Another Source For Lead - Fork Truck Counter Weights

[mfraser264]

So the other day we are cleaning out a poll barn at work, scrap used tooling. We have to mark the stuff going as scrap, "RED" and keepers "GREEN". We noticed 3 objects sitting outside the poll barn, just off to the side that looked like large chunks of steel. We began wondering why they were there and what to do with them.

As it turns out, two were cast steel but the third was a shell, triangluar in shape, 36" in length filled with LEAD. What a find but then not, they were for a fork truck when lifting max loads. So, keep you eyes open for these. Yes it will be hard to move them but this one would have worked real well with a torch. If you know anyone that works as a Rigger or a Industrial Machine mover, check with them, they do get rid of some old weights laying about....

[Smoke4320]

great find .. something else to keep an eye out for
Thanks

[Crusty Deary Ol'Coot]

Apparently a nephew has some fork lift counter balance weight.

We have been talking about it for more then 2 years and I can't get my hands on it.

Wish I could see it to have an idea just what it is!

Finally had to order some lead from Rotometals so I could make my 50/50 - WW/lead alloy for my 465gr - 45/70 boolits.

Sorted through a bunch of WW today, new enough that Zinc was an issue but only came up with a pound or 2 of the stick on WW.

Smelted last Saturday (120lbs) and again today (172lbs) so all done with the zinc polluted WW and now on to the OLD stash to finish getting everything cleaned up. Years behind.

Anyway, would sure like to get ahold of the nephew's stash that is buried in his shop and him up to his eye balls busy doing repairs and traveling from job to job.

Come on Jim, give your old uncle a break!

Crusty Deary Ol'Coot

[zuke]

I know of a local scrap yard that has 2 of them, close to 6000lbs, and their at a loss on how to process them.

[GaryN]

Nice tip. It is always good to have another source.

[triggerhappy243]

If you had a gas cutting outfit, it cuts just like steel minus the sparks and hot cherries.

[Hardcast416taylor]

Yes, I was in a group of 6 casters that melted down a fork truck counter weight. Took a full set of gas and oxygen to make pieces of it so we could go our seperate ways with it. I wound up with several hundred lbs. of an alloy almost like WW.Robert

[jakharath]

I know of a local scrap yard that has 2 of them, close to 6000lbs, and their at a loss on how to process them.

6000 pounds x 7000 grains/pound / 185 grains (.451 SWC) = 227,000 some odd 45 ACP bullets. That's a lot of happiness!

[merlin101]

I know of a local scrap yard that has 2 of them, close to 6000lbs, and their at a loss on how to process them.
I could handle that! With the help of my cherry picker and torch.