Lead shot for ballast bars

Philip Saran · 09-19-2010, 12:35 AM

If the tire shops does not pan out, try your local scrap metal yard or a
battery manufacture.

68camaroSS · 09-19-2010, 07:49 AM

I had a local sporting goods store that sells guns order my #10 lead shot, was cheaper than a gun shore that I checked, but still very expensive. If you get these, be careful when you handle it, do not breath the dust while you are pouring them into the bars and wash hands afterwards.

Todd Boyer · 09-19-2010, 08:55 AM

A friend did the wheel weight thing. He melted the weights down and seperated the steel clips then poured the molten lead into steel 2x3 tubing. Stinkin' things are HEAVY too !!!

Philip Saran · 09-19-2010, 12:46 PM

Along time ago (1980's) I made my own lead weights for the
weight box. Got scrap lead from my brother-in-law (my former
boss @ scrap metal yard) and melted it in a cast iron frying pan
over a propane camp stove and poured into molds I had made.
Probably not the safest way to do it in hinsight.

SuperStock 1890 · 09-19-2010, 01:10 PM

I went to one of my lift truck battery suppliers and they have a heater for lead that they use in the making and repairing of batteries. They filled a bar up for me. Much safer.

GUMP · 09-19-2010, 01:11 PM

I buy buckets full of weight from a local tire store for $25.00. I cut the ends of the longer weights and drop them into square tubing with a cap welded on one end. I then use a torch to heat the tube. As the weights melt I drop more in until the bar is full. Finally I weld another cap on the top to enclose the lead.

sscrewcheif · 09-19-2010, 04:24 PM

we have purchased lead from a roofing company...they use it for flashing. melts easy and makes good bars.

James L Miller · 09-20-2010, 01:23 AM

I've thought about using zinc anodes for boat hulls. They come in plates and various sizes. Here's a sample:

http://www.zincboatanodes.com/hull-z...te-anodes.html

treessavoy · 09-20-2010, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Todd Boyer

A friend did the wheel weight thing. He melted the weights down and seperated the steel clips then poured the molten lead into steel 2x3 tubing. Stinkin' things are HEAVY too !!!

I used to get the wheel weights, melt them down, pull the metal out, pour them into a Chevy small block valve cover and inset 5/8th's bolts in them, once cooled you just pry them out of the valve cover and the are ready to bolt anywhere using the threaded ends of the exposed bolt.

JimR

Tom Simon · 09-20-2010, 05:42 PM

The last time I made up lead for my car, I bought some lead plate from a local metal salvager. I called around and happened on a guy who happened to have a ton of excess new lead 1" thick plate. He even sawed it to size on his plate saw for me, and delivered it.

I've dealt with weight tubes and lead shot, after one spill I didn't want to go with shot again.

Depending on how much you need, 1018 steel plate is a cheap, easy to get option, especially if you live away from an industrial area... and if you care about toxic, it's pretty inert, easy to cut up into usable chunks.

Unlike depleted uranium counterweights used in some aircraft, we don't have the most dense metal available to fit in some confined space

I imagine more and more racers will be getting away from lead all together. Salvaged steel plate can often be had for less than 25cents/pound and weighs 70% of lead (lead is .4 lbs/cu inch, steel is .284 lbs/cu inch)

I'm not sure where us civilians would get depleted uranium, but at a dense .7lbs/cu inch, it's no wonder the the stuff has found its way onto the battlefield

09-19-2010, 07:49 AM	#2
68camaroSS Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: columbia TN Posts: 88 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Lead shot for ballast bars I had a local sporting goods store that sells guns order my #10 lead shot, was cheaper than a gun shore that I checked, but still very expensive. If you get these, be careful when you handle it, do not breath the dust while you are pouring them into the bars and wash hands afterwards.

09-19-2010, 08:55 AM	#3
Todd Boyer Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Saint John NB Canada Posts: 561 Likes: 30 Liked 6 Times in 5 Posts	Re: Lead shot for ballast bars A friend did the wheel weight thing. He melted the weights down and seperated the steel clips then poured the molten lead into steel 2x3 tubing. Stinkin' things are HEAVY too !!!

09-19-2010, 12:46 PM	#4
Philip Saran Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Parker, CO. Posts: 728 Likes: 168 Liked 14 Times in 11 Posts	Re: Lead shot for ballast bars Along time ago (1980's) I made my own lead weights for the weight box. Got scrap lead from my brother-in-law (my former boss @ scrap metal yard) and melted it in a cast iron frying pan over a propane camp stove and poured into molds I had made. Probably not the safest way to do it in hinsight. __________________ Phil Saran Parker, Colorado

09-19-2010, 01:10 PM	#5
SuperStock 1890 Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 87 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Lead shot for ballast bars I went to one of my lift truck battery suppliers and they have a heater for lead that they use in the making and repairing of batteries. They filled a bar up for me. Much safer. __________________ You don't know what you don't know yet.

09-19-2010, 01:11 PM	#6
GUMP VIP Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Shelby, NC Posts: 1,828 Likes: 2,181 Liked 2,360 Times in 558 Posts	Re: Lead shot for ballast bars I buy buckets full of weight from a local tire store for $25.00. I cut the ends of the longer weights and drop them into square tubing with a cap welded on one end. I then use a torch to heat the tube. As the weights melt I drop more in until the bar is full. Finally I weld another cap on the top to enclose the lead.

09-19-2010, 12:35 AM	#1
Philip Saran Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Parker, CO. Posts: 728 Likes: 168 Liked 14 Times in 11 Posts	Re: Lead shot for ballast bars If the tire shops does not pan out, try your local scrap metal yard or a battery manufacture. __________________ Phil Saran Parker, Colorado

09-19-2010, 04:24 PM	#7
sscrewcheif Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: southern california Posts: 83 Likes: 1 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Lead shot for ballast bars we have purchased lead from a roofing company...they use it for flashing. melts easy and makes good bars. __________________ Big wheelies are for show!! Go fast or go home!!!

09-20-2010, 01:23 AM	#8
James L Miller Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 494 Likes: 6 Liked 25 Times in 16 Posts	Re: Lead shot for ballast bars I've thought about using zinc anodes for boat hulls. They come in plates and various sizes. Here's a sample: http://www.zincboatanodes.com/hull-z...te-anodes.html __________________ Mopar 2 Ya!

09-20-2010, 05:42 PM	#10
Tom Simon Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 8 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Lead shot for ballast bars The last time I made up lead for my car, I bought some lead plate from a local metal salvager. I called around and happened on a guy who happened to have a ton of excess new lead 1" thick plate. He even sawed it to size on his plate saw for me, and delivered it. I've dealt with weight tubes and lead shot, after one spill I didn't want to go with shot again. Depending on how much you need, 1018 steel plate is a cheap, easy to get option, especially if you live away from an industrial area... and if you care about toxic, it's pretty inert, easy to cut up into usable chunks. Unlike depleted uranium counterweights used in some aircraft, we don't have the most dense metal available to fit in some confined space I imagine more and more racers will be getting away from lead all together. Salvaged steel plate can often be had for less than 25cents/pound and weighs 70% of lead (lead is .4 lbs/cu inch, steel is .284 lbs/cu inch) I'm not sure where us civilians would get depleted uranium, but at a dense .7lbs/cu inch, it's no wonder the the stuff has found its way onto the battlefield