Author Topic: Another Wheel Weight Question.  (Read 1013 times)

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Offline Horsefeathers

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Another Wheel Weight Question.
« on: January 18, 2008, 08:22:51 AM »
How do wheel weights compare in weight to plane lead? I know that antimony is lighter and steel clips also. I bagged up weights for my Lead Sled and 4 bags only came to 45 pounds.    Some of them are coated with a grey paint like coating which was hard to scratch. Could they be the new rumored type weights?  HorseFeathers,

Offline Old Syko

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Re: Another Wheel Weight Question.
« Reply #1 on: January 18, 2008, 10:19:48 AM »
Odds are the painted wheel weights are just the same old lead/tin wheel weights.  A lot of wheel weights have been coated with a silver epoxy coating for many years in an effort to avoid corrosion on alloy wheels and other coated wheels.  It simply burns off during the smelting process.

Offline SHOOTALL

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Re: Another Wheel Weight Question.
« Reply #2 on: January 18, 2008, 10:48:52 AM »
my tire store saves weights for me also ( i get tires for 47 trucks so he likes me i guess ) he said that lead was being phased out also !
If ya can see it ya can hit it !

Offline Sweetwater

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Re: Another Wheel Weight Question.
« Reply #3 on: January 22, 2008, 08:39:09 PM »
Your question of weight comparison from wheelweights to plain lead, without getting into all the math; remember as the hardness of the lead compound increases, the weight for a given volume decreases. ie. a mold with a given 'weight' in linotype will create a much heavier bullet when using softer lead alloy. Pure lead will give the heaviest bullet. I believe this to be correct.

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Sweetwater
Regards,
Sweetwater

Courage is being scared to death but saddling up anyway - John Wayne

The proof is in the freezer - Sweetwater

Offline SHOOTALL

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Re: Another Wheel Weight Question.
« Reply #4 on: January 23, 2008, 03:12:16 AM »
it depends on what you alloy the lead with . what you say is true most of the time but with the use of heavier than lead alloys you could increase weight now a days . one only need look to heavi-shot construction !
If ya can see it ya can hit it !

Offline Old Syko

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Re: Another Wheel Weight Question.
« Reply #5 on: January 23, 2008, 07:42:36 AM »
Excuse my ingorance but what material can be added to an alloy to make it heavier than lead?

Offline SHOOTALL

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Re: Another Wheel Weight Question.
« Reply #6 on: January 23, 2008, 08:08:20 AM »
the added metal would be the alloy , tungsten .
If ya can see it ya can hit it !

Offline Old Syko

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Re: Another Wheel Weight Question.
« Reply #7 on: January 23, 2008, 12:48:17 PM »
Thanks for the info, but after doing a bit of research on tungsten I'll just stick with WW, lino and tin.  With a melting point of 3680K I'm afraid my furnace just won't cut it. ;D  Dang stuff ain't cheap either!

Offline SHOOTALL

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Re: Another Wheel Weight Question.
« Reply #8 on: January 24, 2008, 02:44:29 AM »
I don't use it either , but you ask .
being a plumber by trade , i kinda like lead !
If ya can see it ya can hit it !

Offline woodchukhntr

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Re: Another Wheel Weight Question.
« Reply #9 on: January 24, 2008, 05:08:03 AM »
Stock up on lead and wheel weights, some day you won't be able to get it if the environmentalists have their way.  It's not in solder any more.  The New York DEC has stopped using lead for target practice because it is environmentally unfriendly.  I wonder how long before hunters can't use it as in California.

Old Syko, you could use gold since it has a specific gravity of 19.3 (melts at 1945 deg.) compared to lead at 11.342.  Don't bother with silver bullets unless you are after vampires since it's S.G. is only about 10.5.  On the other hand these are all environmentally friendly!

Offline SHOOTALL

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Re: Another Wheel Weight Question.
« Reply #10 on: January 24, 2008, 05:36:45 AM »
try bar solder for lead pans and radiators , 40-60 , 50-50 and 60-40
If ya can see it ya can hit it !

Offline Old Syko

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Re: Another Wheel Weight Question.
« Reply #11 on: January 24, 2008, 12:17:44 PM »
Some years ago myself and an acquaintance cast some silver bullets and loaded them for some Automag presentation cases.  Couldn't help but try a few in the process.

The local radiator repair shop gives me all his leftovers after cleaning his tanks.  This guy stays very busy and runs 2 tanks but the alloy produced doesn't come close to supplying my habit, which is why a made friends with a local recycle station owner recently.