ghost Posted February 1, 2008 Report Share Posted February 1, 2008 I know there are other posts on this but I wanted to get a fast answer. I have a chance to get 50# of lead from dental X Rays and want to see how much it would be worth. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LedHed Posted February 1, 2008 Report Share Posted February 1, 2008 That is the kind of lead you want - wouldn't pay more than $1/lb. McMaster Carr sells super soft for ~$3/lb. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Basseducer Posted February 1, 2008 Report Share Posted February 1, 2008 Thats great stuff Ghost, I used to get it free from several local dentists until they were told they had to used a certified disposal agency. It's pure, very soft and you hardly have to scrape any junk off the top of your pot. I heard a quote yesterday of 40 cents a pound if you are selling it to a scrap dealer and 60 cents a pound if you are buying it. You can also see if they discard the old x-ray aprons and if you get really lucky you can tear down an old x-ray room, it's in the walls and the floor. TJ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ghost Posted February 1, 2008 Author Report Share Posted February 1, 2008 I will definately pick up the lead then. Thanks for the replys. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishologist Posted February 1, 2008 Report Share Posted February 1, 2008 I heard that this type of lead will contain a certain amount of radioactivity anyone know the answer for sure, I'm really curious to get the scoop Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LedHed Posted February 1, 2008 Report Share Posted February 1, 2008 fishologist Lead, because of its dense molecular structure, doesn’t absorb radioactivity. That is why it’s used for shielding or containing radioactive materials. The lead is about as pure as your going to find - and that is the reason everyone wants it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishologist Posted February 1, 2008 Report Share Posted February 1, 2008 that was my thinking, now we know. thanks for the skinny. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ogajiga Posted February 1, 2008 Report Share Posted February 1, 2008 I recently bought 300# of slaggy ballast lead and was glad to have got it for $.60 a lb. + shipping from another island. I'm surprised the dental lead has a price - my dentist saves his and I get it for free every six months at checkup time. Saves him the bother and shipping expense to a recycler. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ghost Posted February 2, 2008 Author Report Share Posted February 2, 2008 I don't think the guy I am getting it from is a dentist. But I am going to check with some of the local dentists and see if they will keep it for me. Also have numerous local plumbers saving all lead they pull out of houses for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ogajiga Posted February 2, 2008 Report Share Posted February 2, 2008 Wow, man, you got it going. House lead from plumbers is usually excellent soft. By the way, 50# of dental x-ray lead is a lot - I get about 15# per 6 months from my doc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zib Posted February 2, 2008 Report Share Posted February 2, 2008 When you guys get lead from Dentists is it just 100% lead or is there other stuff with it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orion Posted February 2, 2008 Report Share Posted February 2, 2008 How does one inquire their dentist about obtaining lead? Lol. I think my dentist would look at me funny. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cadman Posted February 2, 2008 Report Share Posted February 2, 2008 When you guys get lead from Dentists is it just 100% lead or is there other stuff with it? It sure is pure. The lead pieces I get from my dentist are about 1" x 1-1/2" (rectangular) x .016 thick. When I take the whole bundle of lead from my dentist in my hands, and I squeeze it, it compresses together real easy, and it stays in that shape. However, a 5 lb chunk of lead, you will not be able to squeeze. Soft lead is very dense. Do a comparison test for yourself. Get yourself a chunk of really soft lead, and then take a tire weight. Take a sharp knife, and try to cut a sliver from both. You will see which is soft right away. The soft lead when cut with a knife will start to curl, as the blade attempts to cut it. You won't do that with hard lead How does one inquire their dentist about obtaining lead? Lol. I think my dentist would look at me funny. Believe it or not, it's not that un-common of a thing. I'm sure your dentist takes x-rays of people's teeth. Just ask him if they can save you the little x-ray packets. Odds are he will, if he isn't already saving them for someone else. My dentist even takes the lead out of the plastic seal for me. I pick up the lead every time I or my wife goes to the dentist. Then at Christmas time when my wife bakes cookies, I drop a tin off for the whole office, to show my appreciation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Basseducer Posted February 2, 2008 Report Share Posted February 2, 2008 Cadman is right-on, I provided the container and they called me when is was getting full. Then ask him if he has dentist friends that might want their lead hauled away. TJ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ogajiga Posted February 2, 2008 Report Share Posted February 2, 2008 They're called "x-ray bite wings" and the alloy formulation isn't available on the internet. The approved recyclers require that the plastic and paper packing be removed from the lead film so in principal dental lead should be clean. Although my dentist is good about that with only a few smoking stinkers per batch another dentist office actually had a half dozen or so expensive looking stainless steel clips buried in the foils which I didn't notice until they floated on the melt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zib Posted February 3, 2008 Report Share Posted February 3, 2008 Thanks for that info. I just talked to my wife who used to work for a dentist. She said they separated the lead from the bite-wings. She going to ask her former boss (who's also our current dentist) about taking that lead off their hands. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thill Posted February 3, 2008 Report Share Posted February 3, 2008 I pay $0.25-$0.30/lb from the local recyclers. Really scored great and found some pure lead bar in the pile and bought 200# of it. This lead is so soft and perfect, that I literally get no mis-pours out of 200 jigs. Awesome stuff. -TH Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ogajiga Posted February 3, 2008 Report Share Posted February 3, 2008 Local recyclers often aren't aware of the world market price, or don't want to bother. Out my way pure lead gets shipped out and the leftover scrap is often in short supply and expensive. Here's a link to metals supply prices at I believe the industrial supply level showing lead at $1.20-1.30 per lb. http://mineralprices.com/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
