Lead where? Lead how? (Plumbum)

[david shapiro]

Reading a history of Texias, I saw that Austin made his bucks with a lead mine, selling the lead for bullets and nails. Lead nails, to my mind, are steel nails with lead capped heads to squish and seal around the entry. Were there any actual lead nails? Maybe for inserting in pre-drilled holes and then mashing? What would the logic of their use have been?

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[Jerry Peck]

I'm thinking "lead head" nails. Used to use them for metal roofing, many still do.

Or maybe lead coated (like galvanized coated) for corrosion protection?

[david shapiro]

I'm thinking "lead head" nails. Used to use them for metal roofing, many still do.

You figure terne about's fair play?

[Jerry Peck]

You figure terne about's fair play?

Even plain old galvanized roofing.

Metal roofing doesn't do much good once the nails rust or corrode off.

I suspect most metal roofing contractors use screws now.

[david shapiro]

I suspect most metal roofing contractors use screws now.

I'll have to ask. I don't suppose copper nails would be cost-effective, especially with galvanic action eating away area. Copper-zinc cells.

[Jerry Peck]

I built some light fixtures years ago using bronze boat nails to avoid rust spotting.

[david shapiro]

I built some light fixtures years ago using bronze boat nails to avoid rust spotting.

Funny coincidence. A fine furniture-maker just asked me about manufacturing light fixtures by turning his oddments of hardwood on his lathe. I responded with all sorts of information about the UL standard, about the availability of listed portable luminaire kits, about the fact that floor or table lamps don't have to be listed, outside workplaces.

Years ago, I was giving a class to D-I-Ys, and was asked for advice on how to make light fixtures. I told them I hadn't looked at the standard, so I didn't know what elements i might overlook. Rust spotting was one (of many) I had not thought about.