Price correction of Lead

**Copper Head** · 02-02-2014, 05:38 PM

All said and and done my income from scrap is based on 1000 # to 3000 # at a pop so if prices are up great if down finding an extra 100 pounds to cover is doable
Yet sure when copper is up thats fine . When down you find more. I have found most metals just go up and down and repeat sooner or later .
But lead has been clear to me is in a state of flux . It went up nice in pay out from the yard .60 a pound from .34 batteries .31 from .19
From a statement from a yard man lead refineries of lead are bing phased out . So what is the big picture . Can all items of lead use be replaced with non lead . For now Car batteries are hanging tough - but could be converted over to lithium ion . X ray protection ? Bullets ? Is lead as a stash for the future ok or will the industry find lead has been replaced and not needed or use very low .
Or could the price of lead be controlled to go high to cause replacement materials needed .

**RustnGrease** · 02-02-2014, 05:49 PM

From what i understand, the last lead refinery in the USA was shutdown the beginning of this year. From what i've heard most of the lead in the USA is recycled lead anyway so it's supposedly not a big deal. They've been converting wheel weights to zinc and steel for awhile now. Personally, from what i've been getting except batteries, i'm keeping due to the fact a friend and i have started casting our own bullets to keep our reloading costs down. Lead has been holding steady at .50 a lb, wheel weights at .25 and batteries at .18 at least near me. Also i have a local battery core buyer that pays better than the scrap yard so that's where i'm sending those. The EPA has been trying to get rid of Lead for awhile now. Eventually it will be hard to get, at least in my opinion.

**Copper Head** · 02-02-2014, 06:07 PM

So hard to get , not do to scarcity but due to off the market .

**parrothead** · 02-02-2014, 06:13 PM

That is why some of us are grabbing all we can. I expect to see price go higher. At least a little. It is just a rare find for me here and there.

**RustnGrease** · 02-02-2014, 06:38 PM

I dont see lead going away anytime shortly but eventually, i believe it may be phased out.

**Copper Head** · 02-03-2014, 09:26 AM

The powers that be , really want it off the market . I figure with reduced ability to find . Bullet re-loaders will always want .
protection against X-rays lead is the low cost metal to use .
Sensible to say the future for lead will become more regulated .
and it's uses for will continue for - X ray use - military -
Yet on the net I found some one making bullets from ZN
and ZN / AL . People who make bullets are very creative if lead was gone from them
they will fugue a way .
Zinc pot metals all over the place , I make ingots from the handles of draws .Still zinc is a messy metal to work with
the melt pots get all crudded up

Look at the workmen ship of this bullet reloader
Let me be clear this is not my work