Collecting Wheel Weights

[meak99]

All the recent talk of reloading got me interested in the idea of casting my own bullets as well. I stopped at 6 local garages on my commute home. Stop 1 graciously gave me all they had, maybe 5 lbs. Stop 2 just gave everything away yesterday, told me to come back later. Stop 3 didn't have any at the time, but agreed to collect them for me, free of charge.

The last three stops all claimed that they sell them to their wheel weight provider for the going rate - saying it was about $1.50/lb. Does this seem reasonable? A full 5 gallon bucket will weigh about 100+lbs, costing me nearly $200. For $200, I could buy about 2000 .451 230gr cast bullets, but with a bucket of 100+lbs, I could make 3000.

What is everyone else's experience with wheel weight collection? Do you keep looking until you find it free, or do you pay the going rate? And, is $1.50/lb REALLY the going rate? Summit recycling in Fredericksburg is only offering $0.10/lb...... SIGNIFICANTLY less then these local shops claim to be getting.

Any insight appreciated.

[Palladin]

They are getting more scarce..., and some are not lead ( Read "greener")...

Keep asking around.

Oh, it would be worth a pretty penny just to see you pick up a 5 gal bucket full of wheel weights!

[meak99]

I sorted through what I got today, found a lot wth "Fe", "Al", etc. markings, and they were not malliable. I set them aside for now. Oh, and assuming the handle doesn't break, I don't see an issue with lifting 100lb bucket.... or are you saying it will be MUCH more than 100lb.

[CowboyT]

At some gas stations or tire places, I've had the folks there tell me, "sorry, we're under contract, go away." Yet those very same places have had employees carrying rather heavy-looking buckets to their own cars after work.

As Arsenio Hall would say, a little something to make you go, "Hmmm....."

[grumpyMSG]

I sorted through what I got today, found a lot wth "Fe", "Al", etc. markings, and they were not malliable. I set them aside for now. Oh, and assuming the handle doesn't break, I don't see an issue with lifting 100lb bucket.... or are you saying it will be MUCH more than 100lb.

Fe wouldn't that be iron, and Al aluminum? I think I remember my periodic table right and I am to lazy to even google it

[nickf829]

A full bucket of lead weighs a lot more than 100lbs. I wouldn't trust the handle. Pick it up from the bottom, and use the legs, not the back. Or be a man and do the atlas ball pickup, just bearhug it and throw it in your vehicle

Good luck finding them. They are scarce around here, all the shops either "have a guy" or they recycle them. I had one place in Front Royal want to charge me something like $20 for a SMALL coffee can of weights, I wouldve been lucky to get 10lbs from it. I would've been less offended if he just pulled a gun on me.

They are out there though, you just have to be persistent. After maybe 6 months I'd finally filled a bucket, then next thing I know, I have 4 full buckets with a fifth slowly building.

[meak99]

I sorted through what I got today, found a lot wth "Fe", "Al", etc. markings, and they were not malliable. I set them aside for now. Oh, and assuming the handle doesn't break, I don't see an issue with lifting 100lb bucket.... or are you saying it will be MUCH more than 100lb.

Fe wouldn't that be iron, and Al aluminum? I think I remember my periodic table right and I am to lazy to even google it

You are correct. I guess I just got spoiled with the first place having some - I then expected everyone to be the same. Anyone have luck at the big tire shops like Merchant's, NTB, Firestone, etc....? Or, do you have more luck at small mom and pop shops.

[zephyp]

I sorted through what I got today, found a lot wth "Fe", "Al", etc. markings, and they were not malliable. I set them aside for now. Oh, and assuming the handle doesn't break, I don't see an issue with lifting 100lb bucket.... or are you saying it will be MUCH more than 100lb.

Fe = iron and Al = aluminum...those were probably the ones you received with a smile...you like to fish?