Over the last month or so I've stopped at about probably around 100 car maintenence shops asking for wheel weights, and I figured I would share some tips for everyone.
First to find places to check out... I went to Google Maps https://www.google.com/maps/preview?hl=en did a search for "auto repair", saved an image of the result, and then marked off the places I had looked at in a few ways. Places that where definately no good I marked white so they kind of disappeared into the background, places that are pretty good but want money is another somewhat easy to see color, and finally places that are very good and gave me weights for free was a third very easy to see color. This allowed me to plan out routes where I could check 20-30 places along a relatively short route. Google maps has a street view function where you can get down to street view level and actually see whats on that road based on pictures that Google takes every few years or so. Since the pictures are taken every few years there may be places that have opened or close since last the pictures where taken, so keep an eye open for new places.
Scrapper/Caster... Don't forget to mention that you make bullets with the lead because I have found that if they think your a scrapper they either prefer not to give you the wheel weights, or expect money for it. If you tell them you make bullets then they are much more willing to give you WW's for free. Most places seem to have this opinion that if your going to make money on it then they should make money on it also.
Chain tire shops... Most people think these are the best places to check out. I have found that they are probably the worst places (other then maybe their parking lots). These places either already have a dedicated person that takes the metal away to recycle for money, a customer that already buys the WW's, or they have a chain wide recycling program. You can probably convince them to sell you WW's for a certain amount but they don't seem to give any weights away. However something I noticed with 1 tire shop in particular is that they don't clean their parking lots that often and you can find 5-10 pounds of weights just lying around. I found a couple handfuls of weights in 1 places parking lot, and then at the same tire shop chain in a different town I found about the same amount.
Auto dealerships... These are definately worth checking out because even though they can be a big miss, they can also be a big hit. Most of the places that said I could take whatever I wanted whenever I wanted where auto dealerships. Some of them have recycling programs in place and you can't convince them to give or sell you anyway, but some understand that $20 for 100 pounds of metal is peanuts for the amount of money they deal with, and the guys working in the shop could care less what happens to that bucket of scrap metal sitting next to the tire machine. Don't bother with higher end luxury dealerships like Mercedes, Porsche etc. because they usually have a strict recycling program in place or deal with mostly zinc/steel weights.
Gas station service bays... Can be a small hit or a small miss. Obviously they don't deal with alot of wheel weights, but 50% of the time I find that they will give you a few pounds if you ask nicely while the other 50% will have a plan and expect $25-40 for the bucket. Since they are everywhere and you can get a few pounds free they are worth checking out.
Auto Body shops... I didn't think these would have much wheel weights but a couple of them did and gave me some. Take a peak inside, if its too clean with what looks to be all painting bays, then either skip it or help yourself not look like an idiot by telling the guys you know they most likely dont have a tire machine but you figured you would ask just in case.
Small/medium size general repair shops... Worth checking out all of them (except very small ones). Half the time you can get weights for free or cheap but they tend to take a long time to fill a bucket. I found that they had the nicest guys to talk to and easily fell into a conversation about casting lead. However I found that the single garage repair shop that a guy will have next to his house is worth avoiding, not only because these guys deal with little or no wheel weights, but they also seem to have a bit of an attitude about why your asking about wheel weights. Walk up to one of the repair bays and ask a guy in the shop about the weights instead of going to the front desk. I found that asking in the shop itself yielded better results.
If they expect money... Lead is around $1 per pound current market value, but I've found that scrap yards would only give me .46 cents a pound for bars of basically pure lead. I found that the shops that wanted money it was anywhere between $20 and $50. If they had to carry it off to the scrap yard they will get around .20 cents a pound as scrap metal. If the bucket is 150 pounds (probably less), then thats $30 the scrap yard will give them, but no more then 2/3 of the bucket is lead with the rest being zinc and steel and trash. If there not willing to sell you a full bucket for $25 after they consider the time and gas to take it to the scrap yard and also that 1/3 of the bucket is cheap steel, then I think they are being unrealistic and its up to you if you feel like trying another place. Maybe paying a little more is better to you then risking driving around and not finding anything better. Some people have said that bringing the shop in some drinks or food will get you some free or cheaper weights.
Bring a bunch of smaller buckets... Not fun trying to carry 150 pound buckets out to your car, plus try getting 150 pound buckets back out of your car without damaging your car. A 2 gallon bucket full with weights should weigh roughly 50 pounds.
Care for your hands... Sounds obvious but I didnt think about this when I first went out. Used wheel weights are covered in brake dust and oil/grease and most of these shops use the old ww's bucket as a trash barrel. 1 spray bottle with soap, 1 spray bottle with water to rinse, and then an old dirty rag to dry. Gloves can be a good idea because I have found rusty razor blades in some buckets, but gloves can make it hard to get your fingers around the weights in the bucket.
Always remember to speak to someone working in the shop first (instead of the service desk) because they seem to be more open to you taking some weights. Just walk up to a bay door and wait until someone notices you.
Oh and also try not to go around lunch time because the guys will probably be gone to eat.
well thats it for now
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Originally Posted by konsole
Capitalism? Basic economics 101? 
