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Weird wire insulated with Lead

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  1. 05-05-2015, 09:21 AM #1
    pappawheelie
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    Weird wire insulated with Lead

    Picked up a small load the other day that included some 1" conduit apparently from an old underground service.
    Looked like two runs of Romex inside the pipe but on closer inspection it was ....gray and soft.....LEAD insulation !
    Added up to 101' of wire, about 30#. I stripped it by just slicing it down the center with a sharp utility knife.
    Ended up with 8# of #1 insulated and 22# of lead. YeeHaa......sure beats throwing the insulation into the trash!!!
    Dealt with a lot of wire over the years but this was my first "leaded" wire. Wonder how old this stuff is?
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  3. 05-05-2015, 09:21 AM

  4. 05-05-2015, 11:04 AM #2
    travistemple202020
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    never came across it before but that would have been a heavy surprise
  5. 05-05-2015, 11:08 AM #3
    bajacoop
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    I have only seen that with large phone wires. Talking the bundles that are 3"-4" in diameter. They had a lead shielding around them but they were buried directly and not in conduit. Place I used to work melted off the lead in a sweat furnace and then sent the copper off. Now the trick is to find a bunch more and send it my way.

    Last edited by bajacoop; 05-05-2015 at 11:10 AM.
  6. 05-05-2015, 11:13 AM #4
    Abuilder
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    Pappaw
    Thanks for the pictures. That must have been the very early version of burial cable.
    I only get #2 insulated for that rubber/cotton insulated wire even if it is 12 gauge.
    Last edited by Abuilder; 05-05-2015 at 04:35 PM.
  7. 05-05-2015, 12:46 PM #5
    hobo finds
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    I would get #2 insulated for it as well, and would remove the lead as well. Cool find!
  8. 05-05-2015, 01:48 PM #6
    dsroten
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    I'm jealous. I like lead, making "boolits" is fun stuff
  9. 05-05-2015, 02:10 PM #7
    DakotaRog
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    Cool! Sell it quick before the EPA comes after you for having lead
  10. 05-05-2015, 11:16 PM #8
    submarinepainter
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    always wear gloves and throw them out after handling lead , washing your hands before you eat or smoke.
    Old dogs care about you even when you make mistakes;
    God bless little children while they're still too young to hate
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