Hello to all,
As many of you are probably already aware of, Lead WW's have been banned in Europe for new cars and after-market wheels in Europe, starting a few years ago.
And a push here in the United States to do the same. And to ban lead bullets as well. Old news, yes...
Internet searches will provide some interesting reading on this topic!
http://www.leadfreewheels.org/release20070823.shtml
http://www.rifleshootermag.com/ammun...906/index.html
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage...ticle63683.ece
So, as time goes by, our supply of lead reclaimed from WW's and Range Lead will obviously diminish. As others have done, I track my "yield" (weight of WW's in vs. ingots out). For those of us who track the yield, we will see the downward trend (unfortunately). In the past year or so, my yields for varying batches of range lead have been averaging about 75 percent, and for WW's: about 85 percent. About 2 years ago, I got closer to 80 percent for the range lead (so I have already seen a noticeable decline).
Some tire dealerships are starting to disallow the tire "mechanics" from selling the buckets of WW's to people off the street. Because I am a licensed company, I don't foresee an immediate problem as of yet - but "Corporate" may want to do business with a company of their choice.
So grab all you can and if you are dealing with independent garages, all the better!
In regard to 5 gallon bucket weights, some garages use buckets of varying sizes and height. I had one bucket (taller than the usual, like a home depot 5 gal. bucket) weigh in at 196 pounds! On the average, it is not uncommon to have a 5 gallon bucket (normal size), when filled to near the top, weigh in at around 150 pounds. My service entails going to the job site, weighing the product at the site, and paying for same... so I need to be accurate in regard to the weight.
However, in my opinion (and others on the forum), buying a bucket of WW's for $20 is very reasonable.... since you can be getting anywhere, on the average, of 100 to 150 pounds (depending upon how full the bucket is). That is like 13 to 20 cents a pound. And I pay by the pound, much more than 20 cents a pound (as incentive for them not to go to a local scrap yard, plus I save them from lugging the stuff and having to show their driver's license at the scrap yard {a law enacted in CT in October 2008}).
And if you get the bucket for the cost of pizza, all the better!!!
Scoop up all you can, while you can!!!
With kind regards to all,
~ Kathie
:Fire: