Looking for LEAD BALLAST in boston area

[Nathan R]

I am looking for a source for lead ballast within about 75 miles of Boston. I have just finished building a 16' Kingston lobster boat. My boat is based on the 1872 Annie A Fuller which is in the collection at Mystic Seaport. These type boats typically carried internal ballast. I figure I need at least 500lbs to get the boat down close to its waterline.

Used ballast would be fine. Ideally I'd like it in 20-30lb billets so that they can be easily removed from the boat, but any size could be made to work.

Thanks for any leads on lead [bad pun].
Nathan R

[willmarsh3]

The first thing that comes to mind is used wheel weights from tire stores. Melt them to separate the lead from the steel clip and pour into a suitable form to make billets.

Do you have pictures of your boat?

[Thermo]

Funny enough, there's a lot of lead wheel weights flying around ebay in 50 pound increments, at usually a bit less than $1/ pound, including shipping.

Folks are taking serious advantage of the USPS flat-rate $10 shipping boxes by packing them full of lead!

[Penokee]

Am I making this up, or have I read somewhere that wheel weights are no longer lead (or perhaps no longer all lead but some kind of mix)?

[gert]

I just paid .39 a pound for used tire weights; got 540 lbs from one guy, nice and clean, no stems (that includes the weight of the pails). That's about the going rate here in Vancouver. Spring and late fall are the best times to pick them up because of tire change over. I have paid less but the pails were usually inclusive of other crap including cigarette butts.

[G.Sherman]

Have you tried the State House.......?

[Sam F]

Am I making this up, or have I read somewhere that wheel weights are no longer lead (or perhaps no longer all lead but some kind of mix)?

Lead heel weights are commonly alloyed with about 3% Antimony to hardent it - and that's not necessarily a bad thing - especially for external keels.
Antimony is used for lead acid battery plates to strengthen them too.
I hear there's a push to replace lead Wheel weights with a mostly Tin alloy. These may contain a bit of Antimony, and Bismuth... and sometimes copper.
So it might be a good idea to check with your supplier first to see what you've got.

[Don Z.]

Ah... but in the EU, they require zinc weights. Which is why I have big honking ugly things on my car.

But the local shop has a choice: he can pay the recycler, or he can give them to me. I only need about 70 pounds, though...

[Yeadon]

I hear about all these boats that meet the chainsaw ... what happens to their lead ballast?

[ahp]

I have seen lead sheet, perhaps 1/4 inch thick in Home Depot. I have no idea of the cost. Maybe you could form it to lay down in the bilge.

[gregleeber]

I know a woman who has an old crocker sitting in her driveway. It has a large led keel.

contact me if you would be interested in getting it.

Greg Leeber
207-317-0949

[Yeadon]

Don't cut the keel off that crocker just to get at the keel ... wait until it's been destroyed for some reason besides general disinterest, then give the keel second life. That's what I was trying to say.

You have photos of the Crocker?

[Pete Dorr]

You should be able to pick up a roll of lead flashing at the local building supply store.

70lbs is probably 1 roll

Pete

[gert]

If your willing to buy new lead you could also go to a dive shop or get some of those down rigger weights.

[Jim Bow]

Try a demolition contractor or a commercial plumber.
A lot of those old warehouses and factories are becoming condo-conversions. That old lead piping and lead and oakum seals are being replaced with PVC.

[mtsailor]

I just got 160 lbs of tire weights for a pocket cruiser project from the local tire shop for $.20/lb (that's twenty cents - probably cheaper here in NW Montana than in the big city). Check with the chain tire shop managers and ask them to hold some for you. I was able to get about 50 lbs per week from one local dealer. They need to hold it because the commercial lead and battery recycler guys come around about every two weeks to collect. Need a pot to melt it in? Try your local outdoor/camping store for a an iron dutch oven. They are about $28 and work great for melting lead or gold. I'm just doing lead at this time. Good luck.