Can anyone recommend a good local north dallas source for lead. Any ideas are appreciated! I read somewhere that plumbers lead gives a smoother cast...any truth behind it for those of you with experience casting.

Thanks!!!

Metal scrap yards are a good source for pure lead. It was $0.50 a pound the last time I bought some. Just call to see if they have any in stock. Do not know of any in North Dallas. Most of them are South of town. There should be one in Garland.

Might want to post this in the new building baits forum.

Plumbers lead is softer and will make a smoother product. You can get by with lead containing antimony but it really needs to be fluxed and poured at a hotter temp. The last time I bought any lead it was at a metal recycling center and I could get it in 25# blocks.

If you know any remodling contractors, many shower floors have a 40# lead sheet in them.

Soft lead is better.
Johnny

i got alot of lead from a local tire shop here in Temple. used it to make throwline weights. melts down easy just pull the metal out when it is melted down.

Thanks for the reply's guys!

The last two times i,ve bought lead, I buy it off of E-Bay,
good clean lead and pours great, good luck,

Tire weight lead is really nasty.
Johnny

I went into a Firestone a couple years ago and offered the manager $10 for the bucket of used tire weights. He said yes. Then I discovered that it weighted almost 150 pounds. I got a lifetime supply for $10.

Yes, it was real nasty but I melted it down and skimmed the skag off the top. I used an aluminum baking pan for a mold and made very clean V shaped ignots 12 inch long. They weigh about 3 lbs each.

Ya, I hear tire weights are nasty, but when they are FREE it's hard to not give them a try first. Already got a 65 lb bucket of them free. I'm patient so skimming the slag off and pouring ingots shouldn't be too bad.

PvilleAngler, did the tire weights give off alot of black fumes? Or was it not that bad. Do you use any flux or borax when melting down your tire weights? I plan on wearing a respirator mask regardless when pouring. Almost have my workbench built so hopefully I'll get to get started here pretty soon.

2Women,
When I pour lead I use candle wax as flux before I skim. Wheel weights will work ok but don't pour as well as pure lead. When I pour weights WW are ok but when pouring jigs or SB I use pure lead because it will flow better around the hooks and into the collars.
Good luck

Just be sure and melt it outside with lots of air flow and don't breath the smoke and fumes.

I pic up old cast nets whenever I see them laying around broken.

I to have used tire waits for making regular fishing waits and they work fine. I melt and pour it off into another pot where I then have clean lead.

May not be the best but for the price its hard to beat.