lead sources

[beezlebob]

Well,I read where a guy has never paid a dime for his lead, he goes to roofing places, tire shops etc. This morning I stopped to check several tire shops. Every one of them run my Mexicans, Phoenix, AZ, these folks are frugal and never toss out and wheel weights at all. No lead there, so I went to a metal salvage yard, they have lead for sale at $1.25 a pound, but, they are to busy to take me over to get any lead, only two guys in the yard. Said to come back early another day, so being a mite upset, I just ordered ten lbs. Is about $32.00 for that with shipping. Not cheap, but I have something to start with at least.

[Dogshirt]

Don't use wheel weights!    There isn't much lead in them these days and the resulting balls will be too hard to properly engage the rifling.

[Patocazador]

The metals market is down right now. The local recycler, who is a pain like the ones you mentioned, won't even buy aluminum cans right now. His standard price for pure lead (vent stacks, roofing, wire sheathing) is 30 cents/lb. It may be less now.

Only the stick-on wheel weights are pure lead. They are getting rarer as lead is being phased out. I paid $20 for a 5 gal. bucket of wheel weights from the local Goodyear store. About 1/3 was pure lead, 1/3 lead alloy clip-on weights and 1/3 iron (Fe) weights.

Lead is there but chances are you won't get it free.

[hotfxr]

This being California and lead being the biggest threat to human life and the environment since the beginning of time, it has been hard to find it at reasonable cost through traditional means. Some places are even trying to charge hazmat fees, of all things. Not wanting to pay $1.50 and up for dirty lead a buddy and I started cruising yard sales, garage sales, and flea markets. Got 25 pounds of 16oz sinkers for $5, was too late to pick up 100 pounds of lead flashing for $10. Gets us outside in the air, we get to meet some very interesting people, and find at least one great deal on lead every weekend. Takes a little time and some patience but well worth it. We have stocked up over 300 pounds in the last couple of months.

[Dogshirt]

This being California and lead being the biggest threat to human life and the environment since the beginning of time, it has been hard to find it at reasonable cost through traditional means. Some places are even trying to charge hazmat fees, of all things. Not wanting to pay $1.50 and up for dirty lead a buddy and I started cruising yard sales, garage sales, and flea markets. Got 25 pounds of 16oz sinkers for $5, was too late to pick up 100 pounds of lead flashing for $10. Gets us outside in the air, we get to meet some very interesting people, and find at least one great deal on lead every weekend. Takes a little time and some patience but well worth it. We have stocked up over 300 pounds in the last couple of months.

And now that you have posted this, the Eco-Cops will be banging on your door! 

[hotfxr]

This being California and lead being the biggest threat to human life and the environment since the beginning of time, it has been hard to find it at reasonable cost through traditional means. Some places are even trying to charge hazmat fees, of all things. Not wanting to pay $1.50 and up for dirty lead a buddy and I started cruising yard sales, garage sales, and flea markets. Got 25 pounds of 16oz sinkers for $5, was too late to pick up 100 pounds of lead flashing for $10. Gets us outside in the air, we get to meet some very interesting people, and find at least one great deal on lead every weekend. Takes a little time and some patience but well worth it. We have stocked up over 300 pounds in the last couple of months.

And now that you have posted this, the Eco-Cops will be banging on your door! 

Did I say lead? No, no, no, I meant I had a lead (leed) on lead substitution materials. Yeah, that's what I meant. L'lead h'here? No officer, everything I have is frangible and lead free. Honest! 

[DandJofAZ]

Just got 50# from a guy at work who helped clean up a garage and took the lead home for he knew not what, but couldn't see tossing it in the dumpster with other trash.

Doug

[drissel]

Worst case, you can buy lead shot, find some reclaimed, melt that down and use it.  I have  bunch of lead pipe from 20 years ago, and a mess of wheelweight lead, which if I got desperate, I would use.

[drissel]

Could go to Flint Michigan for when they start replacing the lead water pipes.

[Patocazador]

Most lead shot is hardened and clip-on wheel weights have other alloys.
Stay with dead soft stuff like the roofers and plumbers use.

[crazell]

Have you tried looking at a battery shop? A buddy of mine and myself bought a lot of lead from them.

[Red Badger]

Have you tried looking at a battery shop? A buddy of mine and myself bought a lot of lead from them.

Never use battery lead - it will kill you quicker than anything else !  lead fumes are bad enough but mix in the sulfuric acid the battery lead is impregnated with and you are going to meet St Peter in a hurry!  and if you handle that stuff with out a thorough cleaning it  will absorb through your skin!   

[crazell]

Never had any problems.

[seniorsgt]

one pop of them battery plates will ruin your day. I use the thumb nail rule for ww if ya can scratch it use it. recovered a 50 cal round ball from a deer that expanded to the the size of a quarter after going through both ribs. just check them before ya melt them or ya may end up with mush

[beezlebob]

Thanks guys, I'll keep looking for lead. Just frustrating trying to get it. One outfit charges $1.25 a pound, if I can get them to get some out for me.