Lead Ingots: Essential Raw Material For Reloading And Making Sinkers
Lead Ingots: An Overview
Lead ingots are rectangular or circular bars of lead cast or molded into a uniform shape for easy handling and storage. Most of the lead ingots you will run into will be in the classic bar shape, although many will be circular. You will also find many lead ingots in strange shapes like the ear of corn shape lead ingots created by amateur lead recyclers casting lead ingots in old fashioned cast iron molds for baking corn bread in ear of corn shaped pieces. No matter what shape they are molded into, there is no doubt that they are HEAVY, and must be kept reasonably small for ease of handling.
Uses For Lead Ingots:
Lead ingots are an indispensable raw material for people who reload their own handgun or rifle cartridges and for those who mold their own fishing sinkers. The lead ingots are melted down and poured into bullet molds for reloading and into various style sinker molds for those who are making fishing sinkers. There is also a market for vintage toy soldiers molded out of lead, and these molds can often be found on eBay.
How Are Lead Ingots Made?
For purposes of this discussion, we will be talking about lead ingots poured and recycled by amateurs and resold on eBay. There is a large booming trade of lead ingots going on on eBay each and every day.
Much of this trade in lead ingots is done by recycling old tire balancing weights, bullets, buck shot, sinkers, and deer slugs. In fact, this may be a viable side business for people running rifle ranges or target shooting clubs.
The scrap lead is melted down and purified by skimming off the slag and lighter impurities that will float on top of the heavier lead. The molten lead is then poured into cast iron or other molds that will withstand the heat of molten lead. If you plan on making your own lead ingots, make sure you are operating in a safe manner. Molten lead gives off toxic fumes that can cause serious injury or death. In addition it melts at over 600 degrees F. Make sure you are in a well ventilated area, using a fan for proper ventilation, and using melting materials that will withstand the extreme heat of molten lead. A proper ventilation mask, goggles, and heavy leather gloves and aprons are a necessity. A little common sense when making lead ingots will go a long way towards insuring your safety.
Purchase your Own Lead Ingots
Alternatively, if you are not the adventurous or handy type, you can purchase your lead ingots from one of these amateur recyclers on eBay. There is a nice little community of buyers and sellers doing business everyday on eBay, and almost everything that is listed is sold. The auctions that do not end sold are usually because the seller is asking too much. The spot price for used lead is around $1 a pound, and any price higher than $1 a pound is too high. You can get some great deals if you take your time to check the auctions out. Just make sure the seller has reliable feedback and explains exactly how the lead ingots are produced and what they are produced from.
Here is a list of lead ingots currently up for auction. They are updated and sorted in real time for your convenience and ease of purchase.
 65 LBS Clean LEAD INGOTS 4 Casting Bullets Sinkers  US $64.50
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 soft sheet lead in ingots US $48.00
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 Lead Ingots For Casting Sinkers Bullets US $45.00
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 10 Lbs of Lead Ingots US $11.00
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Thank you for your interest in lead ingots, and good luck with your reloading or sinker making!
Roto Metals LEAD Ingot-Pure 99.9%
Pure Lead Ingots from Roto. Sold by the pound. For over 4 to 5 pounds you will get 1 Ingot Bars that will be approx 8-3/4" x 1" x 2" This is new clean lead, 99.9% pure and easy to melt. Great for casting bullets and fishing weights.
Click Here For Best Price On Amazon
Reviews(Click Here To Read Full Reviews)
"Good Lead ingot, very clean, ordered 5 units, rather than pugs came one 5 lb bar. Fair price esp considering quality. Would purchase again."
"One of the nicer lead ingots I've purchased. Seems better than the listed 99.9% purity. Ordering lead can be somewhat addictive. Shipping is a killer though."
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65 LBS Clean LEAD INGOTS 4 Casting Bullets Sinkers US $64.50
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soft sheet lead in ingots US $48.00
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Lead Ingots For Casting Sinkers Bullets US $45.00
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10 Lbs of Lead Ingots US $11.00
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