May be on to something.

BerdanSS · March 26, 2013, 09:09 PM

I've been seriously thinking about getting into casting. (thanks Beagle

, your last two threads pushed me off the teetering edge I've been on for a while

)

Anywho....I spent all my free time this afternoon calling tire stores.....no luck, they all do recycling programs with used wheel weights. But the last one I called is where we have our two big trucks we pull trailers with serviced. Guy I talked to said they "don't do anything with theirs" and "ya want 'em?"

Holy cow YES! I said. besides light to heavy pickup and van fleet service...their # 1 deal is mounting Semi truck tires...I'm getting pretty excited about going there tomorrow to pick them up.

Beagle333 · March 26, 2013, 10:35 PM

Now that'll surely get you off the fence and into the business full bore! Lead is the hardest component of casting to find, and free is even better!
I hope they got a mountain of it for ya!

BerdanSS · March 27, 2013, 12:42 AM

I'm guessing since 85% of there business is tire mounting for large trucks, that most of the weights will be the big ones? Are all wheel weights created equal? Do I need to worry about getting some weirdo mix?

oldandslow · March 27, 2013, 02:52 AM

berdan, 3/27//13

When I used to get my free wheel weight lead from the local tire stores I'd always take a pizza to the workers and a 5-gallon bucket from Home Depot to replace the one I took with me. Thus they were more motivated to save the lead than they might have been otherwise. This worked well for a while till the percentage of zinc or iron wheel weights crept up to about 30% of the mix and I moved on to the scrap yards (at $0.50/pound). Good luck.

best wishes- oldandslow

maillemaker · March 28, 2013, 04:42 PM

I called all around town. All the stores except one have theirs picked up by their recycling service.

However I found one that will sell me their weights at $20 a 5-gallon bucket.

I'm betting about 20% of the bucket is useless junk.

My ingots of wheel weight lead end up costing me about $.20 a pound, as I recall.

Steve

BerdanSS · April 5, 2013, 03:50 PM

Finally got to pick up the wheel weights...they gave me a full 5 gallon bucket for this week....90% are tractor weights

BerdanSS · April 5, 2013, 04:25 PM

Double tap

grubbylabs · April 5, 2013, 04:46 PM

It seems to be in our area that I get about 1/3 of a five gallon bucket in actual WW ingots.

March 26, 2013, 09:09 PM	#1
BerdanSS Senior Member Join Date: April 3, 2011 Posts: 579	May be on to something. I've been seriously thinking about getting into casting. (thanks Beagle , your last two threads pushed me off the teetering edge I've been on for a while ) Anywho....I spent all my free time this afternoon calling tire stores.....no luck, they all do recycling programs with used wheel weights. But the last one I called is where we have our two big trucks we pull trailers with serviced. Guy I talked to said they "don't do anything with theirs" and "ya want 'em?" Holy cow YES! I said. besides light to heavy pickup and van fleet service...their # 1 deal is mounting Semi truck tires...I'm getting pretty excited about going there tomorrow to pick them up. Last edited by BerdanSS; March 27, 2013 at 12:42 AM.

March 26, 2013, 10:35 PM	#2
Beagle333 Senior Member Join Date: January 7, 2012 Location: Back in the woods a piece Posts: 744	Now that'll surely get you off the fence and into the business full bore! Lead is the hardest component of casting to find, and free is even better! I hope they got a mountain of it for ya! __________________ 1860. It just feels right.

April 5, 2013, 03:50 PM	#6
BerdanSS Senior Member Join Date: April 3, 2011 Posts: 579	Finally got to pick up the wheel weights...they gave me a full 5 gallon bucket for this week....90% are tractor weights Last edited by BerdanSS; April 5, 2013 at 04:27 PM.

April 5, 2013, 04:46 PM	#8
grubbylabs Senior Member Join Date: October 11, 2009 Location: Hansen Idaho Posts: 1,366	It seems to be in our area that I get about 1/3 of a five gallon bucket in actual WW ingots. __________________ * (Swinging club) Whack! whack! whack! * Nope, the old nag's still dead . (Capt Charlie)

March 27, 2013, 12:42 AM	#3
BerdanSS Senior Member Join Date: April 3, 2011 Posts: 579	I'm guessing since 85% of there business is tire mounting for large trucks, that most of the weights will be the big ones? Are all wheel weights created equal? Do I need to worry about getting some weirdo mix?

March 27, 2013, 02:52 AM	#4
oldandslow Senior Member Join Date: October 2, 2007 Posts: 505	berdan, 3/27//13 When I used to get my free wheel weight lead from the local tire stores I'd always take a pizza to the workers and a 5-gallon bucket from Home Depot to replace the one I took with me. Thus they were more motivated to save the lead than they might have been otherwise. This worked well for a while till the percentage of zinc or iron wheel weights crept up to about 30% of the mix and I moved on to the scrap yards (at $0.50/pound). Good luck. best wishes- oldandslow

March 28, 2013, 04:42 PM	#5
maillemaker Senior Member Join Date: August 30, 2010 Posts: 564	I called all around town. All the stores except one have theirs picked up by their recycling service. However I found one that will sell me their weights at $20 a 5-gallon bucket. I'm betting about 20% of the bucket is useless junk. My ingots of wheel weight lead end up costing me about $.20 a pound, as I recall. Steve

April 5, 2013, 04:25 PM	#7
BerdanSS Senior Member Join Date: April 3, 2011 Posts: 579	Double tap