Lead shot for ballast bars - Page 2

Greg Reimer 7376 · 09-18-2010, 10:33 PM

In So Cal, they phased out lead wheel weights. Now they are zinc. Wheel weights were cast from an inferior grade of lead that made them bad for firearms reloads. The lead used to smear in the barrels making gun cleaning more difficult. Anything that the green weenies do out here to screw things up usually goes nationwide sooner or later. Get ready, it's on its way.

Bill Harris · 09-18-2010, 10:53 PM

I bought shot from these guys. I couldn't believe that shipping was free, but when it came I understood.

http://www.rotometals.com/product-p/...eclaim_bag.htm

It was shipped by regular post office in their fixed rate priority boxes where it didn't make any difference how much it weighed, as long as it fit in the box. My mailman wasn't too happy about it, but it was a great deal and perfect for ballast bars!!! BTW, it only took two days from my order, all the way across the country.....

Bob Don · 09-18-2010, 11:25 PM

Like Mark said, I went to my friendly local tire store and they gave me a bucket of discarded wheel weights (about 80 lbs.). They were happy to get rid of them.

Philip Saran · 09-19-2010, 12:35 AM

If the tire shops does not pan out, try your local scrap metal yard or a
battery manufacture.

68camaroSS · 09-19-2010, 07:49 AM

I had a local sporting goods store that sells guns order my #10 lead shot, was cheaper than a gun shore that I checked, but still very expensive. If you get these, be careful when you handle it, do not breath the dust while you are pouring them into the bars and wash hands afterwards.

Todd Boyer · 09-19-2010, 08:55 AM

A friend did the wheel weight thing. He melted the weights down and seperated the steel clips then poured the molten lead into steel 2x3 tubing. Stinkin' things are HEAVY too !!!

Philip Saran · 09-19-2010, 12:46 PM

Along time ago (1980's) I made my own lead weights for the
weight box. Got scrap lead from my brother-in-law (my former
boss @ scrap metal yard) and melted it in a cast iron frying pan
over a propane camp stove and poured into molds I had made.
Probably not the safest way to do it in hinsight.

SuperStock 1890 · 09-19-2010, 01:10 PM

I went to one of my lift truck battery suppliers and they have a heater for lead that they use in the making and repairing of batteries. They filled a bar up for me. Much safer.

GUMP · 09-19-2010, 01:11 PM

I buy buckets full of weight from a local tire store for $25.00. I cut the ends of the longer weights and drop them into square tubing with a cap welded on one end. I then use a torch to heat the tube. As the weights melt I drop more in until the bar is full. Finally I weld another cap on the top to enclose the lead.

sscrewcheif · 09-19-2010, 04:24 PM

we have purchased lead from a roofing company...they use it for flashing. melts easy and makes good bars.

09-18-2010, 10:33 PM	#11
Greg Reimer 7376 VIP Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Glendora,Calif. Posts: 1,136 Likes: 172 Liked 705 Times in 219 Posts	Re: Lead shot for ballast bars In So Cal, they phased out lead wheel weights. Now they are zinc. Wheel weights were cast from an inferior grade of lead that made them bad for firearms reloads. The lead used to smear in the barrels making gun cleaning more difficult. Anything that the green weenies do out here to screw things up usually goes nationwide sooner or later. Get ready, it's on its way.

09-18-2010, 10:53 PM	#12
Bill Harris Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Ooltewah, TN Posts: 421 Likes: 13 Liked 26 Times in 13 Posts	Re: Lead shot for ballast bars I bought shot from these guys. I couldn't believe that shipping was free, but when it came I understood. http://www.rotometals.com/product-p/...eclaim_bag.htm It was shipped by regular post office in their fixed rate priority boxes where it didn't make any difference how much it weighed, as long as it fit in the box. My mailman wasn't too happy about it, but it was a great deal and perfect for ballast bars!!! BTW, it only took two days from my order, all the way across the country..... __________________ Bill Harris ex 2172 STK ex 2272 S/S

09-18-2010, 11:25 PM	#13
Bob Don VIP Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Greater Boston Posts: 1,496 Likes: 1,131 Liked 902 Times in 192 Posts	Re: Lead shot for ballast bars Like Mark said, I went to my friendly local tire store and they gave me a bucket of discarded wheel weights (about 80 lbs.). They were happy to get rid of them. __________________ Bob Don 128 SS

09-19-2010, 12:35 AM	#14
Philip Saran Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Parker, CO. Posts: 728 Likes: 165 Liked 14 Times in 11 Posts	Re: Lead shot for ballast bars If the tire shops does not pan out, try your local scrap metal yard or a battery manufacture. __________________ Phil Saran Parker, Colorado

09-19-2010, 07:49 AM	#15
68camaroSS Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: columbia TN Posts: 88 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Lead shot for ballast bars I had a local sporting goods store that sells guns order my #10 lead shot, was cheaper than a gun shore that I checked, but still very expensive. If you get these, be careful when you handle it, do not breath the dust while you are pouring them into the bars and wash hands afterwards.

09-19-2010, 08:55 AM	#16
Todd Boyer Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Saint John NB Canada Posts: 561 Likes: 30 Liked 6 Times in 5 Posts	Re: Lead shot for ballast bars A friend did the wheel weight thing. He melted the weights down and seperated the steel clips then poured the molten lead into steel 2x3 tubing. Stinkin' things are HEAVY too !!!

09-19-2010, 12:46 PM	#17
Philip Saran Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Parker, CO. Posts: 728 Likes: 165 Liked 14 Times in 11 Posts	Re: Lead shot for ballast bars Along time ago (1980's) I made my own lead weights for the weight box. Got scrap lead from my brother-in-law (my former boss @ scrap metal yard) and melted it in a cast iron frying pan over a propane camp stove and poured into molds I had made. Probably not the safest way to do it in hinsight. __________________ Phil Saran Parker, Colorado

09-19-2010, 01:10 PM	#18
SuperStock 1890 Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 87 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Lead shot for ballast bars I went to one of my lift truck battery suppliers and they have a heater for lead that they use in the making and repairing of batteries. They filled a bar up for me. Much safer. __________________ You don't know what you don't know yet.

09-19-2010, 01:11 PM	#19
GUMP VIP Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Shelby, NC Posts: 1,823 Likes: 2,169 Liked 2,354 Times in 554 Posts	Re: Lead shot for ballast bars I buy buckets full of weight from a local tire store for $25.00. I cut the ends of the longer weights and drop them into square tubing with a cap welded on one end. I then use a torch to heat the tube. As the weights melt I drop more in until the bar is full. Finally I weld another cap on the top to enclose the lead.

09-19-2010, 04:24 PM	#20
sscrewcheif Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: southern california Posts: 83 Likes: 1 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Lead shot for ballast bars we have purchased lead from a roofing company...they use it for flashing. melts easy and makes good bars. __________________ Big wheelies are for show!! Go fast or go home!!!