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Posted: 9/6/2015 4:34:59 PM EDT
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What percent of the original dirty WW would you say ends up being usable. 10 lbs of dirty lead WW gives you __ lbs of clean lead.
Thanks |
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I would say today, you'll be lucky to yield 40-50% of lead to the weight of WWs you are getting. This is mostly due in part that scrap WWs you can find, will be have a large part of Zinc and Steel mixed in.
If you have 100% lead WWs, I would say your net weight would 70-75% lead. |
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60-70% if its mostly wheel weights. If it has other junk mixed in its less.
Segregate clip on and stick on wheel weights. Stick on are much softer (which isn't a problem, just worthy of note). Don't pay much for wheel weights nowadays. You can find alloys on ebay under $2/lb and COWW ingots around $1/lb sometimes. If its more than $0.50 a lb pass, especially if its unsorted with junk in it. Wheel weights are great when you find a couple five gallon buckets that have been laying in a garage for years. Even here most of what I find is COWW lead, but still, its work to go through it and sort it. |
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Quoted:
What percent of the original dirty WW would you say ends up being usable. 10 lbs of dirty lead WW gives you __ lbs of clean lead. Thanks Need to clarify your question.. are we asking about raw material recovered from actual clip on weight / tape weight ? That will depend on size of weight, amount of dirt, and loss for the steel clip.. I figured roughly 20-25% loss with dirt and clips when pot filled with straight wheel weight, 5 gallon pail of clips weighs quite a bit. Yield from bucket of weights as received from person who gave it to you ? That will depend on what the facility recovered and tossed in the bucket,, last 5gallon pail give to me has a good load of huge soft lead sinkers in bottom of bucket, and some actual useable clip on weights, and remainder was steel and zinc after all sorted out.. bucket prior came from our HONDA store, plenty of steel and zinc factory Honda weights, some actual lead weight and tape on,, junk got donated to neighbor who scraps, I kept the god stuff. 
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There's a for profit recycling center near me and they are selling WW for $1/lb. I'm guessing that's it's with the clips. Guess low and say 70% recovery from clipped WW. Just doing the math and see if it's worth casting. Hard to cast when you can get PC bullets or plated bullets for not terrible prices. Maybe just buy ingots from Ebay.
100 lb of WW. 70% of 100lb = 70 lb = 490,000 grains = 4200 bullets 9mm 115 gr. Less than $ .043 / bullet. Maybe PC them and still less than $ .05/bullet. HMMM |
| The last gun show I was at one of the reloading supply guys had ingots for $1.00/lb. If they want that for weights with the clips and steel weights mixed in they are too high. It would be easier to but something like this; http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?282357-98-2-Lead-for-Sale-68-boxes. $1.25/lb delivered, already in ingots. If you looked around you could probably find it cheaper. |
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yep, I would hesitate paying hardly anything for ww versus buying an already processed alloy for not much more.
I have done a few hundred pounds of wheel weights and there is work, dirt, smoke and grime in the process. First you have to sort out the garbage, nuts bolts, valve stems, then you have to sort out the steel and zinc weights. Lose zinc in the mix and you ruined the lot. That first melt of ww with the clips on is dirty melt with lots of slag with the clips. Buying it at a $1 a pound already done is a pretty good deal in my book. |
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Quoted: What percent of the original dirty WW would you say ends up being usable. 10 lbs of dirty lead WW gives you __ lbs of clean lead. Thanks A lot depends on how many zinc weights are in the bucket. If all actual usable lead weights, 6 to 8 pounds is my guess.  Lots of dirt, the clips already removed. |
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