It's about over

JohnMoses · June 9, 2012, 06:36 PM

I went to the local Hyundai dealer to pick up my bucket of wheel weights... 14 lbs lead, 34 zinc & steel. Thats less than 1/2 gallon bucket of lead, 2 buckets scrap.

David Bachelder · June 9, 2012, 07:08 PM

The tire shops will not give or sell you wheel weights around here. Wheel weights are pretty much a thing of the past.

m&p45acp10+1 · June 9, 2012, 10:15 PM

I am guessing this is an area specific thing. I picked up a bucket of weights a couple of weeks ago. I netted quite a bit of lead out of it. There was less than a hand full of zinc, though there were quite a few steel weights in the mix. I got way more than my $20 worth out of it.

FrankenMauser · June 9, 2012, 10:39 PM

There are still plenty of lead alloys available from other sources. (My primary sources will be a plumbing supply company {pure lead} and a metal recycler {other alloys}, in the very near future.)

But wheel weights are definitely harder to get.
As I've detailed before in this forum, I can't even find a tire shop that sells theirs (to anyone) any more. They're all locked into recycling contracts by their WW suppliers. The only WWs I've ever been able to get my hands on were a coffee can full from when my grandfather used to walk several miles a day, and picked them up on the road; and a few WWs from some wheels that were being scrapped.

All of my "Wheel Weight" ingots were alloyed from pure lead, linotype, and tin solder.

grubbylabs · June 11, 2012, 11:48 PM

I am lucky, I came across a member of the casting forum and he has several 55 gal drums filled with them. He gave me my last 5 gal bucket full of them and I have yet to process them but they are due soon. He told me that I could have what I could use of them from his drums and not to go buy from any one else.

But I may be moving from the area and at that point I am not sure what I will do. Probably hit the recyclers.

June 9, 2012, 06:36 PM	#1
JohnMoses Senior Member Join Date: April 11, 2008 Posts: 197	It's about over I went to the local Hyundai dealer to pick up my bucket of wheel weights... 14 lbs lead, 34 zinc & steel. Thats less than 1/2 gallon bucket of lead, 2 buckets scrap.

June 9, 2012, 07:08 PM	#2
David Bachelder Senior Member Join Date: August 23, 2011 Location: Trinity, Texas Posts: 636	The tire shops will not give or sell you wheel weights around here. Wheel weights are pretty much a thing of the past. __________________ David Bachelder Trinity, Texas I load, 9mm Luger, 38 and 40 S&W, 38 Special, 357Magnum, 45ACP, 45 Colt, 223, 300 AAC, 243 and 30-06

June 9, 2012, 10:15 PM	#3
m&p45acp10+1 Senior Member Join Date: May 3, 2009 Location: Central Texas Posts: 3,930	I am guessing this is an area specific thing. I picked up a bucket of weights a couple of weeks ago. I netted quite a bit of lead out of it. There was less than a hand full of zinc, though there were quite a few steel weights in the mix. I got way more than my $20 worth out of it. __________________ No matter how many times you do it and nothing happens it only takes something going wrong one time to kill you.

June 9, 2012, 10:39 PM	#4
FrankenMauser Senior Member Join Date: August 25, 2008 Location: In the valley above the plain Posts: 13,424	There are still plenty of lead alloys available from other sources. (My primary sources will be a plumbing supply company {pure lead} and a metal recycler {other alloys}, in the very near future.) But wheel weights are definitely harder to get. As I've detailed before in this forum, I can't even find a tire shop that sells theirs (to anyone) any more. They're all locked into recycling contracts by their WW suppliers. The only WWs I've ever been able to get my hands on were a coffee can full from when my grandfather used to walk several miles a day, and picked them up on the road; and a few WWs from some wheels that were being scrapped. All of my "Wheel Weight" ingots were alloyed from pure lead, linotype, and tin solder. __________________ Don't even try it. It's even worse than the internet would lead you to believe.

June 11, 2012, 11:48 PM	#5
grubbylabs Senior Member Join Date: October 11, 2009 Location: Hansen Idaho Posts: 1,465	I am lucky, I came across a member of the casting forum and he has several 55 gal drums filled with them. He gave me my last 5 gal bucket full of them and I have yet to process them but they are due soon. He told me that I could have what I could use of them from his drums and not to go buy from any one else. But I may be moving from the area and at that point I am not sure what I will do. Probably hit the recyclers. __________________ * (Swinging club) Whack! whack! whack! * Nope, the old nag's still dead . (Capt Charlie)