Lead filled silver bars question

asheland

I am referring to when they drill out a good bar and fill it with lead.
Anyone ever see one of these? Are they easy to spot?
I have heard about this, but never seen one.

Cladiator

Forum member "cars" posted an image of one that had been cut in half to show the lead inside in THIS THREAD. Unfortunately the image isn't working anymore, maybe he can re-instate it for you.

cars

Here you go:

Cladiator

You da man cars.

asheland

I assume you can tell from the sides?

OPA

<< <i>Here you go:
>>



Chinese counterfeit?

cinman14

<< <i>Here you go:
>>



Before the bar was cut in half, could you detect it was filled? If not, that is a very scary prospect
for buyers of large bars..

CaptHenway

Whoever has that lead-plugged bar, have you tried tapping it on the side with a small hammer and comparing the sound to that made by an unplugged bar?
TD

Peaceman

I balance the silver bar on top of my left hand, like you are holding a cup but only on the finger part. Then I take a coin and tap the top of it. It should ring the same frequency throughout. Yea, it's tough doing 100oz bars.. Some things to note when buying:

1) Tap before you buy when you can....
2) Dont buy from China...
3) Stay away from "perfect" bars. Usually an avg. counterfieter will fill it with lead and refinish the bar...
4) Stay with one mfg. and know how the bar should look like... stay away from markings or marking positions you have not seen before.

jmski52

There is a difference in specific gravity between the two metals of about 7.7%. Lead = 11.35 sp.gr., and Silver = 10.53 sp.gr.

The bored-out bar is maybe 50% lead, so any difference in weight between a pure silver bar and a 50%/50% bar may only be 3.8% or so.

Still, if you devised a weighing system that could suspend the bars in water from a hook while they are being weighed, you should be able to detect a 3.8% difference in the densities of the bars.

An alternative might be to closely measure the sides of the bars and calculate the densities by getting a close estimate of the volumes of the bars and using that figure in determining the densities.

adamlaneus

So...why not cut all your 100 ounce bars in half?

Seems to me that this would enhance resale value, proving that the bar is not drilled and filled.

Two halves weigh the same as the whole, providing that you keep the hacksaw shavings with it in a vial as well.

That is a scary photograph. I suspect the bar was done well and difficult if not impossible to detect prior to opening it up.

Also, that may not be pure lead they are using, but a mostly-lead alloy designed to have the same density as silver.

I would imagine the process of drilling and filling also involves getting a precise final weight.

It makes me never want a 100 ounce bar. Prior to this thread, I wanted one. Perhaps new?

PerryHall

Tapping a poured bar with a small hammer wouldn't prove anything if there was a dull thud since there may be trapped air bubbles within the bar.

metallbarren

The first thing I look for are the grooves on the end of the extruded bars. If the grooves aren't right it's going to the drill press before I buy it.