Lead Ingots For Sale - Buyer's Choice

[TheCaptain]

Kathie, Range lead got here today. Packing great and box in top shape. Great turn around time. Thank you so much. Steve.

Thank you!

[TheCaptain]

There has been a steady decline of lead wheel weights when fetching from my sources. A big jump in steel content has occurred within the past few months with my 2 biggest sources. As I have mentioned in previous posts, I may fetch 1400 pounds, but that does not mean 1400 lbs of lead ingots!! Using the 1400 pounds as a model, I did the following. I sampled 4 trays. Pictures below. In a nutshell, out of these 4 trays, I have yielded approximately 48% in lead ingots. I first sort the trays. I sorted out 63.9 steel wheel weights; and after smelting, the clip "dross" weighed 11.8 pounds. So steel was 75.7 pounds, and the zincs weighed in at 9.6 pounds. Total (non lead) = 85.3 pounds.

I yielded 49.6 pounds of clipon ingots; 33.3 pounds of stickon ingots for a total of 82.9 of lead ingots.

If I did the math correctly: approximately 52% non lead and 48% lead.

I told the 2 major sources last week that I can no longer afford to pay double the going scrap rate. There are rates, and there are rates. And sometimes it is a comparison of apples to oranges. Some scrap yard quotes are for LEAD wheel weights.... and some are for "wheel weights" (factoring in the steels, and zincs - I surmise). At one yard, they offer 15 cents a pound for LEAD wheels weights... they learned a lesson because the scale guy told me that they took a hit (his exact words, took a hit) because of the non-lead. Now, if the 2 major sources don't call me when they are ready to take to their local scrap yard, then I will live with it! Because one of the sources load up the buckets with sockets, lug nuts, valve stems, brake pads, broken power tools, etc, etc, they will only get away with that once. They may have done this in the past, hence me being the one they deal with. Oh I forgot to mention the fiber stuff too. That is not even metal, and there are plastic wheel weights too. But what I do is take back all of their junk (including nails and molly fasteners), and deduct the amount.

I may miss a cycle, but I believe if they go to the scrap yard, they will be back! I already said that I would meet or pay a little better... but no more "more than double". If the lead content stayed the same, then it would not be a problem.

So.... A HEADS UP......... my supply may diminish... there are 2 sources near to me, and I have to see if the steel has increased. It is mostly the stickons. In my area, people don't have all these fancy foreign cars... so I tend to get more clipons than stickons.

I had set a point for myself: if the lead yield drops below 50%, then it is time for me to pack it in (this portion of my business). I still will fetch range lead, but not like I did years ago because my contact at a range passed away. And there is a new group of people that were not as honorable as he. So I lost that account (I fetched approx. 4000 lbs a year).

My integrity will not allow me to increase my prices outrageously so as to compensate for the ever diminishing supply of lead. I knew this day would come. I may shift over to pure lead, for I can buy that from a scrap yard. I had advertised pure lead, but no one here on the forum offered a price that they would be willing to pay (a price fair to me and the potential buyer). Because I would have to pay the scrap yard a price they need to get, I can not risk buying the stuff and having no buyers (or my having to sell it at a loss). I really don't know what is a fair price to charge for pure lead... and I don't want to over price it (nor under price it... and "give it away"). But pure lead (at this moment) is in abundant supply (or at least it was a couple of months ago).

So that's the scoop.

[mangshawn]

I have read all of your prices but where would i go to actually purchase and order lead from you online? Thanks. I just didnt see any link to how I can order the WW lead from you.

[EKE]

Sending PM

[TheCaptain]

I have read all of your prices but where would i go to actually purchase and order lead from you online? Thanks. I just didnt see any link to how I can order the WW lead from you.

Email received, and responded to. Thanks!

[TheCaptain]

Sending PM

Will look at the PM right now! Thanks! ~ K

[TheCaptain]

Posting here some pictures of a range that you have to go in a tunnel and fling the lead up and out through the baffles. The tunnel is about 2 feet wide, with uncaged exhaust fans. I still will be fetching range lead twice a year from a club near my house, that I am a life member of. The range pictured here, they wait for me to call them... was there last about 2 years ago. Not an easy range to clean out! I have to check with Marcel to see if he is up to doing another clean out on a cool day; if so, I guess I will call the range! This cleanout was from 2011; it took 2 days. Total lead fetched was around 7000-7500 pounds (would have to look up in my notes to see just exactly how much). At that time, scrap yard was paying a such a good price, that it was worth it to me to turn it in instead of my processing it (sifting, then smelting). I ended up with a better profit by turning it in, but not so good for all the boolit casters!!!!!

The lead was about 8 inches high behind port 1 (the leftmost port when viewed downrange). Years of accumulation. Previous cleanout that they did yielded I believe around 15,000 pounds they put into a dumpster from their local scrap yard. After the filled dumpster was hauled away by the yard, guess what the range was paid........ zero........... next day, as I understand it, a person from the range went to the yard to see about this.... and the lead was gone. So, they left it accumulate until they learned about me from word of mouth.

Note: this was the 2nd trip (cleanout of ports 1-5)....

[mold maker]

deleted

[TheCaptain]

.... and always had the opportunity to buy pipe and sheet lead. Today, after fetching wheel weights (585 pounds or so, they did not have as many pails as they thought)... but this is OK; I went to the scrap yard. I bought 243 pounds of sheet lead... and truck was full of lead today! Will be processing it, and then offering it for sale.

[TheCaptain]

Just a quick note to say I see many PM's and will read them within the next day or 2. I have just been really busy with business tasks....

Sorry for the delay on my part in responding!

Thanks!!!

~ busy-bee Kathie
Fetched sheet lead one day, cut it up that night, and smelted next day (yesterday). Not enough hours in the day.... got to get back to work now (Sunday, 4:45PM).... I have a tough boss!!!!

[DAL357]

Okay, I know how that is. I'll keep an eye out for your response to my e-mail. Thanks.

[TheCaptain]

Okay, I know how that is. I'll keep an eye out for your response to my e-mail. Thanks.

Update: I just found your email now!!!!


Hi, you sent an email? Did not see it (yet) .... just plowed through my PM's (so I suspect you really mean an email)... THANKS! ~ K

[Tallbald]

Kathie I received the WW lead ingots from you yesterday and I am tickled to get them! Clean, handsome and received so fast! Your customer service absolutely rocks. When I need more I will contact you for sure. Thanks again! Don.

[TheCaptain]

Kathie I received the WW lead ingots from you yesterday and I am tickled to get them! Clean, handsome and received so fast! Your customer service absolutely rocks. When I need more I will contact you for sure. Thanks again! Don.

Thank you for the kind words!

[1johnlb]

Pm and email sent, looking for coww

John

[cajts]

I have 60 lbs of wire type solder and wondering if you would be interested in trading for some coww or range lead. Just thought I would check because funds are low for buying lead and didn't know if you used any tin and needed some. Thanks Todd

[TheCaptain]

Pm and email sent, looking for coww John

PM rec'd and responded to. THANK YOU!!! ~ K

[TheCaptain]

I have 60 lbs of wire type solder and wondering if you would be interested in trading for some coww or range lead. Just thought I would check because funds are low for buying lead and didn't know if you used any tin and needed some. Thanks Todd

Hi Todd,

I simply sell lead, so I don't have a use for your wire type solder. However, the forum has swappin' and selling section - so, I think you may meet with success at that part of the forum. There are a lot of posts of the nature: want to trade.

But I thank you for thinking of me!

~ K

[1johnlb]

Lead came in today, looks good well packed.

Thank you
John

[gw668]

Kathie
Brass arrived. Not bad, 7 days from dropping the MO in the mail to brass on the porch.
Thanks Gary