From an electrical standpoint, the new parts mean better work, because better burning can be done, certainly a new connection will allow the battery to deliver more current than an old partly sulphated one could ever do.
CAN YOU MAKE GOOD LEAD CASTINGS?
The question that naturally comes up is, can the ordinary battery man make good lead castings? We will answer “Yes,” very emphatically. There is nothing mysterious about the work and all the talk of alloys, compounds and formulae does not mean a great deal.
Pure lead is not hard or rigid enough to make good battery parts, therefore, it is necessary to add some other metal that will provide the strength, not be affected by the acid and not increase the resistance electrically. Antimony has all the necessary qualities, and is, therefore, commonly used by mixing it with the pure lead.
Figure 4
The various manufacturers recommend from 2 to 12 percent antimony, as the proper combination, but in buying new pig lead for castings, a 4 percent antimony compound is very satisfactory.
In using old battery lead, however, due to chemical action the proportion of antimony is apt to be too high to produce perfect castings. This usually shows up by cracks or shrinkage, as in Figure [4]. To overcome this trouble, pure lead is added, until a perfect casting is made. Pure lead can be purchased (in the form of bars, lead pipe, or sheet lead) from a manufacturer such as the National Lead Company—your accessory jobber, the local plumber, or the junk dealer. When buying from a junk dealer, however, care must be taken that there is no solder or tin present.
PREPARATION OF THE LEAD
In order to pour the lead some means of melting and a proper container must be provided.