Wheel weight prices
- Thread starter acmech
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zxcvbob
Member
I've not found them for sale anywhere. They are either free, or (in most cases) not available at any price.
I gotta agree, I either find them more than willing to give them up for nothing or not at all. You just have to do some looking and not be afraid to stop in and ask. I figure all they can do is say yes or no. I thank them anyway, and try another tire shop. Just look around as you drive around town, there are a number of tire shops around. Also, next time you buy tires, ask if you can have their scrap wheel weights that they may have on hand. Never hurts to ask.
good shooting
good shooting
The days of free wheel weights may be going away. Most tire stores now sell them to recyclers. Maybe I should marry the recycler's daughter.
When purchased at online auction, wheel weights are about a dollar a pound. You gotta cull out the zinc weights. They are often rivetted or staked to the steel clip, and they usually go 'tink' rather than 'thunk' when dropped on the concrete floor.
When purchased at online auction, wheel weights are about a dollar a pound. You gotta cull out the zinc weights. They are often rivetted or staked to the steel clip, and they usually go 'tink' rather than 'thunk' when dropped on the concrete floor.
I buy tires, brakes, shocks, etc for three vehicles at a small town tire and repair shop, I get decent prices on stuff and have always walked away with a 5 gallon bucket each time. Being a regular customer helps even if most of the time they sell their stuff to a recycler.
THe Dove
BOOMER SOONER!!!
So far I get them for free. 
but I ask an old man (neighbor) and he gets them for me.
The Dove
but I ask an old man (neighbor) and he gets them for me.The Dove
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Floppy_D
Member In Memoriam
At least your priorities are straight.
SSN Vet
Member
go see Bob and Rog. down at the garage.....
of course, it helps is you ask them just after they've serviced your vehicle.
of course, it helps is you ask them just after they've serviced your vehicle.
Hunter0924
Member
I am still getting some for free but I have had to pay $10-$20 for a bucket, still not a bad deal.
I am lucky as I have some kin that runs a tire store (but they fish a lot).
I am lucky as I have some kin that runs a tire store (but they fish a lot).
evan price
Member
I buy and sell scrap on the side. I usually buy junk aluminum wheel rims. I used to work for a division of Sears as a mechanic so I know the drill. Usually you give the tire guys some money and they give you the junk wheels.
Recently I was at a large chain tire center and saw a pile of scrap alloy wheels and a pallet of wheel weights in buckets in the back room. Asked them about buying them for cash in hand, showed my wad of $$$, the guy says no, they are not allowed to sell junk wheels, they all have to be shipped back to their warehouse now, the company now claims them as theirs and the company sells them. Asked about wheel weights and they said they also get shipped back to the warehouse. For giggles I offered $50 cash for a bucket of wheel weights to see if he would bite but he said they are expected to ship back so many pounds every month and if they are short they get audited and people get questioned. It seems now that the stuff is worth $$$ the big companies have gotten interested in it for themselves.
Visited a Pep Boys asking the same thing, got the same answer, they said the battery rep takes their weights with the scrap batteries and pays Pep Boys for them under contract. Scrap wheels go to the home office.
Went to Wal*Mart, they said the same thing.
Decided to try the little service stations, every one I went to had someone either a relative or employee who either made fishing weights or else cast their own shot or something.
The only source for WWs I have is a friend who is a general manager of a junkyard, and there is one other guy who buys them, I have to beat him every month, first come, first served, and he's fast.
Recently I was at a large chain tire center and saw a pile of scrap alloy wheels and a pallet of wheel weights in buckets in the back room. Asked them about buying them for cash in hand, showed my wad of $$$, the guy says no, they are not allowed to sell junk wheels, they all have to be shipped back to their warehouse now, the company now claims them as theirs and the company sells them. Asked about wheel weights and they said they also get shipped back to the warehouse. For giggles I offered $50 cash for a bucket of wheel weights to see if he would bite but he said they are expected to ship back so many pounds every month and if they are short they get audited and people get questioned. It seems now that the stuff is worth $$$ the big companies have gotten interested in it for themselves.
Visited a Pep Boys asking the same thing, got the same answer, they said the battery rep takes their weights with the scrap batteries and pays Pep Boys for them under contract. Scrap wheels go to the home office.
Went to Wal*Mart, they said the same thing.
Decided to try the little service stations, every one I went to had someone either a relative or employee who either made fishing weights or else cast their own shot or something.
The only source for WWs I have is a friend who is a general manager of a junkyard, and there is one other guy who buys them, I have to beat him every month, first come, first served, and he's fast.
ReloaderFred
Member
I've run into the same thing Evan Price has. In my area, the Exide Battery truck driver buys up all the wheelweights when he delivers the new batteries and takes back the old ones. Exide also sells lead as a sideline. I talked to Gilbert Berry, the founder of Berry's Manufacturing, and he said he buys from four suppliers, and Exide was currently his best source of new bullet lead.
The funny part is, the only recycler in my part of the country won't touch lead, or anything containing lead. I took 270 pounds of scrap brass to them last week and received $1.95 a pound for yellow brass, but there were signs all over the yard that said they wouldn't take lead.
If you can get wheel weights, do it while you can, because the supply for the little guy seems to be drying up.
Hope this helps.
Fred
The funny part is, the only recycler in my part of the country won't touch lead, or anything containing lead. I took 270 pounds of scrap brass to them last week and received $1.95 a pound for yellow brass, but there were signs all over the yard that said they wouldn't take lead.
If you can get wheel weights, do it while you can, because the supply for the little guy seems to be drying up.
Hope this helps.
Fred
Encoreman
Member
Well guys it looks like from coast to coast north to south lead is hard to come by. I can't sell my scrap brass-damaged beyond reloading. My recycler won't take them, but guess what they sell wheel weights, 30 cents per pound. Buy them at 8 cents a pound, now all I got to do is find out who is bringing them in and give him 10-15 cents a pound and I got it made!! Ya'll have a blessed day ya hear!!
PecosRiverM
Member
Just looked at the price of lead. $1.50/lb
No wonder wheel wieghts are hard to come by.
No wonder wheel wieghts are hard to come by.
Marlin 45 carbine
Member
any caster in my neck of the woods (WNC) is welcome to come get about 50-60 pounds of good material for slugs. I cast only for my BP guns and use pure lead for that.
Bula
Member
MARV, That's a heck of a way to make a lot of freinds on this board real quick. Wish I were closer to you. Welcome
to THR.
to THR.
243_shooter
Member
I work at a garage, thankfully the Exide man (they deliver our batteries also) hasn't started trying to buy the ww's yet.. It's a dealership, so perhaps they have some type of contract deal with the chain stores.
Generally I keep a good supply on hand, and give the rest away to fellow shooters. Those who return in a week or two with a couple hundred cast bullets immediately get bumped to the top of the list!
I've got probably 50 wheels and 20 or so stripped heads (all AL) stashed out back right now, perhaps it's time to start bartering with the scrap guys for more PB to build up a serious supply of the stuff?
Leo
Generally I keep a good supply on hand, and give the rest away to fellow shooters. Those who return in a week or two with a couple hundred cast bullets immediately get bumped to the top of the list!
I've got probably 50 wheels and 20 or so stripped heads (all AL) stashed out back right now, perhaps it's time to start bartering with the scrap guys for more PB to build up a serious supply of the stuff?
Leo
dmftoy1
Member
It takes quite a bit of persistence to build up a supply but it's not that hard. I carry a few 5 gallon buckets in my truck anytime I'm visiting a new area or an area that I haven't been to in awhile. . .takes all of 5 minutes to stop and ask and I'd say I hit on 20-30% of my stops. (of course it gets depressing to hit 8-9 in a row that say "no" before you hit that one guy that gives you 400lbs. )
I've found towns with populations of 20-30k seem to have my highest hit rates. I suspect it's because there's less "pressure" The local metropolis (100k) I can't get ANYTHING . . .even if I buy a set of 4 tires. FWIW
Have a good one,
Dave
)I've found towns with populations of 20-30k seem to have my highest hit rates. I suspect it's because there's less "pressure" The local metropolis (100k) I can't get ANYTHING . . .even if I buy a set of 4 tires. FWIW
Have a good one,
Dave
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