Selling Lead salvaged from a sailboat

[ImaginaryNumber]

Is there a market for a ton of lead salvaged from a sailboat? I see small quantities of scrap lead (tire weights, fired bullets, etc) selling on eBay for @$1/lb, and moderate quantities of lead cast into ingots for @$2/lb. Is that the best way to move one ton, or are there better ways for someone who doesn't have the equipment to recast the lead?

 

[Mr Efficiency]

Scrap metal merchants will give you a quote, presumably. Of course there is a market for lead.

 

[Angélique]

Aha, the only part of the boat that increased in value, maybe the bullet casters pay more than the sailboat builders, or they give you one bullet, and then take the rest of the lead for free . . .

Take care → wear sunglasses → even when it's dark →

 

[ImaginaryNumber]

Scrap metal merchants will give you a quote, presumably. Of course there is a market for lead.

Mr E
Thanks for the suggestion. I'll check the scrap metal yards nearby.

I wonder if there is a market for lead balloons?

 

[philSweet]

You should get a pretty good price right now - it's back-to-school shopping time and the newspapers are stuffed with fliers for pencils, notebooks and guns.

 

[SamSam]

Is that the best way to move one ton, or are there better ways for someone who doesn't have the equipment to recast the lead?

You can chainsaw it up into reasonable sizes/weights.

Remelting small amounts can be done on the grill.

 

[ImaginaryNumber]

I never knew that it was possible (prudent?) to cut lead with a chain saw.

Cutting Lead with a Chainsaw - Salvaging heavy lead boat keel for bullet casting and reloading ​

 

[SaltOntheBrain]

I mentioned to a surf tackle shop that I had some lead and they called me three times in two days wanting to buy it.
Scrap dealers will give you $.10/lb if you're lucky.
I also sold some to printing press collectors and bullet casters.
Hunt around and be patient. You'll find a market for it.

 

[Mr Efficiency]

Scrap dealers will give you $.10/lb if you're lucky.
.

The price of lead is over $US2000 per ton, so I would say your estimate is way low.

 

[gonzo]

The price is lower. Recycled ingots sell for $1.39/lb Lead Ingots / Wire - RotoMetals https://www.rotometals.com/lead-ingots-wire/

 

[SamSam]

But.....wouldn't that make it $2,780 a ton...?

 

[Mr Efficiency]

It is pretty simple arithmetic, one would have thought.

 

[Kailani]

Buy or sell price?

 

[gonzo]

That is retail price for lead cast into ingots. Scrap lead is half or less.

 

[SamSam]

I think Mr E was referring to retail price.
Scrap yards are paying 55 - 60 cents a lb, so a ton would be worth $1,100 to $ 1,200.