How much are you guys getting for lead?

**parrothead** · 12-06-2013, 09:57 PM

Here is the deal. Without getting into a political discussion the EPA has pressed hard enough to get the last remaining primary lead smelter in the U.S. to shut down. At first I thought that all refining would move over seas and the price for lead and batteries would drop like a rock.

Then I read this article. Thoughts on lead.

Again, this is NOT a political discussion, so I don't want to hear anything about the source of the article, or why the EPA may have fined the company into closing it's doors. The LAST primary lead refinery in the U.S.

This is just a discussion of what lead may end up doing.

According to the article, The loss of the primary refinery will only drop the supply by 2 to 4 percent, as most lead is recycled in secondary refineries. (where our batteries and such go to).

So what kind of prices are you guys getting for lead out there? I have no clue here as I have not gathered enough to ever take to the yard. I have a few pounds of sinkers and such that slowly grows.

I would not mind having a hundred or two hundred pounds setting aside "just in case".

I see scrap lead going for $1.50 on ebay, but that seems ridiculous. The last time I remember getting a price on lead, I think it was about 60 cents a pound or so.

I am thinking of tossing out a Craig's list add buying at or slightly above what the scrap yards are paying. Purely for the prospect of there possibly being an uptick in the price at some point. It sure doesn't take up much space.

**BroJer** · 12-06-2013, 10:44 PM

I have been listing 6lbs of 50/50 tin/lead on fleecebay for BIN 39.00 free shipping. Sold some a few bucks higher and lower by a few bucks.

Getting .65-.68, from one of the yards I go to on soft lead, but I take in at least 200lbs to get that price. (mostly roof flashing) What they pay the "street peddlers" is .30-.33. So, you may be onto something. I have been giving that some thought myself. My son is a roofer and nobody wants to mess with it. Hope that does not change because for now, all the crews toss it on his truck, for dad. They had been tossing it in a dumpster! (SMACK)

I know a few older letterpress printers, that make their own type. Mostly as a hobby but I give them the 50/50 for 5.00 a lb and they are happy to get it for that. So am I, since there are no "fees" involved. ;-)

**Abshere** · 12-06-2013, 11:23 PM

My yard pays $.55/LB for lead, but I could sell it to a few friends that melt it down to make weights for decoys. I sell it to them for about the same price as scrap just because they are friends, but could advertise it on CL for more.

**Pnutfarmer** · 12-07-2013, 01:14 AM

A yard near me pays .40 but I don't sell any there. I buy from them at .60 per lb. I guess I'm kind of stockpiling and waiting for the right time to sell. I have around 500 lbs right now. I did sell 50 lbs each to a race car guy and a fishing guy who makes his own weights. When I sell to individuals, I get $1 per lb.

**parrothead** · 12-07-2013, 10:52 AM

Thanks for the information. I will surely have to call and see what it is going for locally here before I set a price.

**hobo finds** · 12-07-2013, 01:23 PM

.40 a pound clean lead no wheel weights

**newattitude** · 12-08-2013, 12:06 PM

either 30 cents or 45 depending on the yard

**RustnGrease** · 12-08-2013, 08:51 PM

One of my local yards is buying for aroun .40-.45 last time i checked, selling to the public at .85, Found this out as a friend and i were looking for extra lead to cast bullets.