Where to get lead?

Hi,
I'm looking for lead to cast an 8lb keel for my model boat. Where could
I get this and what is a preferred way to melt it?
Thanks
Max

[John Mianowski]

Ask a tire shop for used wheel weights.

JM

On Tue, 29 Jul 2003 23:04:52 -0400, <nospam-me53@cornell.edu> wrote:

>Hi,
>I'm looking for lead to cast an 8lb keel for my model boat. Where could
>I get this and what is a preferred way to melt it?
>Thanks
>Max

[Rod Geraghty]

Sporting goods shops for rolls of fishing sinker lead.
Melting is best accomplished with the lead in a ladle and propane torch.

nospam-me53@cornell.edu wrote:

> Hi,
> I'm looking for lead to cast an 8lb keel for my model boat. Where could
> I get this and what is a preferred way to melt it?
> Thanks
> Max

[Towboat Joe]

Contact some old plumbers. We used to have to run cast iron pipe and
to join it we had to calk it and then run molten lead into the joints.
There should be a few old lead pots out there still full of lead. You
may be able to buy the pot and tank burner or he may melt the lead for
you. The burner screws on top of a propane tank and there's a holder
for the pot. You also need a ladel for dipping and pouring the lead,
believe me you won't want to even think about touching the pot. It'll
glow red from the heat.

If no luck try plumbing supply stores. They may be able to get the
lead for you. It usually comes in 5 pound bars joined five bars
together.

[R.J.O.]

Got mine from a shooting range, the place had lots and lots of air gun
pellets on the floor under the target area. it was shovelled up and given
freely. I didn't need to melt it down as the stuff is so fine anyway and
just filled the keel, sealed it over with araldite so it doesn't move about.

RJO


"Rod Geraghty" <geraghty@nelson-tel.net> wrote in message
news:3F277A7B.FAA716F6@nelson-tel.net...
> Sporting goods shops for rolls of fishing sinker lead.
> Melting is best accomplished with the lead in a ladle and propane torch.
>
> nospam-me53@cornell.edu wrote:
>
> > Hi,
> > I'm looking for lead to cast an 8lb keel for my model boat. Where could
> > I get this and what is a preferred way to melt it?
> > Thanks
> > Max
>

[AB]

Try builders merchants who supply lead flashing to go round windows, or
roofs.

<nospam-me53@cornell.edu> wrote in message
news:MPG.1990ffdce2b0707d989688@newsstand.cit.corn ell.edu...
> Hi,
> I'm looking for lead to cast an 8lb keel for my model boat. Where could
> I get this and what is a preferred way to melt it?
> Thanks
> Max

[Paul Davenport]

Best one from me is roofers, who use lead flashing. Good thing about this is
that the lead is relatively pure and comes in quantity, very often just
thrown away/stored at the end of a job.

Be bloody careful if you are melting this down. If you get it wrong you'll
be in deep trouble. There are a few articles on this on the web...do the
obvious google search.

Paul
"AB" <alex.barker@virgin.net> wrote in message
news:UvTVa.1183$yl6.820@newsfep4-winn.server.ntli.net...
> Try builders merchants who supply lead flashing to go round windows, or
> roofs.
>
> <nospam-me53@cornell.edu> wrote in message
> news:MPG.1990ffdce2b0707d989688@newsstand.cit.corn ell.edu...
> > Hi,
> > I'm looking for lead to cast an 8lb keel for my model boat. Where could
> > I get this and what is a preferred way to melt it?
> > Thanks
> > Max
>
>

[Fly Higher]

Here's my personal preference:

http://www14.inetba.com/tandtreloading/productCat17904.ctlg

Lead shot from a gun dealer. 25 pound bag for a good price. Use number 8
or 9 and mix with epoxy. Putting 16 pounds worth in a Six Metre right now.
Don't know how easily it might melt down but I'm sure it can be.

F.H.

<nospam-me53@cornell.edu> wrote in message
news:MPG.1990ffdce2b0707d989688@newsstand.cit.corn ell.edu...
> Hi,
> I'm looking for lead to cast an 8lb keel for my model boat. Where could
> I get this and what is a preferred way to melt it?
> Thanks
> Max

[Fly Higher]

Check out the black powder muzzel loading crowd of shooters for articles on
melting lead too. They routinely mold their own bullets from the stuff. I
seem to recall something about getting it too hot and it bubbles somewhat
explosively.

F.H.

"Paul Davenport" <Davers00@btinternet.com> wrote in message
news:bg9c4r$2ge$1@sparta.btinternet.com...
> Best one from me is roofers, who use lead flashing. Good thing about this
is
> that the lead is relatively pure and comes in quantity, very often just
> thrown away/stored at the end of a job.
>
> Be bloody careful if you are melting this down. If you get it wrong you'll
> be in deep trouble. There are a few articles on this on the web...do the
> obvious google search.
>
> Paul
> "AB" <alex.barker@virgin.net> wrote in message
> news:UvTVa.1183$yl6.820@newsfep4-winn.server.ntli.net...
> > Try builders merchants who supply lead flashing to go round windows, or
> > roofs.
> >
> > <nospam-me53@cornell.edu> wrote in message
> > news:MPG.1990ffdce2b0707d989688@newsstand.cit.corn ell.edu...
> > > Hi,
> > > I'm looking for lead to cast an 8lb keel for my model boat. Where
could
> > > I get this and what is a preferred way to melt it?
> > > Thanks
> > > Max
> >
> >
>
>

[Umi_Ryuzuki]

I go to a local scrap metal yard.
They sell everything by the pound.

[spamnut@tca.net]

Howdy! If you are absolutely, positively, beyond a doubt, going to
melt lead and pour your own keel, all of these suggestions for sources
will get you started. You could also talk to/look for scuba divers. At
one time they used lead weights on weight belts to trim their
bouyancy.

While pouring lead sounds exciting and "manly", there are several
better alternatives. I needed an 8# keel on my shark, and used a piece
of 2" thin-wall PVC for the body and galvanized fence post caps for
the ends. I epoxied one end on, filled the chamber with #8 lead shot,
then mixed up epoxy and lead shot for a plug. Then I epoxied the other
end cap onto the body. Before I did all the pouring of lead shot, I
had all my keel hanger hardware in place inside the PVC body.

If you are going to pour your keel, here are some things to consider:

1. DRY, everything MUST be DRY!
While molten lead isn't very hot, it is hot enough to flash water into
steam. Steam can burn you, but the real problem is that water flashing
into steam will propel molten lead out of your melting pot of mold.
And this really will burn you, or your clothes, or ...

2. Your mold only has to stand up to one pour, so it can be made out
of almost anything including wood, or plaster of Paris. BUT, see item
number 1.

3. Do this is a reasonably well ventilated area. The problem I have
had in the past is not the lead fumes. Rather it is the smoke given
off by all the other things that burn in the process like dust and
dirt on the lead or the melting pot, etc.

4. DO NOT leave your melting process until your lead is in the same
state in which it started, COLD. If you wander away "for just a few
moments" your lead keel could end up costing you tens of thousands of
dollars, or more. Trust me on this one.

I've poured several hundred pounds of lead in the past 40 years, and
believe me, there are easier ways to get your lead keel than by
pouring molten metal.

Now go do what you are going to do anyway. <G>

Regards,

Dr. Spiff

On Tue, 29 Jul 2003 23:04:52 -0400, <nospam-me53@cornell.edu> wrote:

>Hi,
>I'm looking for lead to cast an 8lb keel for my model boat. Where could
>I get this and what is a preferred way to melt it?
>Thanks
>Max

[Graham Errington]

depends which country you are from.
In the UK go to a scrap merchant.It's 30p a kilo.
In the US try a breakers yard.

Graham (UK)


<nospam-me53@cornell.edu> wrote in message
news:MPG.1990ffdce2b0707d989688@newsstand.cit.corn ell.edu...
> Hi,
> I'm looking for lead to cast an 8lb keel for my model boat. Where could
> I get this and what is a preferred way to melt it?
> Thanks
> Max

[Stagis Family]

Sporting goods shops rule. I think a 25-lb sack of shot is like $16.
There's some math involved, but they carry, usually, no. 8 and no. 9 shot,
which is supposed to be same mass. Tell 'em it's for a model boat - it'll
start a conversation, fersure.

<nospam-me53@cornell.edu> wrote in message
news:MPG.1990ffdce2b0707d989688@newsstand.cit.corn ell.edu...
> Hi,
> I'm looking for lead to cast an 8lb keel for my model boat. Where could
> I get this and what is a preferred way to melt it?
> Thanks
> Max

[Stagis Family]

While we're on the subject, I've heard that wheel weights for autos aren't
pure lead. It's supposedly alloyed with something to keep it 'strong'.
Maybe weigh it.

This from a guy who 'inherited' a huge box of wheel weights when he bought
his house 16 years ago - me.
<nospam-me53@cornell.edu> wrote in message
news:MPG.1990ffdce2b0707d989688@newsstand.cit.corn ell.edu...
> Hi,
> I'm looking for lead to cast an 8lb keel for my model boat. Where could
> I get this and what is a preferred way to melt it?
> Thanks
> Max

[Voigt Lander]

Profeesioal Pumbing supplies stores carry lead, the real pumbing
wholesale/retail ones, not the plumbing dept of a retail store, they
usually have it in links of 3 or 4 ingots of about 5-10lb? per
ingot....or try your local dive shop, they have it or know where to
get it.

You should also be able to find a place that'll poor it for you, again
perhaps the dive shop, or a metal works place...


~Voigt



"Stagis Family" <stagisfamily@comcast.net> wrote in message news:<WcDWa.44976$YN5.36579@sccrnsc01>...
> While we're on the subject, I've heard that wheel weights for autos aren't
> pure lead. It's supposedly alloyed with something to keep it 'strong'.
> Maybe weigh it.
>
> This from a guy who 'inherited' a huge box of wheel weights when he bought
> his house 16 years ago - me.
> <nospam-me53@cornell.edu> wrote in message
> news:MPG.1990ffdce2b0707d989688@newsstand.cit.corn ell.edu...
> > Hi,
> > I'm looking for lead to cast an 8lb keel for my model boat. Where could
> > I get this and what is a preferred way to melt it?
> > Thanks
> > Max

[Fly Higher]

I'd be curious what the weight difference would be between a solid lead
weight and an identical one made from bird shot and epoxy? Wonder if the
variance is negligable enough to work with?

F.H.

"Voigt Lander" <voigt691@netscape.net> wrote in message
news:3b89567.0308140400.171a1cc8@posting.google.co m...
> Profeesioal Pumbing supplies stores carry lead, the real pumbing
> wholesale/retail ones, not the plumbing dept of a retail store, they
> usually have it in links of 3 or 4 ingots of about 5-10lb? per
> ingot....or try your local dive shop, they have it or know where to
> get it.
>
> You should also be able to find a place that'll poor it for you, again
> perhaps the dive shop, or a metal works place...
>
>
> ~Voigt
>
>
>
> "Stagis Family" <stagisfamily@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:<WcDWa.44976$YN5.36579@sccrnsc01>...
> > While we're on the subject, I've heard that wheel weights for autos
aren't
> > pure lead. It's supposedly alloyed with something to keep it 'strong'.
> > Maybe weigh it.
> >
> > This from a guy who 'inherited' a huge box of wheel weights when he
bought
> > his house 16 years ago - me.
> > <nospam-me53@cornell.edu> wrote in message
> > news:MPG.1990ffdce2b0707d989688@newsstand.cit.corn ell.edu...
> > > Hi,
> > > I'm looking for lead to cast an 8lb keel for my model boat. Where
could
> > > I get this and what is a preferred way to melt it?
> > > Thanks
> > > Max

[Jerry Shaw]

voigt691@netscape.net (Voigt Lander) wrote:

>Taking lead shot to be the same density as poored lead (ie the shot is
>not some alloy of lead and some other metal, which would generally
>make it lighter unless it is alloyed with Uranium or the like :-) )
>the difference in weight will be porportional to the difference in
>volume. ie. Density = mass/volume. mass is set equal , so volume is
>only variable.
>
>taking lead shot to be spherical we have the volume of the shot to be
>(where R is the radius of the shot)
>
>vol of sphere = (4/3)Pi*R^3 = 4.18*R^3 (four thirds Pi Radius cubed)
>
>if we take a solid cube of lead (same diameter as shot) its volume
>would be
>
>vol of cube = (2*R)^3 = 8R^3
>
>so equating the 2 we get that the solid lead cube would be 8/4.18
>heavier or about 1.9x heavier.

However, if you take multiple spheres in a confined space,one sphere fits in
the space between other spheres in a hexagonal/pyramid structure, giving a
higher overall density. I don't have the math to figure out the new volume of
the packed spheres. Maybe someone else does.

>Now with the apoxy in between the shots it will fill in the the gaps
>and add some minor amount of weight, but it will also likely push the
>shot appart so that you will not get as much shot in and achive
>maximum packing density...so you gain a little and loss some..

Since the epoxy is a liquid and has a much lower density, the lead shot will
still compact together, displacing the epoxy. So, the epoxy will not push the
lead shot apart, but will just fill the gaps between the shot, adding, as you
say, a small amount of weight

>so a slightly better than a nominal 2:1 difference is likely

The difference would be better than 1.9 to 1.

>FWIW
>
>~Voigt

>"Fly Higher" <someone@somewhere.net> wrote in message news:<YCT_a.39$j26.9@lakeread02>...
>> I'd be curious what the weight difference would be between a solid lead
>> weight and an identical one made from bird shot and epoxy? Wonder if the
>> variance is negligable enough to work with?
>>
>> F.H.

[Voigt Lander]

Ok , now I'm confusing myself....

scratch that last interleaved calc.... I used a conic rather than a
spherical shape, and used a diameter rather than a radius.....

should be more like 5.96R^3 for interleaved vs 8R^3 for square...
giving 74%

I'll be quiet now... :-)
~voigt



"Fly Higher" <someone@somewhere.net> wrote in message news:<YCT_a.39$j26.9@lakeread02>...
> I'd be curious what the weight difference would be between a solid lead
> weight and an identical one made from bird shot and epoxy? Wonder if the
> variance is negligable enough to work with?
>
> F.H.
>
> "Voigt Lander" <voigt691@netscape.net> wrote in message
> news:3b89567.0308140400.171a1cc8@posting.google.co m...
> > Profeesioal Pumbing supplies stores carry lead, the real pumbing
> > wholesale/retail ones, not the plumbing dept of a retail store, they
> > usually have it in links of 3 or 4 ingots of about 5-10lb? per
> > ingot....or try your local dive shop, they have it or know where to
> > get it.
> >
> > You should also be able to find a place that'll poor it for you, again
> > perhaps the dive shop, or a metal works place...
> >
> >
> > ~Voigt
> >
> >
> >
> > "Stagis Family" <stagisfamily@comcast.net> wrote in message
> news:<WcDWa.44976$YN5.36579@sccrnsc01>...
> > > While we're on the subject, I've heard that wheel weights for autos
> aren't
> > > pure lead. It's supposedly alloyed with something to keep it 'strong'.
> > > Maybe weigh it.
> > >
> > > This from a guy who 'inherited' a huge box of wheel weights when he
> bought
> > > his house 16 years ago - me.
> > > <nospam-me53@cornell.edu> wrote in message
> > > news:MPG.1990ffdce2b0707d989688@newsstand.cit.corn ell.edu...
> > > > Hi,
> > > > I'm looking for lead to cast an 8lb keel for my model boat. Where
> could
> > > > I get this and what is a preferred way to melt it?
> > > > Thanks
> > > > Max

[burntkat IS AT comcast.net]

Tire store. Look in the parking lot, usually.

Get a outdoors camp stove, a tin can, and have at it.


<nospam-me53@cornell.edu> wrote in message
news:MPG.1990ffdce2b0707d989688@newsstand.cit.corn ell.edu...
> Hi,
> I'm looking for lead to cast an 8lb keel for my model boat. Where could
> I get this and what is a preferred way to melt it?
> Thanks
> Max