Melting wheel weights for bullet casting - all you need to know

donor said:
I'm traing to obtain pure lead or ad least anything softer than WW.Is there a safe,good way of removing excess tin from mix?I hope i can save tin for later in case i need it for #2 alloy.
I read i Cast Bullet Handbook that simply raising temperature will cause tin to float to the top in a form of grey ,uniform film on top of lead.Is that right?Have anyone tried this?
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You don't want to be taking tin out of your alloy. It aids somewhat in the hardening process but more importantyly it aids in mold fill out. Once you flux your alloy the tin will be thoruoughly mixed into the alloy. The amount of tin or rather tin oxide that floats to the top will be negligible.

Take Care

Bo
 
I can't wait to get started as well.
I currently have 1 5 gallon pail of wheel weights sorted and ready to go.
I'll hopefully be picking up more soon, after all mandatory winter tires in Quebec so that means alot of changes just before winter :D:D
 
i have melted many pounds of wheelweights and have come across the stickons. i have melted them and they look like decent material to make bullets. has anyone else used them for bullet making? pm me if you have an answer. thanks ron c.
 
mg34 said:
i have melted many pounds of wheelweights and have come across the stickons. i have melted them and they look like decent material to make bullets. has anyone else used them for bullet making? pm me if you have an answer. thanks ron c.
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The stick ons are usually pure lead. I mix them in with WW alloy in moderation and they have no effect on performance for handgun bullets.

Take Care

Bob
 
thanks for sharing your knowledge and time to produce this education piece, i ve been melting wheel weights for over 40 years and still doing it
 
i've been reloading & casting for 40 yrs + , this art is first class bar none many thanks from all that scrounge & those that soon will be.
 
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I did my first melt today after I made a pot and some ingot molds (2"x1'x1/8"channel)

man alive, that was allot of work! I had to call the tinsel fairy to visit me just to see what it was like once. I ran away like a little girl.

Overall I did 57 2.5 lb ingots from one 5 gal pail stuffed with weights. Pulled probably 30-40 Iron weights, and 20 or so Zinc ones. :) now to get a small pot and a mold!

Thanks for the info, helped me a ton!
 
Great Job

Thanks so much for your post.
It has been about 15 years since I did any casting, now my son & I have a BP Muzzel loader.
Great Refresher.
As an add-on , while sorting weights I found Zink & Steel "Stick On" weight as well, so keep your eyes peeled.
thx Ed
 
LEAD and CASTING

I am old and can't do it anymore.
I have a 50 gallon pail of wheel weights and some ingots and some cast and lubed bullets for a modest dollar. (38 spc)

I also have several ingots of Lino-type material. for those who know what it is used for.

In BURLINGTON,ONT>

Rae Baker 81 years
@ rbaker.1@netzero.com til the end of June I am changing ISPs
(905) 632-0344

Also loading equipment and some dies. Home most of the time
Unless I am at the doctors.

Rae
 
You wont get any better than this. He talks about casting handgun bullets but basically it is the same with rifle other than handness and lube used.

http://www.lasc.us/Fryxell_Book_textonly2.pdf
 
When I go to shoot at the range, I have a personal rule that for whatever weight of lead I shoot into the berm, I will pick up four times that much before I leave.

It seems to be working. I have over 200 lbs of ingots in the workshop.

Great sticky.
 
Good job. Just looking at the pics reminds me of the back breaking job of melting lead. I did over 500# in fishing weight in last several years. Lots of heavy work, dirty and possibility dangerous plus make sure you have large working area.
 
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