Looking for lead source

[timetohunt]

I am sure I am not the only one looking for a source of pure lead and not WW's. I did melt down some ww's yesterday to use to cast some bullets for my centerfire firearms. But I need to cast some RBs and need to find a source for pure lead. I looked at Midway and they have some lead ingots that are pretty pure but I don't now what the acceptable percentage should be to use for BP round balls. Can anyone point me in the right direction? Thanks in advance.

 

[Idaho Ron]

Rotometal has an ad here. I have been pleased with the lead I have from them. It is pure, and soft. They are a good company to deal with. Ron

 

[jtmattison]

rotometals.com.

Plumbers lead.

Lead roof flashing.

Telephone cable sheath.

There's lot's of good sources for pure or near pure lead.

HD

 

[Coot]

I get some of my lead for free as scraps from a local stained glass shop. I bought 250 lbs of roofing lead from a scrapyard for 40 cents a pound when it looked like there might be a shortage.

 

[timetohunt]

Thanks for all your replys. I will check on Rotometal and I need to find a scrapyard close by to see if they have any too. Thanks.

 

[8905c]

timetohunt -

Check the nuclear medicine department at your local hospital. Radioisotopes are shipped in lead containers to avoid unecessary exposure to radiation. Once the isotopes are removed, these containers are clean pure lead.
8905c

 

[F.G. Ford]

Scrap yards have many names today, to avoid the watchful eyes of the envionmental enforcers.
So sometimes it can be a chalenge to find a metal recycler.
Auto scrap yards seldom have the lead that you are looking for.
Almost evey city has a metal recycler, so look around.
Old Ford

 

[timetohunt]

I am not quite sure how to approach my local hospital about getting some of that lead. How do you do it?

 

[timetohunt]

I have noticed that it is hard to track down a scrapyard here but there does seem to be some "recyclers".

 

[RJR]

Ask your family doctor to call the nuclear medicine department. That's what I did. I now get 100 to 200 lbs about every 6 months, they call me when they need to get rid of it.

 

[timetohunt]

Awesome! I guess I need to shake up my friendly doc and see if I can do the same.

 

[timetohunt]

Also do you have to worry about it being radioactive?

 

[Birddog6]

You have to watch what ya get from the recycling places. Allot of them will tell ya anything to sell it, it is a business, & all of the lead they have is pure lead...... :shake: Best to see if Before they melt it down.......

Check it with your thumbnail. Better yet, take a piece that you KNOW is pure & compare it with your thumbnail...... :thumbsup: :hmm:

 

[roundball]

And the good news is that the price of lead is now falling fast...my trap & skeet club just got a periodic 18 wheeler delivery and 25lb bags of Lawrence magnum shot are all the way down to $19/bag

 

[RJR]

Lead cannot absorb radiation, that's why isotopes are shipped in it.

 

[flinthead]

When I scrounge ww lead from tire shops usually about 1/3 of the wheel weights are the adhesive stick on kind. They are pure lead and not hardened with atimony like the clip on wheel weights.

I used to be disapointed to find the stick on wheel weights as I was casting for centerfire rifles but now that I have a couple of muzzle loaders I can use both types of lead.

 

[flinthead]

I forgot to mention I have got a few stick on ww that were cast out of zinc or something. They are easy to spot as they are brittle compared to lead. I understand that zinc is the last thing you want to melt in with your lead.

 

[Sharp Shooter]

I checked out Rotometals and the lead is fairly cheap but shipping is a killer. I would need to get about 65 pounds to get the free shippping! Wish I knew other people to go in on it near me.

 

[Highlander73]

I found a coupla pounds of roof flashing at a local scrap yard. It never hurts to ask if you can find one in your area. Lead has gone to pretty much nothing in price. The scrap yard I found it at only pays out a penny a pound. So I'm assuming if I found more I could get several pounds for a few dollars. Also theres a guy on Evil-bay who sells lead at a decent price already cast into pound bars. His name is Artie. I found him by typing in soft lead in the search area. He's a pretty cool guy and shipping is quite fast.
Highlander

 

[mckutzy]

ask your or a local dentist for the x-ray lead backers. they should have boxes for you in a short time if it is a decent enough office.