An Alternate Material For Making Lead Wedges

I've read a number of posts about making lead wedges including the post by karlej using a 50 cal ball. So I got to thinking, what else could I use that would net the same results? And then boom, it hit me. I have a small motorcycle tire changing business and often bikes come in that have laced (spoke) wheels with old lead pinch weights on the spokes. So instead of recycling them to the landfills hazardous waste area, I thought why not use them to make wedges? Here are a few pictures. The first one is a photo of a couple of weights.

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...ps7vych9pn.jpg

The next one is after spreading with a couple of pliars and flattening with my hammer on the concrete garage floor. The next are basic shaping after a few minutes tapping it out with the hammer.
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...psgycpaa1s.jpg

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...psaabtrh8w.jpg

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...pseds0n1ch.jpg

Anyway, should work just fine. They don't use many lead weights any more but I'm sure a person could go to a bike shop or perhaps an automotive shop and that the management would be more than happy to give you any cast off old lead weights if they have any.
Hope this helps.

Ya if you find a shop who doesn't gave guys who fish come n and clean them out. Tc

Back in the day I use to hit all the local gas stations for wheel weights. Made thousands of lead bullets for plinking with them.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by karlej

Back in the day I use to hit all the local gas stations for wheel weights. Made thousands of lead bullets for plinking with them.

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I still cast a ton of them. Could make a mold to cast wedges easy.