yield of wheel weights

[khmer6]

So I was able to score 75 lbs of wheel weights the other day for about 7 bucks, I say about 7 bucks cuz it cost me a combo meal at jack in the box. :drinks: ive read through the threads of how much and a bucket and what not. But they are kind of old and the number of zinc weights are increasing. So question, random bucket of coww and soww, what should I expect my yield of usable lead be. I havent sorted it yet, but there is defintely some heavy pieces of fe and zn. Cant wait to hoard some more weights

[mtgrs737]

lots of variables, 75 pounds for $7 is a good deal, congrats, you cannot lose on that deal.

[runfiverun]

i used to figure weight loss as the steel clips.
now it's maybe 50% lead clip on's and 10% stick on's.
the rest is stuff i don't need.

[dRok]

Percentages vary a lot depending where you live, in good ol ND, some buckets 90% = lead, especially if you get them from smaller communities. If you get lead from car dealers your percentage goes down cuz new cars often have 'green' weights. Tire dealers and service shops are your best bet. Also some towing places do tire repairs, worth checking into.

[RG1911]

Here in Colorado Springs, I'm running close to 25-percent rejects (iron and zinc) and that isn't counting the darn clips. One place sells me used WW for $0.30 per pound, and another is $40-$60 per bucket, depending on the size of the bucket. One scrap yard will sell WW for $0.80 per pound. If I can pick and choose, that might not be a bad deal.

Richard

[khmer6]

Sounds like rough times for wheel weights. I will have to check the yield when I have time

[imashooter2]

I stopped looking for WW around here when the buckets passed 50% steel and zinc. I can't imagine they've gotten any better since then. :(

[Matt_G]

Sounds like rough times for wheel weights. I will have to check the yield when I have time

Yes and it will only get worse as time passes.
I was still getting them from a Big O locally up until a year ago. (They signed a recycling contract with someone...)
I was getting full 5 gal. buckets for a case of Bud Light and they were almost all lead. I would get maybe a handful of zinc or iron.
Others were saying the buckets they were getting were 2/3 junk and 1/3 lead.
All depended on location and the source.

Good luck in your search.

[Beesdad]

For me ...Out of the last 400 lbs. the net was 68% recovery.... One scrap yard will sell WW for $0.35 per pound.

[Dragoon454]

In my area I have figured about 30% waste out of 100 lb. This is including clips and segregating stick ons, Fe, and Zn. I base my price calculations on what I can get through the local recycler if I have to go that route, fortunately they will let me dig through and sort as I buy and they sell for $0.75lb for wheel weights. Fortunately my girlfriend looks out for me, she works in banking so she has a couple of customers who own tire shops and a 200# bucket of WW was deposited in her trunk last week... If I get 50% waste out of this bucket I will still be tickled. I live in an area where lead is still readily used so I'll say 30% waste and if I meet the gentleman I'll shake his hand and offer him a free lunch.

If you need some pure lead, old school plumbers are your friend. I just had a plumber bring me 50# of lead out of old cast joints. My local recycler pays $0.35/lb and sells for $1.00/lb. I offered him $0.50/lb and he told me he thought I was over paying. I simply told him that he would get less at the scrap yard and I would pay more so it was a win win for both of us, he told me that he could probably come up with some more. It also helps to hit up shops where you have your car work done, they are more willing to "let you haul off their scrap wheel weights for free" if you regularly spend money with them.

[khmer6]

That's some decent yield in this time. I'm afraid mine will be lower considering Arizona is so close to California. I guess I will find out this weekend, finally carved out some time.

[fusionstar916]

Whats the yield in CA? Im sure there are still some lead out there.

[sw282]

Been working on the road this past year and have found a place l can score regularly. An independant dealer l go to regularly and pick up a 3gal bucket for around ten bucks 80-50% good lead by weight. No consistancy with this place as l never know what the visit will yield. This area l am working has enriched my stock by about 3000 lbs

[khmer6]

I separated the cowws and sowws. So far I got 2.75# of zinc and steel. 18.75# of lead sowws. So over 85% yield on the sowws. I hope the cowws yield the same!

[khmer6]

I totalled 62# of lead before smelting. So it's about 80%. Not bad for a jack in the box combo

[khmer6]

Just got another partial bucket from him. 80-85% yield of lead. Not bad since I've been hearing people are getting 50%

[luky-dude]

Where's that guy on here that would buy your zinc ones or trade you pound for pound lead ones???

[khmer6]

His name is shady Grady or something he's on other forums and offers to buy zinc too. I'm saving my zinc up for a decent amount to send. I think his min is 40# and you don't even have to smelt it. Send as is