Melting Point of Type Metal?

[Dave Hughes]

I received, by email, this request from Bruce Bradley, which I'm sure will be quickly answered:

Can anyone remember the temperature of 'hot metal' (lead, tin, antimony alloy) in its liquid form please?
Many thanks.

[Keri Szafir]

It depends on the alloy's composition i.e. the mass ratios of lead, antimony and tin. The harder the alloy (contains more antimony), the higher the melting point. As far as I know, the Monotype caster operating manual contains some tables about that.

[JeffShay]

Slug casting metal, around 470
Monotype metal, around 520
Foundry type, around 625
All temperatures in Fahrenheit (obviously)

The completely liquid numbers vary considerably depending on the exact alloy, which will change depending on the number of times the metal haas been remelted.

From Printing Metals by Fry's Metal Foundries Ltd, London, ©1956