Haulin'Bass Posted June 23, 2009 Report Share Posted June 23, 2009 I was wondering if anyone knows were to buy bulk lead at? I buy mine from a tackle store here in town but, they only keep a small supply which is always out. I know they are getting it from somewhere but, the won't tell me because they want me to buy from them. Anyone got any suggestions? Thks, Jeff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spoopa Posted June 23, 2009 Report Share Posted June 23, 2009 Well if it doesnt matter what type of lead you want you can always go to tire shops and get tire weights from them. Then you can check E-bay also, seen bulk lots of lead on there but its kinda pricey. Goodluck, Jacob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salty's Posted June 23, 2009 Report Share Posted June 23, 2009 Any plumbing supply store will have it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jig Man Posted June 23, 2009 Report Share Posted June 23, 2009 I have made some good deals with home remodelers as shower stalls have 40# of soft lead in the bottoms. I have also gotten a bunch from hospitals that housed radio active medicine. If you have metal recycling centers around they sometimes have lots at a very cheap price. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fish Posted June 23, 2009 Report Share Posted June 23, 2009 over here its the Church of England!!!! lol:yay: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ragfly Posted June 23, 2009 Report Share Posted June 23, 2009 When I can't find any free lead I go to your local Home Depot or Lowes and buy the lead flashing for chimneys. It comes in 50lb rolls and is very soft and pretty pure. For free lead go to the local roofing contractors and ask them for their scraps. Most are happy to get rid of it because it is considered a hazardous waste at the dump. I do not like using wheel weights the aloys in the lead make the melting proerties change. You have to really crank the heat and it doesn't pour well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gloomisman Posted June 24, 2009 Report Share Posted June 24, 2009 I've got an endless supply of lead for now. LOL I just have to clean it up. Wheel weights suck and I will never use them again. Like said above the contractors or any business that may use lead would probably be happy to give it to you for EPA reasons. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark poulson Posted June 24, 2009 Report Share Posted June 24, 2009 I actually like the harder lead for jig heads. I don't pour, but Barlows sells unpainted lead heads that are a bit harder than lead sinkers, and they hold up really well for me. I also think it's a little louder than the soft lead, too. Kind of like tungsten, except cheaper. I buy 1/4" lead wire from Cabelas to use as ballast for my lures. Really easy to use. Just push it into a 1/4" hole, and add a drop of crazy glue, and, voila! Just my . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cz75b Posted June 25, 2009 Report Share Posted June 25, 2009 Always makes me chuckle when I read the line that alloyed lead from wheel weights takes a hotter pot and is tougher to pour when all of my experience has been just the opposite. Alloyed lead as used in wheel weights with antimony and tin melts at a lower temperature than pure (soft) lead. The additional tin and antimony make the finished pour harder and the melt (if fluxed and clean) fills mold details much better than pure lead. I use a variety of alloys from pure lead, salvaged bullets from the backstop, wheel weights and linotype (hard) and hands down, the lino melts easier, looks and pours more fluid and pours look sharp in details and shine like pure silver. Rather than believe me, Google the cast bullet form and see what the lead experts write about. Buying lead would be a last resort too, I see the on-line suppliers selling it for $3-4 an ingot. Ouch....of course all bets are off if you are messing with the newer zinc wheel weights.....scrounge at the tire shop or buy at the scrap yard....I'd gladly sell ingots for half what the tackle component folks sell it for, recently saw "sale" for $2.95/per. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
