Auto body lead filler

[jar-wv]

A friend told me he could get me some of the lead used in body shops. Does anybody know what is in it exactly? Hopefully somebody here has had some experience with it.

jar

[nighthunter]

jar .... I don't know what the newer stuff is but I remember my father doing body work with copper screen and 50/50 solder. would be interesting to know what todays formula is.
Nighthunter

[nelson133]

They don't use lead anymore and haven't for a long time, it's all plastic filler.

[bobthenailer]

my solder is all older but it is 50%tin & 50%lead and i have another batch thats 40% tin & 60% lead good luck bob!

[jar-wv]

He said it was old stuff and they never used it. I think I'm going to get it and check it out. Thanks for the replys.

jar

[kodiak1]

Yes and I have seen 30 Tin 70 Lead Solder from the old Autobody stuff.

[Dale53]

I used to run a body shop (in the dim dark past) and 80/20 lead/tin was the filler of choice.

Dale53

[yodar]

Kester Electronics solder bars are available here at a surplus house feeding off
Lockheed-Marietta Missile systems and NASA

It is $5.00 a bar 2.25 lb is 67-33 Kester and I put ~4 oz (1/8 of the bar) in 20 lb of my WWM alloy before I pour my ingots and the pistol and rifle bullets are excellent

Yodar

[kywoodwrkr]

Auto body lead had a very large range of combinations.
It ranged from 10% tin 90% lead up to and over over 50/50.
Depending on who had what to sell I guess.
Currently Eastwood sells 30/70 (tin/lead) combination.
Oh, and price there is only $2.49 per 1/4 lb. :-)
FWIW.
DaveP

[Crash_Corrigan]

I use the droppings from the floor of a radiator shop which uses 60/40 solder. I smelt it down in a cast dutch oven and the resulting boolits are very light but hard. Also they are free. I am also trying to hook up with a local tire dealer for all their used wheelweights. A mix sounds good to me.