Other than windfalls that fall into one's lap, what is the cheapest common source of tin? Danged if that stuff ain't gittin' rat spendy! My junk yards never seem to have any since I bought half a ton of lead and got some linotype by sheer luck in the deal.
you might try local thrift shops for pewterware. Make sure, however, that it isnt some antique piece that may have more value than its melt value.
Pewter is an alloy of tin, copper and some lead/antimony/copper, heavy on the tin. Exact percentages I dont know. From what I do know is that it is marked "pewter" and is not overly expensive
Other sources are Rotometals. they have pure tin as well as tin/lead solder
Jerry
Carolina Cast Bullets
Growing old is mandatory, growing up is optional ! ! !
Locally I've found some hi-speed babbitt metal that includes high tin content with a small amount of copper. The copper adds some hardness without water-dropping, and I'll only be using small amounts anyway for low-percent tin supplement.
I have had some luck finding rolls of solder at yard sales and flea markets, I have had a few rolls gifted to me, I think I have got some for $1.00 a roll, keep your eye out, you never know.
Aim Small Miss Small
solder drippings from a local radiator shop.
50/50 solder..not that lead free stuff now plumbers use.
I get most of my tin from Linotype.
.
First reload: .22 Hornet. 1956.
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I use the lead free solder. Most if not all is 95% tin and 5% antimony. It's pretty pricy though.
Since I trap most of my boolits I only add tin when I mix a new batch or my mold isn't filling out right.
Some people live and learn but I mostly just live
I watch Rotometals for when they have an overrun of a high tin special request. Their prices are market value but we always want a better deal don't we? They will periodically do a special allow run for a customer. They'll sell the extra for a bit less than market price. Then if you buy one hundred dollars or more the shipping is free.Originally Posted by Blackwater
If you only need a small amount,you can always get tin from lead free sinkers at most Wal Mart fishing tackle isles. They are 100% tin. One package of size 4 tin splitshot is enough to "flavor" about four pounds of lead to make it 2%.
Watch the Swapping and Selling Forum here. I bought enough monotype at $1.00 per pound, that I should never again have to buy any tin.
There is some ammo and more ammo. There is never enough ammo!
Look on eVil bAy (not in boolit casting area) in industrial or all categories for solder. I got two cake pan sized ingots of 60/40 solder for about 125 dollars each. 40 plus lbs each = about 3 dollars an lb.
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Trade some lead to someone with a lot of tin and not much solder SN/PB.
WHY? It's mostly 95% tin, even better than 50-50 solder. Mostly the 5% is antimony, another valuable element.tin
50/50 solder..not that lead free stuff now plumbers use.
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I just bite the boolit(hee, hee) and get mine from RotoMetals...not cheap but what is anymore? I'm paying nearly $5.00 for a big of family size Doritos!
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Grainger industrial supply had Lead Free Solder on blow out a couple years back, and I got more than 100 pounds at about $5 a pound, delivered.
Jerry
Honor is a Way of Life
NRA Benefactor Life Member
Pewter and solder.
I have a small supply. I hate scouring garage sales.
Shiloh
Je suis Charlie
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good point. {lead free solder}
Last edited by packrat; 05-13-2012 at 07:07 PM.
+1. I happened to be talking to a metalurgist one day and mentioned my casting etc. He promptly showed me a large bearing he wanted to get rid of that was caked in tin based babbit. I ended up with MANY ingots and it alloys nicely with WW to sweeten it.
Also, my late father was a canister maker in his day; he could solder like a you wouldn't believe. When my folks down sized I scored all his solder. Lots of solder.
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