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Thread: Does a metal detector find lead, as in a bullet lodged in an old tree?

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jun 2016
    Location
    Beaufort, SC
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    48

    Does a metal detector find lead, as in a bullet lodged in an old tree?

    Does a metal detector find lead, as in a bullet lodged in an old tree?

    I Was just recently turning cherry I harvested (20" log) and saw some metal that I was turning and cutting without even feeling or noticing. I pulled it out and realized it was lead. It was a bullet, probably a hunters round from several years back. The lead was soft enough that my tools were cutting thru it like wood.

  2. #2
    Not sure but lead is so soft that it probably wouldn't matter if you knew it was there or not . . .
    Pete


    * It's better to be a lion for a day than a sheep for life - Sister Elizabeth Kenny *
    I think this equates nicely to wood turning as well . . . . .

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jun 2017
    Location
    Jasper, Alabama
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    70
    Yes Joe, a metal detector will detect lead. Years ago I use to metal detect and I would find a lot of lead bullets.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Mar 2017
    Location
    Forest Lake MN
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    340
    15 Years ago I worked for a reclaimed lumber company. My first job there was a "nail puller" and basically used a metal detector to find and remove any metal before running the timbers through the wood mizer.

    I found a lot of bullets with it.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Feb 2017
    Location
    Northern Illinois
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    943
    Maybe those responding to this thread might know for sure . . . What are the limitations of the Lumber Wizard with regard to wood thicker than 3"-4". The Lumber Wizard people indicate the best depth of detection is around 2", so scanning from both sides would yield success with a 4" square piece max. Are there better options out there that don't cost hundreds or thousands of dollars? Will a conventional metal detector work for woodworking uses?

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Mar 2015
    Location
    cleveland,tn.
    Posts
    385
    I just have a cheap harbor freight metal detector but I tried it with solid lead bullets and it did go off but the unit did not have the same growl as it has with steel. What I found curious is that a copper jacketed bullet sounded like the solid lead one, I would have thought that the copper would have made a slightly different noise in the feed back between the coils . Or maybe these old ears just could not hear the difference. ( that is more likely)

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