Custom Baits - Forum

Jigs, Spinnerbaits and Sinkers => Bass Jigs => Topic started by: TWard on 07/02/19 06:47 UTC

Title: buying lead?
Post by: TWard on 07/02/19 06:47 UTC

Where are you guys buying your lead? So much available on eBay and amazon and I don't know what I am looking for. Total newbie here. Thanks in advance.

Title: Re: buying lead?
Post by: ctom on 07/02/19 17:56 UTC

Right here at Do-It......https://store.do-itmolds.com/Bulk-Lead-Ingots.html

Title: Re: buying lead?
Post by: Kasilofchrisn on 07/02/19 23:28 UTC

My first choice is usually Craigslist or Facebook buy sell trade groups.
Then I would check local scrap yards.
If your worried about buying online I would buy from Rotometals.
Much cheaper than Do-It.
When I order my superhard(alloy with antimony for making harder lead) I always order at least $100 so I get the free shipping.
My scrapyard sells it for $1 a pound and I can sometimes find cheaper off of Craigslist etc.

Sent from my S60 using Tapatalk

Title: Re: buying lead?
Post by: BareKnuckleJigs on 07/02/19 23:32 UTC

MidwayUSA and Rotometals (and others) sell bags of reclaimed lead shot, often for cheaper than bricks or ingots.

Title: Re: buying lead?
Post by: smalljaw on 07/03/19 09:39 UTC

When someone is new I don't recommend them using reclaimed shot because a lot of it is harder alloy that can make certain molds tough to pour for a newbie. I get lead from Rotometals because I know what I'm getting, which for me is the 3%-5% antimonial lead. For someone just getting into this get some pure soft lead in 1lb ingots, it cost a little more getting the smaller ingots but they are easier to work with depending on what you are using to melt them down with. A lot of reclaimed shot isn't just from factory loads, a lot are custom alloys that guys make themselves for sporting clays and they are mostly harder alloys which is why I don't recommend people just getting into casting lead to purchase it, it is much cheaper but the reason is because they can't tell you what you are getting.

Title: Re: buying lead?
Post by: efishnc on 07/03/19 17:14 UTC

Hi TWard, welcome to the forum... I get mine from various scrap sources, but the best I've found is roofers.  Commercial roofing contractors use lead frequently and have to pay to get rid of the scrap (as a hazardous substance), so if you know any or are willing to introduce yourself, it could provide you with a free source.

Title: Re: buying lead?
Post by: andrewlamberson on 07/03/19 18:35 UTC

I buy from Rotometals. I've lucked into scrap a couple times, but it was more effort than it was worth.

Title: Re: buying lead?
Post by: TWard on 07/09/19 11:20 UTC

Thanks everybody. I ended up ordering 20lbs of soft lead from amazon.