Tin where do you find it

[161]

Where do you find tin and whats the cost.
warren

[Jim]

ROTOMETALS (http://www.rotometals.com/Tin-Ingot-s/27.htm), one of our sponsors has it. They have a banner at the top right corner of the page. They also carry a good variety of alloys.

[lwknight]

Cheapest tin I have found is the 63/37 solder on ebay.
Tin seems to be costing around $15.00 per pound most places.
Radiator shops have scrap solder that is at least 50/50 tin/lead.
You can buy pure tin bars from rotometals.com .

[WILCO]

Some folks go to the thrift store and buy pewter mugs to melt down.

[rattletrap1970]

I buy old dented pewter. It's over 90% tin with some copper. I don't think the copper hurts anything, I mean, we shoot copper jacketed bullets. I melt down the pewter and make mini-muffin ingots (1/2) full. They're like 3/8 thick coins x 1 to 1-1/4 inches in diameter. I throw one in with 4 full size muffins of WW ingots. I get very little leading, and nice hard accurate bullets.

[Jim]

I buy old dented pewter. It's over 90% tin with some copper. I don't think the copper hurts anything, I mean, we shoot copper jacketed bullets. I melt down the pewter and make mini-muffin ingots (1/2) full. They're like 3/8 thick coins x 1 to 1-1/4 inches in diameter. I throw one in with 4 full size muffins of WW ingots. I get very little leading, and nice hard accurate bullets.

I won't say what is or is not, I'll only offer my personal observations on this.
Copper requires much higher heat to melt and usually separates and clumps on the top of the melt. I have used tin with a very small percentage of copper alloyed into it and found that it significantly hardens the resultant alloy. If you're looking for a very high BHN, this is good. If you prefer to keep your BHN relatively low, i think pewter would not lend itself well toward that end.
I'm not a metalurgist, this is just my observations.

[rockrat]

rattletrap1970, you could probably use 1/2 of what you are using and still be enough.

[Ole]

Couple auctions on ebaY right now for 95/5 solder. Most of the deals on ebaY are few and far between now a days. It seems like more folks are shopping for tin on there.

If you just need a little, you can always buy some 95/5 at your local hardware store.

[arjacobson]

I pewter hunt for my tin. Also solder drippings are a good source for tin. Getting harder to find though.

[garym1a2]

I got over 300 lbs of 63/37 solder from when my company outsourced their wave solder work. (not for sell). The hard part for me is to find WW's.

My suggestion is to look for auctions from old electronics companies.

[Ole]

I got over 300 lbs of 63/37 solder from when my company outsourced their wave solder work. (not for sell). The hard part for me is to find WW's.

My suggestion is to look for auctions from old electronics companies.

I traded 22 lbs of 63/37 solder a few months ago for 110lbs of WW ingots. [smilie=1:

[R.M.]

ROTOMETALS (http://www.rotometals.com/Tin-Ingot-s/27.htm), one of our sponsors has it. They have a banner at the top right corner of the page. They also carry a good variety of alloys.
Yup, I just ordered 6 pounds from them. Free shipping, and it was here in 3 days. Great service, and I didn't have to run around town shopping for lead-free solder or pewter. Good deal in my mind.

[clodhopper]

I buy the pewter, really rings my bell to pick up 1/2 pound for a buck. A freinds wife likes pewter and collects art-deco style peices. So she gets some of the nice stuff I buy.

[rattletrap1970]

I think I will start pouring my pewter 1/2 the thickness I currently am. As far as copper having a higher melting point, this is true, but when alloyed with tin the overall melting point drops. Otherwise pewter wouldn't melt at melting pot temps. I will eventually get a hardness tester, but now i just go by whether I get leading at reduced velocities.

[Mossy Nugget]

The Lee modern reloading manual 2nd. edition p. 164 says to go a scrap yard and ask for "block tin" from old beer coolers. Richard Lee promises they will know exactly what you mean, but I personally have no idea what it is.

[*Paladin*]

The Lee modern reloading manual 2nd. edition p. 164 says to go a scrap yard and ask for "block tin" from old beer coolers. Richard Lee promises they will know exactly what you mean, but I personally have no idea what it is.

Hahahaha!!! I read that and have asked at several places for "block tin". All of them have said "What tin?"

[imashooter2]

And after you explain what you're looking for, they don't have any.

[Mossy Nugget]

Thanks, Paladin! You have saved me much time and embarrassment. I have gained wisdom at your expense! It looks like old pewter and solder is the way to go.

[captaint]

Try hitting the 2nd hand stores for pewter. Just make sure it's stamped on the bottom.. If it is heavy, thick or looks anything like aluminum, it probably is. Must be stamped "pewter". enjoy Mike

[uscra112]

You can buy straight tin from www.mcmaster.com, but you pay the going rate.

I hit an estate auction last summer. The old guy had been selling reloads in quantity at gun shows, I reckon. There were a coupe of boxes of odd scraps of lead, and in one I found about fifty muffin-pan ingots of a high-tin alloy. Auctioneer didn't know it, other buyers didn't notice it - I got the whole box for eighteen bucks. :bigsmyl2:

[Iron Mike Golf]

Did my first pewter buy this past weekend at a local auction house. Saw a pewter coffee/tea serving set. I figured if it was at least 2 lbs and I paid no more that $20 I'd be a little ahead. I got it for $10 and it weighed just shy of 5 lbs. Makes me think about bringing a small postal scale (5 lb capacity) with me to flea markets and auctions...

[Muddy Creek Sam]

Contact man.electric here on the forum, he sells high tin content for cheap.

Sam :D

[truckjohn]

Another suggestion is wine cork wrappers.... At least the old ones used to be tin... Many of the new ones are plastic...

Thanks

[rattletrap1970]

Funny you mention that. I have a large wine store up the street from my house. One of the guys there saves "wine capsules" which is what they are called, for me. One capsule to a lee pot works well. I melt a whole bunch down and throw it in with pewter and make quarter sized coins out of it.

[*Paladin*]

Funny you mention that. I have a large wine store up the street from my house. One of the guys there saves "wine capsules" which is what they are called, for me. One capsule to a lee pot works well. I melt a whole bunch down and throw it in with pewter and make quarter sized coins out of it.

Are you saying the wrap on the cork is the "capsule"? If not, can you explain what it is? I'm about to call some wineries!!! :lovebooli

[man.electric]

Contact man.electric here on the forum, he sells high tin content for cheap.

Sam :D



Thanks for the plug Sam. Right now I still have high tin content solder coming in, but my back log is huge on the 99%+ stuff. I will be trying to offer up 40-80 pounds a week of 50%+ tin solder at or below melt value as time and resources allow.

[rattletrap1970]

Are you saying the wrap on the cork is the "capsule"? If not, can you explain what it is? I'm about to call some wineries!!! :lovebooli

Yes, the metal "wrapper" on the cork is called a "capsule". They are made out of paper, plastic, aluminum and on older and more expensive wines... Tin.

[*Paladin*]

Yes, the metal "wrapper" on the cork is called a "capsule". They are made out of paper, plastic, aluminum and on older and more expensive wines... Tin.

Cool! Good to know, thanks!

[JHinman]

What success have people had buying tin on eBay?

I see a listing for pure tin - I asked the seller how he knows it is pure tin. His response was that the bar he melted the ingots from was marked 100 SN. Is this a reasonable validation of the tin content?

[bumpo628]

What success have people had buying tin on eBay?

I see a listing for pure tin - I asked the seller how he knows it is pure tin. His response was that the bar he melted the ingots from was marked 100 SN. Is this a reasonable validation of the tin content?

Why would someone melt a pure bar of tin into ingots? It is easier to sell metal in it's original form to allow the buyer to see where it came from. I wouldn't get it from this guy - sounds shady. Check with man.electric; I doubt the ebay seller will beat his price.

[swheeler]

Last I got was from local recycler, he called and said I've got some pewter for 3.00 per pound, 30 pounds IIRC. Took it all

[jsizemore]

Last I got was from local recycler, he called and said I've got some pewter for 3.00 per pound, 30 pounds IIRC. Took it all

That's the upper limit for what I pay for pewter bought by the piece. For 30lbs all at one time that's a great price.

Sounds like you got a good deal going with your recycler. Keep his scrap bins empty and he's a happy guy.

[daviddoo]

In several publications 50-50 bar solder is mentioned. Where can you find this. I've looked at all the big home improvement stores with no success.

[Dman4321]

http://www.homedepot.com/Plumbing-Torches-Soldering-Irons-Solder/h_d1/N-5yc1vZbqjl/R-100672842/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053


theres a link for 50/50 solder at Home depot.

[daviddoo]

Thanks. I'm headed there now

[Dman4321]

Glad to help!

[onesonek]

I was scrounging the local second hand store for some misc. needed items yesterday. They had a couple "marked" pewter cups. Grabbed those two weighing a total of 14.5 oz., for 4 bucks. Then a small vase that weighed 5oz., for a buck.
This I wasn't sure of this flagon, but it felt right and looked right, so I grabbed it also for 5 bucks. It's weight is 33.2 oz.. I searched it and couldn't find any markings until I looked inside. There was an angel with the letter N S, either side of the angel's feet. The lid does bend somewhat easily, and the lid hinge and handle are soldered. There was a nick in the bottom edge which was sharp enough to cut a finger, so I touched with a file. That felt softer than my heat treated boolits.
Would any of you that know your pewter, say it is or isn't pewter.
I guess if it isn't, it still is kind of cool looking piece, that I could find use for other than a tin scource.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v629/onesonek/100_4234.jpg

[captaint]

Looks like the real deal to me. Handles, maybe not. But the "pot", yes.. If I had to guess. enjoy Mike

[cbrick]

Someone suggested McMaster-Carr, I went to their web iste. Yep they have 99.9% tin, site didn't give a weight but rather dimensions, based on the size of my tin bars from RotoMetals I would guess that McMasters bars are at or under 1 pound . . . For $39.99.

That makes Midway look cheap at $25.00 per pound.

I'll stick with RotoMetals, one of our sponsors, as of today - $19.19 per pound.

Rick

[Mal Paso]

Rotometals has 86% pewter for $12/pound. Limited quantity so you gotta promise not to use it for anything but boolits. I ordered Sunday and it was here Wednesday. I just processed it into usable chunks with the Logsplitter.

[daviddoo]

The logsplitter huh. Thanks for a great idea of how to get the 40 lb. blocks of xray lead I have into useable chunks. I used a sawsall for my last attempt and it was a pain.

[MikeS]

Right now there's a seller on eBay that's selling several different types of bar solder. Most of it is 99.3% tin. and .7% copper. Their name on eBay is lantzautoparts. I bought 2 bars each of 4 different auctions they have listed to see which one I like better. But be careful, one of the bars he has listed has zinc in it!

[troy_mclure]

i can find rolls of silver solder on ebay for $8ish a pound usually, and i can find pewter occasionally for as low as $3 a pound.

[bpratl]

After reading this thread I decided to check out a local thrift shop for some "Pewter" and was able to pick up a couple of pieces for $7.00 when melted down it weighted 2.7 pounds.

[troy_mclure]

i carry a digitl scale in my truck to weigh items before i buy.

[michiganvet]

I've always gone for 95/5 solder but I don't know what the best buy is now.

[geargnasher]

Check the swappin'/sellin' forum, post a want to buy ad. Assayed tin or tin alloy comes up for sale fairly regularly. No more than you need for boolit casting, you might get a couple of pounds of pure tin from Rotometals. You can just melt a measured bit off the tip of a tin ingot by dipping it in your casting pot and letting it melt away.

Gear

[Defcon-One]

50/50 Solder. Easy to find, easy math. Yes, I weigh it into the mix to target percent. I never guess.

[Longwood]

I've always gone for 95/5 solder but I don't know what the best buy is now.

When scrounging in the lead barrel at the recycler a few days ago, I spied a couple of small bundles of very shiny solder. I bought them simply because it was cheap but have no idea what it is.
Any ideas?

[cbrick]

You can just melt a measured bit off the tip of a tin ingot by dipping it in your casting pot and letting it melt away. Gear

And if your a bit more anal about how much tin you add (like me), instead of melting an unknown amount off use PVC pipe cutters to cut off an exact amount of tin. I use 2% tin by weight, weigh the ingot, weigh out 2% of the ingot weight of tin. Your Sn percentage in your melt will only vary by the small amount it varies in the WW. I use a digital postal scale for weighing the ingot & tin.

The PVC cutters are about $8.00 at China Mart (Home Depot) and cut bar tin very easily & cleanly.

Rick

[cbrick]

I just did a google search for 50/50 solder. The first place I found was $9.00 per pound. That pound is only half tin so double the $9.00, now $18.00 for a pound of tin plus shipping.

Just checked Roto Metals, $17.99 for ingot tin, $19.19 for bar tin plus shipping (unless you order $100.00, then free shipping). That's 99.8+% pure tin.

I'll stick with our sponsor thanks,

Rick

[troy_mclure]

check ebay, you can often find silver solder for $10-$15 a lb, if you are willing to buy 10+ lbs.

[geargnasher]

If you hurry, Jungleman still has ten pounds left for sale in the SS forum, I've bought from him a couple of times and his 63/37 reclaimed electrical solder muffins are very good quality, and the price is right.

Gear

[40-82 hiker]

I traded 22 lbs of 63/37 solder a few months ago for 110lbs of WW ingots. [smilie=1:

I have a large supply of COWWs, but need tin. Would you like to trade for more WWs? PM if interested please.

[Echo]

My bogie is $10/lb delivered. So, 10 lbs of 50/50 solder will get a bid of $50 delivered. I have all the solder (40/60, 50/50, 63/37) I will ever need, but would still buy more at my price.

[bingo]

I have a lot of OLD solder. Some of it is acid core and some is rosin core. They are not marked as percentages like 50-50 or 60-40. When it is added to molten lead it sputters and gurgles like the core must be liquid or semi liquid. Could someone tell me what percent tin these solders might be. I have enough( maybe 100 lbs.) to last me 10 lifetimes. I would be happy to sell most of it at a very reasonable price.

[mikeym1a]

Couple auctions on ebaY right now for 95/5 solder. Most of the deals on ebaY are few and far between now a days. It seems like more folks are shopping for tin on there.

If you just need a little, you can always buy some 95/5 at your local hardware store.
AHH!!!! What's the fun in that??!? I have the most fun searching out the unusual, out of place, and inexpensive sources. Sure, I might not be saving much money, but, every little victory counts, in my limited wallet.[smilie=s:

[imashooter2]

I have a lot of OLD solder. Some of it is acid core and some is rosin core. They are not marked as percentages like 50-50 or 60-40. When it is added to molten lead it sputters and gurgles like the core must be liquid or semi liquid. Could someone tell me what percent tin these solders might be. I have enough( maybe 100 lbs.) to last me 10 lifetimes. I would be happy to sell most of it at a very reasonable price.

I would consider unmarked old acid or rosin core roll solders 50/50. It was by far the most common in use.