go off "half cocked" about the ammunition issue, pun intended, you'll realize that aspect is pure spin. As I said initially, they apparently preferred to shut it down rather than clean up their mess per EPA regulations. What a bunch of great folks! And if this company is doing it you can bet your sweet ass most all the other companies are doing it as well. From what I read the EPA got on their ass several years ago and finally pushed the issue and will be 100% offline before the end of the year.This begs the question, if the EPA is finally playing hardball, how many more companies will close their doors and how is this going to trickle down to increased prices of lead based products. And moreso, will this possibly wind up in a full on ban of lead based solder products throughout the US.

author: Stonent
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 09, 2013, 01:11:23 am
content: Quote from: dr.diesel on November 08, 2013, 07:27:22 pmI have a friend who rolls his own from melted tire weights. He just hits up local repair shops for them.

author: senso
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 09, 2013, 02:06:00 am
content: So, kester solder with lead made in china?Better stock up.

author: westfw
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 09, 2013, 06:05:03 am
content: QuoteReally? I would have guessed that "most" ammunition was made from bulk industrial lead meeting "mil spec lead-ammo-12345" or something...

author: ampdoctor
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 09, 2013, 10:26:52 am
content: Quote from: westfw on November 09, 2013, 06:05:03 amYup, something along the lines of 90-95% of at least commercial ammunition is made from recycled lead. Car batteries, wheel weights, recycled electronics, old medical equipment, you name it. It wouldn't surprise me that they get their lead from the cheapest suppliers they can find with little regard for the purity of the product since it's going to be jacketed and alloyed anyway. And while I don't know the proportions, bullet lead is usually alloyed with either tin or antimony. Hmm...where have I seen that combination before?!As an aside, there's been a push for a number of years to get the lead out of all ammo and move to completely non-toxic projectiles such as bismuth and tungsten. From what I understand at least, lead bird shot has already been banned in the EU and several other countries under RoHS directives.

author: deth502
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 09, 2013, 12:10:50 pm
content: only the atf has specifically banned tungsten, among other things, as possible projectile material. not to mention you none of the alternatives come close to the density of lead.