Author Topic: Procuring lead (Read 6219 times)

Scota4570 · « **on:** January 16, 2018, 07:36:53 PM »

It used to be free. Not so much now. What is best way to get lead today?

I was going to try a local metal recycler . The last bunch I bought from them was about 50-cents. Now they pay 52-cents to buy it from you. Spot price is $1.15 today. Rotometals best deal is $2.44 per pound.

What is a reasonable price to pay for scrap lead that passes the thumbnail test?

smokinbuck · « **Reply #1 on:** January 16, 2018, 07:48:45 PM »

Check with some local roofers or plumbers. They sometimes get it out of remodels and repairs. Usually they will save and sell it if they know you want it.
Mark

OldMtnMan · « **Reply #2 on:** January 16, 2018, 07:52:29 PM »

A little cheaper than Roto. Still expensive.

http://www.zipmetals.com/Certified-Pure-Lead-Bullet-Casting-Alloy-Ingot-999-Pure-5-pounds_p_155.html

Tim Ault · « **Reply #3 on:** January 16, 2018, 07:58:14 PM »

Put the word out to all the construction tradesmen you know that your in need plumbers roofers carpenters demo guys , there's also Craigslist and other online local buy sell trade sites . Tire shops are still good tell them to save you the old stick on weights after tire changes .

Scota4570 · « **Reply #4 on:** January 16, 2018, 09:34:36 PM »

All good ideas. I have had a little luck with roofers. Plumbers out here, California, almost never see lead pipe. The last tire shop I asked told me it was hasmat and refused to sell. I found a scrap yard that quoted me a very low price. I'll have to see them asap.

retired fella · « **Reply #5 on:** January 17, 2018, 01:25:33 AM »

I've been buying from recyclers for years. I am rather picky and normally will only buy old roof flashing. The last purchase however, was lead sheeting from an x-ray room remodel. Can't recall ever paying more than 1.00/lb.

Bill Raby · « **Reply #6 on:** January 17, 2018, 05:21:10 AM »

25 years a go me and a friend would clean out the bullet trap at the National Guard shooting range. Tons of free lead. Problem is that it was always full of copper jackets, empty brass, shotgun wads, and all sorts of other trash. He had a big bottom pour melting pot that would hold about 200 pounds of lead. Melt it down and all the trash floats up to the top. Scoop it off and pour the lead into molds. All the lead we wanted and at least 1000 pounds left over each time we did it. Did that about twice a year. Made a good amount of money selling off the extra. Then it happened. Best guess is a live flash-bang grenade went into the pot. We were dumping in buckets full and with all the other garbage going in it would have been easy to miss that. Yes, there were injuries, but it healed. That was the end of that! Lead balls are cheap enough that I just buy them now.

dogcreek · « **Reply #7 on:** January 17, 2018, 08:23:58 PM »

Do you know any roofers? For a couple of summers I work with a crew that installed neoprene roofing. They threw away all the old lead flashing that they removed from some of the roofs, so I asked if I could have it. That was 30 years ago and I still have quite a bit of it left! It's soft, pure lead far as I can tell.

Scota4570 · « **Reply #8 on:** January 17, 2018, 10:39:43 PM »

Impressive.

glad everyone healed OK.

I once got a primer in the pot. That was plenty exciting for me.

Daryl · « **Reply #9 on:** January 17, 2018, 10:51:59 PM »

Had a brown moth land in my lead pot once. The back door (was casting in the stair-well out of the wind) still has small splatters of lead stuck to it. The 20- pound Lee pot emptied itself. I had to throw away my glasses and sweater - both damaged by the explosion, while I was Very LUCKY - only little pin-prick burns on my face. Had I not been wearing glasses, I'd have likely burned my eyes.

Mike from OK · « **Reply #10 on:** January 18, 2018, 09:51:59 AM »

One of my upcoming home improvement projects is to replace my sewer line under the house. The current main pipe is 4" cast iron hub-and-spigot.

I hope to recover several pounds of lead from that "little" project.

Mike

OldMtnMan · « **Reply #11 on:** January 18, 2018, 08:26:07 PM »

I wish I could cast my own. Not that it saves a lot of money, but just to do it. Living in an apartment means i'd have to do it outside. Is that practical in Colorado? Cold weather and no electricity doesn't seem like it's ideal. I could probably get around no electricity, but what about the cold. Maybe just in the summer for me?

Daryl · « **Reply #12 on:** January 18, 2018, 10:38:19 PM »

Another source, is hospital X-ray labs, when renos are made. The was the source of Taylor's and my last pure lead grab. We each ended up with quite a bit - over 400pounds for him and over 300pounds for me. That will last a year or two, if I stop shooting the big bores.

Nessmuck · « **Reply #13 on:** January 21, 2018, 04:15:54 AM »

Yup..got a friend who is a friend of a guy that's into frabracation of medical carts....and they use lead in the bottom of those carts to keep them from tipping over... got so much now....I shoot my 62 cal and don't even think about running out.

Black Hand · « **Reply #14 on:** January 21, 2018, 04:55:49 AM »

Quote from: OldMtnMan on January 18, 2018, 08:26:07 PM

I wish I could cast my own. Not that it saves a lot of money, but just to do it. Living in an apartment means i'd have to do it outside. Is that practical in Colorado? Cold weather and no electricity doesn't seem like it's ideal. I could probably get around no electricity, but what about the cold. Maybe just in the summer for me?

I'd suggest propane as your fuel - I've tried with my electric hot plate, but it just doesn't have enough power to do the job.
Cold may be a hindrance only in that you may not want to be outside. Avoid doing any casting when it might rain - moisture in a pot full of lead has an explosive effect...

smylee grouch · « **Reply #15 on:** January 21, 2018, 05:37:30 AM »

+ 1 for propane, I have a couple of bottom pour electric pots that leak so bad that I can't use them. I think the propane recovers faster if you have a little breeze over your pot, I have a small fan blowing the fumes away.

RVAH-7 · « **Reply #16 on:** January 21, 2018, 06:54:48 AM »

Quote from: smylee grouch on January 21, 2018, 05:37:30 AM

+ 1 for propane, I have a couple of bottom pour electric pots that leak so bad that I can't use them. I think the propane recovers faster if you have a little breeze over your pot, I have a small fan blowing the fumes away.

I inherited my father's old plumber's furnace that burns white gas but the price of Coleman fuel is off the charts so I use an OLD treadle operated small "rivet" or ranch forge outside with smithing coal.
Only takes a little to cast up a batch of rb's or melt procured lead in the cast iron pot. I cast when there is a steady cross wind breeze to carry away the coal smoke and lead fumes. I'm not really trying to re-invent the wheel but it is old ways, simple, quiet, & satisfying.

OldMtnMan · « **Reply #17 on:** January 21, 2018, 08:09:26 PM »

Propane sounds like it will work. I'll start to look into it. I have a small lake near me that I could go to cast. It has picnic tables all around it that would be perfect for casting. It's real calm early in the morning like in the below picture. I'd have 2-3 hours to cast before the wind starts up. Do some casting and then do some fly fishing will be nice way to spend a morning. Then go up higher in the mountains for a hike with the dog.

Thanks, guys.

Daryl · « **Reply #18 on:** January 21, 2018, 08:32:40 PM »

Quote from: smylee grouch on January 21, 2018, 05:37:30 AM

+ 1 for propane, I have a couple of bottom pour electric pots that leak so bad that I can't use them. I think the propane recovers faster if you have a little breeze over your pot, I have a small fan blowing the fumes away.

My Lee 10 pound pots I used 30 years ago, leaked badly. Now, with a new pot or one I've emptied, I run a #6 self tapping screw into the hole from the top, using an impact driver with an extrension. This solves the dripping problem and converts the pot into a dipping pot.
That is the scenario with the 2 20 pound Lee pots I'm using now. One is for pure lead, the other had my 50/95Win. bullet mix.

Black Hand · « **Reply #19 on:** January 21, 2018, 11:41:27 PM »

I've taken to putting my casting ladle over the propane flame, melting the lead and pouring a few balls. Reload the ladle, allow the lead to melt and keep going. It mimics what would be done over coals in camp and doesn't require anything too complicated.

smylee grouch · « **Reply #20 on:** January 21, 2018, 11:46:49 PM »

Thanks for that tip Daryl, I will try that as those bottom pour are just taking up space and not getting anything done.

Daryl · « **Reply #21 on:** January 22, 2018, 03:17:03 AM »

This was a bottom pour Lee lead furnace.
Now, dipping only and better balls and bullets.

bones92 · « **Reply #22 on:** January 23, 2018, 01:26:31 AM »

Daryl, I have a Lee electric pot I've never used, but I think I'll do the same thing. Dipping with a ladle is just fine.

I have used the propane camp burner, though if it's cold and drafty out, it can take a while to build up heat. I actually use a short piece of duct-work piping (sheet metal cylinder, about 6" diameter and 4 or 5 inches long) to make a heat shield to help contain the heat from the burner.

John Ciccone · « **Reply #23 on:** January 23, 2018, 02:40:23 AM »

If you are going to be casting lead balls, you want pure lead. OFTEN, lead for industrial purposes can contain tin, arsenic or antimony(Sb). 2% to 4% Sb will harden the lead over time. A conical bullet that is too hard will not obturate properly. Balls, even those tightly patched, may not obturate properly. I usually buy my lead from Buffalo Arms. Yes, it is more expensive than harvesting, but at least you know what it is.

Daryl · « **Reply #24 on:** January 23, 2018, 10:28:20 PM »

Quote from: bones92 on January 23, 2018, 01:26:31 AM

Daryl, I have a Lee electric pot I've never used, but I think I'll do the same thing. Dipping with a ladle is just fine.

I have used the propane camp burner, though if it's cold and drafty out, it can take a while to build up heat. I actually use a short piece of duct-work piping (sheet metal cylinder, about 6" diameter and 4 or 5 inches long) to make a heat shield to help contain the heat from the burner.

Propane camp stoves suck at casting balls or bullets. The 2psi regulators do not allow for enough heat. I converted a white gas stove to propane, using the original nozzle and silver soldered on the regulator (flame adjuster) off a propane bottle. Seems to me, I stuffed 4 ought steel wool down the spigot before hard soldering on the regulator. I could melt my big pot holding 40 pounds of lead, inside 20 minutes. With the adjuster wide open, the flame would rise 3' high. I would adjust it to just lick the sides of the of 5 1/4" x 5" diameter pot, inside diameter. 5 1/2" x 5 1/2" OD.
THAT camp stove worked. It also scared my buddy who was a BC Gas man. I used it for 20years, NP, but retired it some time ago.

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Author Topic: Procuring lead (Read 6219 times)

Black Hand

Black Hand

John Ciccone