filthygovemploye 64 Posted September 12, 2012 Report Share Posted September 12, 2012 G-Mike, when you say "don't destroy expensive shot" are you talking about the shot that came out of the shell in the first place? I figured one good thing about this is there would be no need to obtain lead of any kind, just use the small pellets to make one big one. If a shell contains 1 1/8oz of small shot and it's melted to create either a 7/8oz or 1oz slugs you'd actually end up with lead left over. If I want to convert that scrap lead to small shot I need to swap it to a guy with a shotmaker. I give him 2 pounds of lead for one pound of shot back. So his shot costs me $1 per pound but it is not as good as factory made shot since it is not uniformly sized or perfectly round. The idea that you guys are melting down perfectly good lead shot is just killing me. lolz, ya it sounds good until ya do the math.. tell me more aboot this shotmaker, my buddy at work was trying to make a dripper, with ill results Quote Link to post Share on other sites
csspecs 1,987 Posted September 12, 2012 Report Share Posted September 12, 2012 Went out and made the rounds trying to scrounge up some scrap lead. Went to 4 places who deal primarily in tires and got the same "We're on a recycling program" line from them all but I was able to talk one place into giving roughly 20LBs of old wheel weights. Are there any other possible sources I might check for scrap? Some indoor ranges will sell it. Scrap metal yards will often sell it Craiglist ad will find roofers and plumbers that save it for scrap Boat salvage yards will have lead keels from sail boats. Commercial fishers often have buckets of old weights from nets and traps. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Syndicate 812 Posted September 12, 2012 Report Share Posted September 12, 2012 HOLY SHIT I just realized I have tons of sources for lead, HAHAHAHAHA yalls gonna hate on me. I shall make some calls and a priority mail trading of items will commence Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Squishy 1,149 Posted September 12, 2012 Author Report Share Posted September 12, 2012 Boat salvage yards will have lead keels from sail boats. Commercial fishers often have buckets of old weights from nets and traps. Thanks for this, I happen to be in a port city. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
AJ Dual 43 Posted September 12, 2012 Report Share Posted September 12, 2012 Yes, I've come to learn that tire shops etc. don't even have lead wheel weights in many cases. Almost all the new weights are now zinc, or polymer/tungsten etc. The boat yard info is great. My other idea was just to see if any of the recycling centers has a "lead pile" and just see if I can get mixed "dirty" lead for less than spot. And I too am interested in trading scrap for shot! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Groovy Mike 36 Posted September 13, 2012 Report Share Posted September 13, 2012 At least in NY - lead is getting hard to find / expensive because the nanny state has now outlawed the sale or real lead wheel weights..... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Squishy 1,149 Posted September 13, 2012 Author Report Share Posted September 13, 2012 As has been pointed out there are other sources of scrap lead and from what I've seen even if you have to buy it off eBay it's still a way to drastically cut down the per shell cost of slugs and anything else that can be cast "at home". Since it seems people are wanting to get involved with this trading shot for slugs or scrap and vice versa it might be good to start a "Want To Trade" thread in the appropriate forum where anyone can post their offer. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Groovy Mike 36 Posted September 13, 2012 Report Share Posted September 13, 2012 (edited) Here is what I am going to do - I am going to the scrap yard this weekend and buying 100 pounds of lead if the price is still decent. Then I will convert it into slugs. If anybody is interested in buying some or trading for them give me a shout. Edited September 13, 2012 by Groovy Mike 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Syndicate 812 Posted September 13, 2012 Report Share Posted September 13, 2012 I'm going to try the same thing, if I come up dry I'll buy a good bit from you brother Quote Link to post Share on other sites
csspecs 1,987 Posted September 13, 2012 Report Share Posted September 13, 2012 Boat salvage yards will have lead keels from sail boats. Commercial fishers often have buckets of old weights from nets and traps. Thanks for this, I happen to be in a port city. Just a warning. Lead is not always used for keels, plenty are made from steel. And when/if you find a lead keel.. Most are in the 600-3200 lb range and are likely going to be hard to size down for your lead pot. If you buy scrap lead from a yard. Ask for hard lead, and some soft, most yards sort it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
gunfun 3,931 Posted September 13, 2012 Report Share Posted September 13, 2012 Went out and made the rounds trying to scrounge up some scrap lead. Went to 4 places who deal primarily in tires and got the same "We're on a recycling program" line from them all but I was able to talk one place into giving roughly 20LBs of old wheel weights. Are there any other possible sources I might check for scrap? Some indoor ranges will sell it. Scrap metal yards will often sell it Craiglist ad will find roofers and plumbers that save it for scrap Boat salvage yards will have lead keels from sail boats. Commercial fishers often have buckets of old weights from nets and traps. good point. an average shackle of gear has about 350 lbs of leadline. I don't know how hard it would be to separate it efficiently without contaminating the lead. If you can just burn the rope off, I may have a very good source of lead. I'll have to talk to my uncle about that. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Squishy 1,149 Posted September 13, 2012 Author Report Share Posted September 13, 2012 Craiglist ad will find roofers and plumbers that save it for scrap Just did this, we'll see if there are any responses. If I stumble across the mother lode I'll trade for cheeseburgers, Splitarillo "Grape" stogies and back issues of Juggs magazine. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TheJoe90 27 Posted September 15, 2012 Report Share Posted September 15, 2012 I have been fallowing this thread, and I am happy to say I am learning a lot. I like the idea of trading shot for slugs, because then I dont have to buy any tools, I just need to go out and tear open a few shells and then wait. I suppose I can gamble with a stranger, I will send 50 federal bulk shells worth of shot in exchange for 50 (Or so) slugs? Works out as a good deal since each shell contains more than 1 oz of lead. If all turns out well, I will send more later. For indoor range use, I think 7/8ths seem like the choice..... There was some discussion about how to crimp the shell after. The "Rolled" crimp method I saw on youtube seems fantastic.... Avoids having to use any glues, and leaves the shell length... Did I miss a good point against this? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Squishy 1,149 Posted September 15, 2012 Author Report Share Posted September 15, 2012 I guess it's possible to open a star crimp, dump, add a slug and close but I'm having trouble with it. Not really trouble opening but closing without deforming the end of the shell. So I'm not doing something right I guess. I did use needle nose pliers. All this trading stuff came up after I already had a Lee melter and mold on the way. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
rs51085 136 Posted September 15, 2012 Report Share Posted September 15, 2012 (edited) For the record i couldn't open up the factory crimp and get it back closed very well either. that's one big reason that i went ahead and just started reloading from scratch that way the hulls are already empty. its fun feeling like i have to shoot up a bunch of bird shot so i can get the hulls! i do have a question about roll crimping though. after the shell is cut and rolled one time and shot, can it then be reloaded again or is it done for after the first roll crimp? i can get about 3-4 reloads on the cheapo federal paper base hulls. Edited September 16, 2012 by rogers Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Groovy Mike 36 Posted September 16, 2012 Report Share Posted September 16, 2012 (edited) I don't roll crimp, factory loads are usually star crimped. So I star crimp. Rogers - give me a PM if you want to swap. I picked up lead at the salvage yard today and plan to cast some slugs tomorrow. I will be using the Lyman mold. I just ordered a Lee mold too so I can test them both after dumping shot from the factory loaded hulls. Edited September 16, 2012 by Groovy Mike Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Syndicate 812 Posted September 16, 2012 Report Share Posted September 16, 2012 I'll take some from you Mike, only tried calling a few places today though. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
rs51085 136 Posted September 16, 2012 Report Share Posted September 16, 2012 i am tempted to take you up on that mike just so i could try some of the lyman cast slugs. i have heard that they hit harded from some people due to there shape. don't know if its true. lets us know how they compare. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Squishy 1,149 Posted September 16, 2012 Author Report Share Posted September 16, 2012 I'm thinking about a way to go around the star crimp thing without having to roll crimp but I want test it so I can say whether it works or not, and then, whether or not it's practical. While I haven't beat the bushes locally I haven't had great success either. I had one guy respond to my Craig's List ad, I responded and then I haven't heard back. I did just buy 50lbs of lead off eBay for $1.24 a pound so that'll be a start. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Squishy 1,149 Posted September 16, 2012 Author Report Share Posted September 16, 2012 I just got a call from a guy who responded to my Craig's List ad. He's got a single 65lb piece of lead and I'm at a loss to say how this could be broken down in to useable pieces. I have tools but not shop type stuff like band saws or torches. Any ideas how this might be done? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Marc 147 Posted September 16, 2012 Report Share Posted September 16, 2012 get the coarsest hacksaw blade you can find and use lots of oil to keep the lead from sticking to it...apply the appropriate amount of elbow grease and it shouldn't be to hard to cut Quote Link to post Share on other sites
rs51085 136 Posted September 16, 2012 Report Share Posted September 16, 2012 you could get a cheap propane torch and just melt some off of the big piece in to a tin can and make ingots. torches are like 10 bucks at harbor freight. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Squishy 1,149 Posted September 16, 2012 Author Report Share Posted September 16, 2012 you could get a cheap propane torch and just melt some off of the big piece in to a tin can and make ingots. torches are like 10 bucks at harbor freight. I actually have one of these. I think if I put it in an aluminum pan like the disposable roast pans that are sold it could contain drippage and easily separate from the drippings when they cool. Now that I think of it I could get an old pot, put it on the single burner propane stove I have and melt large chunks. Then I could ladle the molten lead into muffin tins or something like that. Its doable though, I'm seeing that. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Groovy Mike 36 Posted September 16, 2012 Report Share Posted September 16, 2012 an axe works too.... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Squishy 1,149 Posted September 16, 2012 Author Report Share Posted September 16, 2012 an axe works too.... I'm betting you're speaking from experience. I have one of those wedges for splitting wood, I thought of using it for a chisel. One thing I've alway been good at is tearing things apart so this should be easy as a lead pie. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RED333 1,025 Posted September 17, 2012 Report Share Posted September 17, 2012 (edited) Lyman 525 slug hitting hard is an understatment. In the pic, the slugs on the left, top 3 are out of a sand bag. The middle left is a unfired slug. The 2 at the bottom left, are off a steel plate. The 4 balls are from a .44 cap and ball dig from the sand bag. The piece on the right is a Lee slug off a steel plate. The Lyman dented the 1/4 " plate, the Lee just slide off. an axe works too.... I'm betting you're speaking from experience. I have one of those wedges for splitting wood, I thought of using it for a chisel. One thing I've alway been good at is tearing things apart so this should be easy as a lead pie. It would work. Edited September 17, 2012 by RED333 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
gunfun 3,931 Posted September 17, 2012 Report Share Posted September 17, 2012 Cut it with a bandsaw or a skillsaw with a carbide construction blade. low feedrate and lube. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
AJ Dual 43 Posted September 17, 2012 Report Share Posted September 17, 2012 When I buy lead in ingots from Natchez or Midway etc. for stuff that needs a precise alloy, like when I cast .45-70 for my old 1873 Springfield, it comes in bars too big for my LEE pot. I just use a hammer and chisel to cut it up. It's quick, and it doesn't make any shavings or dust. And that's the real issue with lead contamination when you melt or cast, or otherwise work with lead. Dust or shavings from spatter, or from tools. Lead melts at only 621 degrees F, but it BOILS (gives off vapor) at over 3000 degrees. Your workshop and bench being on fire would be a bigger problem than the lead vapor at that point. Granted, other things, like fire or smoke from fluxing may carry some vapor with it, but the majority of contamination/exposure problems are generally mechanical in nature, so that's why I like the chisel, which makes very little mess. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
gunfun 3,931 Posted September 17, 2012 Report Share Posted September 17, 2012 good point. I imagine bolt cutters would work well for thinner chunks. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Shotgun12 205 Posted September 17, 2012 Report Share Posted September 17, 2012 I would love to cast and mold my own slugs but i'm a little hesitant about it. I plan on having kids in the future and i don't really want to mess my chances up at all. The health risks in casting slugs are high so i'll just stick to wax slugs. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.