Type of weight metal in hydrometers

Does anyone know what type of metal is usually used in the base of hydrometers to give them weight? I'm *really* hoping it's something benign like tin, and not lead. The reason I ask is that while brewing with my brother-in-law the other day, my hydrometer fell off the counter and the weighted half ended-up in the fermenter.

Normally lead metal doesn't have a very high solubility, but beer is a bit acidic and I wonder if maybe we should pitch the batch.

lead........

Iron or steel. Everything made these days has to lead free. I did the same thing about 10 years ago and got it all out with a magnet.

Paul

LayMeister said:

Iron or steel. Everything made these days has to lead free. I did the same thing about 10 years ago and got it all out with a magnet.

Paul

Click to expand...

Really?
I bought mine about a year ago and it says "lead weighted hydrometer" right on the paper inside it.

The only lead that will hurt you would be from a gun. If your worried about it with a conical fermenter you might get lucky and have it come out during a quick trub dump. If not go in there with a sterilized small long handled spoon bent into a mini ladle. Think about how many people that store wine in leaded crystal decanters?

LayMeister said:

Iron or steel. Everything made these days has to lead free. I did the same thing about 10 years ago and got it all out with a magnet.

Paul

Click to expand...

LOL, well my two local LHBS's didn't get the message. Both of mine are lead.