hi all, question for the guys who cast their own, whats a good price for lead? what weights do you buy it at? i've got a buddy with a metal recycling biz & i think i can get lead by the pound at a good price from him & am now wondering if it would be worth it to start casting? any advice is appreciated!
casting cost question
- Thread starter boombag13
- Start date
Agree with all the info mentioned so far. The only thing I would add is you at least look through pails a bit before buying them. Some shops have a lot more steel/zinc than lead in the bucket but even those can be sold off to recyclers or fishermen.
Find Tin at a good deal and everyone will listen
And next time post here http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/forumdisplay.php/357-Bullet-Making lots of good reading there and on castboolits
Find Tin at a good deal and everyone will listen
And next time post here http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/forumdisplay.php/357-Bullet-Making lots of good reading there and on castboolits
For Hamilton.... buckets of wheel weights are bought by scrap yards for $0.35/lb...lead scrap us $0.50/lbs.
A full bucket is about 130lbs or more. Usually $35 h $45 for a bucket.
Company in Burlington sells pure lead bricks for $1.86/lbs plus tax.
A full bucket is about 130lbs or more. Usually $35 h $45 for a bucket.
Company in Burlington sells pure lead bricks for $1.86/lbs plus tax.
Bassmaster
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I started casting so I could shoot more.....
So-far, So-good....
It cost's a little to get set up, but in the long run, it's worth it.
I know there's others who frown upon the LEE stuff, but it's what I use and no complaints so far.
If you have a bud that's in the biz...that's half the battle.
Finding surplus lead isn't as easy as it was 20 years ago.....
So-far, So-good....
It cost's a little to get set up, but in the long run, it's worth it.
I know there's others who frown upon the LEE stuff, but it's what I use and no complaints so far.
If you have a bud that's in the biz...that's half the battle.
Finding surplus lead isn't as easy as it was 20 years ago.....
about 350.00 bucks will set you up i got all lee stuff very good price call higgison powder he had all the stuff i needed in stock . i just made some ignots 2 weeks ago be prepared for an afternoon session it takes time .. have fun ... hound13
A REALLY, REALLY cheap way to try casting, is to use Lee equipment.
They used to make a stamped steel lead melting pot about 4" diameter and 4" high, that will hold about 4 pounds of lead - one can likely be found as old stock in a gunshop or at a gun show for about $10.00 (or use the cheapest, smallest diameter but thick steel 'Goodwill Store' pot you can find, emphasis on small diameter).
A Lee lead stirrer/ladle is currently about $7.00 - $10.00 new.
A Lee bullet mould is likely about $30.00 in Canada now (get a tumble-lube type so you can skip the sizing bit).
Every real Canadian household has a Coleman type white gas/propane camping stove lying around someplace.
Scrounge/buy a small quantity of lead.
Read the instructions that come with the mould.
Put everything on your outside picnic table/work bench, fire up the stove and have at it (DO NOT do this in the kitchen).
If you enjoy casting, that's all she wrote, you are hooked for life and will THEN spend lots of money buying various different moulds, electric furnaces, sizer/lubricators etc. etc., with no end in sight as you experiment more.
If you don't enjoy casting, then you are only out about $50.00 - $60.00 and can recoup some of that by selling the stuff on the EE.
Regards, DaveF.
They used to make a stamped steel lead melting pot about 4" diameter and 4" high, that will hold about 4 pounds of lead - one can likely be found as old stock in a gunshop or at a gun show for about $10.00 (or use the cheapest, smallest diameter but thick steel 'Goodwill Store' pot you can find, emphasis on small diameter).
A Lee lead stirrer/ladle is currently about $7.00 - $10.00 new.
A Lee bullet mould is likely about $30.00 in Canada now (get a tumble-lube type so you can skip the sizing bit).
Every real Canadian household has a Coleman type white gas/propane camping stove lying around someplace.
Scrounge/buy a small quantity of lead.
Read the instructions that come with the mould.
Put everything on your outside picnic table/work bench, fire up the stove and have at it (DO NOT do this in the kitchen).
If you enjoy casting, that's all she wrote, you are hooked for life and will THEN spend lots of money buying various different moulds, electric furnaces, sizer/lubricators etc. etc., with no end in sight as you experiment more.
If you don't enjoy casting, then you are only out about $50.00 - $60.00 and can recoup some of that by selling the stuff on the EE.
Regards, DaveF.
