Reeder Custom Guns - Scrap Yard Lead

Went to the local scrap yard this morning. They had 2 barrels about +/- 1/3 full of lead scraps. Here are a few pictures of what I saw. I picked out the large pieces & fishing weights. There were 3 large blocks that weighed about 20# each & looked like they had been poured into some type of rectangular can. They had a different color to them so I left them there. There were a bunch of wheel weights on the bottom of one barrel, but they were covered with rust residue. May have been from the barrel if it had collected water & then been drained. I left them behind. There was some soft roofing type of lead. Most had a thick layer of paint and/or glue on them. I took the few that did not. Scrap yard wanted $1 a pound. Seemed a bit high, but I'm not well informed yet.

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I could use some guidance on selection & pricing. This is what I have accumulated so far.

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I've had these for a long time. They were from a Scuba belt.

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to the top. Skim off the slag and pour into ingots and you have plenty of material to last you a good while. You will probably need some wheel weights or tin to harden it a bit. Pure lead will lead up your barrel pretty quick.

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for lead.

As far as the wheel weights being rusty, don't worry about it grab them. I consider ww to be some of the best alloy out there.

The sheet lead will probable be pure or close to it and if mixed 50/50 with the ww is another very good alloy. It will still have enough antimony and arsenic to water drop or heat treat if you decide you want to go that route and still enough tin content for good fill out unless maybe casting hollow point bullets.

The lead with the paint and glue on it will depend on how much smoke you want to put up with during your melting. If a lot of glue it may gunk up your pot also, but should make good lead after cleaning.

The price to buy clean lead in Eastern Wa. today was between 65 and 70 cents/lb.

The lead with the different color may or may not be a problem. A blue tint is sometimes an indicator of the temp maybe a little hot or just the oxide of pure lead, just remelt and flux. A golden color will be tin, also good to have. Melt again and flux.

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You can see 2 of the large rectangles in the first pic & 1 in the second. They are brownish around the outside & I think the ends may have been blueish. They weigh about 20# each.

Is that ribbon looking material worth grabbing? It is very soft & flexible.

I have a large cast iron Dutch Oven with lid & a propane weed burner to melt the bulk material with.

Is there a web-site that displays the cost of lead per pound? Does it fluctuate much?

Thank you.

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maybe just rust also, if it is grab it.

the ribbons are probably pure lead.

There may be a web site for the price. I just called a couple of scrap yards for me buying lead.

Scrap Yard Lead

Looks like a good source.

What I Brought Home

melt it down. flux it and any impurities will float

Looks like you may have found a source

Different Color?

Is the brownish color

Make Up Testing...

Try scraping the lead with