Question Regarding Dug Bullets

[ironman200081]

Friends,

I have only been digging bullets for six years (I consider myself a recovering coinshooter now) and I noticed some of my oldest finds are starting to get powdery. That is, the lead oxide is coming off like a dry powder residue when I touch the bullets. I was wondering if you all take some sort of action to prevent this from happening and, if so, what do you do? I would appreciate any help or advice.

I use Renaissance Wax on all of my brass finds to stabilize and preserve them. I imagine that it would work well on bullets too. I am going to apply some to a few of the powdery bullets in my collection tonight and see if it works. Perhaps that is the answer.

 

[Digger70pa]

I try not to let them bump into each other or let them roll around.

 

[ironman200081]

Hmmm, that must be it. I kept them in a bag together. I don't know that I have a better way to store that many bullets than in bags or jars.

 

[Digger70pa]

Hmmm, that must be it. I kept them in a bag together. I don't know that I have a better way to store that many bullets than in bags or jars.

Yes any time they roll into each other they take some of the patina off where they touched. I put mine in cases. I know it's a little expensive but it keeps them safe. HH

 

[Cajuncoinhunter]

I stand them up on a shelf in large display case and leave them alone.

 

[ironman200081]

I ended up testing the Renaissance Wax on a few different bullets. It works great. Doesn't change the color, doesn't harm the underlying patina, and (at least for the last week) has not caused them to become powdery or gritty. It is a micro-crystalline wax, so it does not make them glossy or "waxy" to the touch. I think this will be my solution for now. With 5 kids under 10 in my house, I do not have a man cave or other appropriate way to display all of my finds so the Renaissance Wax allows me to keep them stored and preserved until I one day get to evict said children and renovate a relic room.

 

[quicksilver]

How many bullets do you have?

 

[ironman200081]

Probably a couple dozen pounds. Too many to wax them in a weekend. I will wax the new ones as I dig them and slowly work on the ones in my collection. Did the same thing with brass and buttons a while back.