Can anyone help me find a supplier for a lead block? I’m looking for
want a piece approximately 6" x 6" x 2" to use for jewelry making.
Hopefully someone has a source or an idea for one… Thanks!
Maja / Maja Designs
www.majadesigns.net
@maja2
We always made lead blocks out of wheel weights purchased from a
scrap yard. Melt them with a gentle flame into a coffee can.
Sam Patania, Tucson
Maja, how about making your own lead block?
I bought lead in bulk from the local scrap metal dealer, melted it in
a suitable container (an old loaf baking pan, made of thin steel) by
heatin g slowly and evenly with a torch, then removed the baking pan
by peeling it off the block with pliers. After use, the lead block
can be resurfaced b y melting the surface of it with a torch.
Richard Bynum
Oakland
Maja, When I need a lead block, I make it. Over the years of metal
collecting, I have accummulated a bag of fishing sinkers, flashing,
etc. Simply melt the lead in a crucible of some sort, skim the slag
and pour it into a small tuna fish can or something similar. It is
not even necessary to remove it from the can to use the top surface.
Otherwise, just cut the can away.
If you don’t have access to my type of source, check any plumbing
supply company…they normally have an abundant supply of lead
ingots…which by the way, can also be cut and used as a block.
Cheers from Don at The Charles Belle Studio in SOFL where simple
elegance IS fine jewelry! @coralnut1
Two possibilities off the top of my head - dive shops sell (or used
to) lead diving weights. The 5 pound weights and up are about the
size you describe, but of course they have slots for the belt. Also
gun shops may sell lead in bars for reloading purposes. Good luck…
Jim Marotti
Lancaster, TN
Two possibilities off the top of my head - dive shops sell (or used
to) lead diving weights. The 5 pound weights and up are about the
size you describe, but of course they have slots for the belt. Also
gun shops may sell lead in bars for reloading purposes. Good luck…
Jim Marotti
Lancaster, TN
A cgeap way to make your own is to contact a plumber and ask them
for old lead pipe. You can then cut and unfold this for thin sheet or
melt it down and cast it for a block. I use an old saucepan and a
blowtorch.
Tony Konrath
http://www.goldandstone.com
Maja, Stop at a Tire Shop, get some discarded lead balance thingies,
make yourself a mold, melt the lead with a torch and pour your own.
In fact pour a few, they come in handy on vise jaws to prevent
marring. Teresa
Just thought I’d let you know that www.smallparts.com sells a lead
block for $32.10 US, but it’s size is 2"x4"x8". They also sell lead
sheeting. Hope this helps. Jackie Gale
tire weights have a somewhat high concentration of Antimony in them
which hardens the weight…going w/ a reloading supply house is the
best bet. Lee is a very big name in ammunition reloading, and they
also carry some pewter metals as well.
McMaster-Carr also has lead bricks for sale in two sizes, but I
wouldn’t want to pay the shipping on a lead brick! Check your local
metal recyclers, our local recycler melts down scrap lead from tire
shops and car batteries, and casts them into large ingots.
Jack Reisland
Go to Automobile Service stations, and tire changing places. The
lead weights they use to balance wheels is what you are looking for.
They usually give away the broken misshaped ones for free. They toss
them unceremoniously in to a can on the floor. Just ask them for
some. Fisherman use them to pour lead weights for fish lines, and if
I remember correctly, lead melts at about 400 degrees farenheight.
Use a small tuna can or a old cast iron skillet for a mold–or
anything you have around for use a mold–but, never use it for food
or cooking again, and do not breathe the fumes,as lead poisoning is a
possibility. Wash your hands well after handling lead also. Hope this
helps–even if it is not “pure” it will make a great forming
block–and inexpensively! It can be remelted and remolded over and
over again. Use your torch, kiln or old oven to melt it in your
mold–or a old ceramic or graphite molds to melt it then pour into a
tuna can, etc. You could purchase lead fishing weights from a
sporting goods store and remelt them. Barbara Bequette
In case one more source for free or cheap lead is needed… Any
shop or studio for stained glass should have scraps of lead came
(the I-beam-shaped material that goes between the glass, if you’re
doing it the old-fashioned way, not using copper foil).
–Noel
Could not resist this one. There is a funnier and more pleasant way
of obtaining the lead. Go buy good old wine -probably French Claret
or Burgundy. Ten years ago all bottles were provided with a lead
cap. It’ll take some time to collect enough for a lead block and it
would not be the cheapest, but think of the fun 
As a matter of fact: ten years ago I made a 6 pound lead weight to
measure water depth for a good friend. who is a yachtsman, - all
from bottle caps collected over years. Great fun to present him with
allthough some other guests suggested it had been better to make him
a life west from the corks
Kind regards
Betty & Niels L=F8vschal, Rutsker, Denmark
@L_F8vschal
phone (+45) 56 94 90 60
Just thought I'd let you know that www.smallparts.com sells a lead block for $32.10 US, but it's size is 2"x4"x8". They also sell lead sheeting. Hope this helps.
Pardon my ignorance–being self-taught, there is plenty that I do
not know–but with all of the risks (health, soldering, etc)
involved in using lead, why would anyone do it? Is there something
wonderful about a lead block that I am missing and that cannot be
achieved in any other way? Am I missing out on an unbelievably
valuable tool? Please enlighten me. Thanks!
Andrea L. McLester
http://almclester.netfirms.com
A lead block can be used like a longer lasting form of pitch. A
design can be carved or pounded into a lead block and reused many
times before deformation robs it of it’s usefulness. It is used for
repeatable reppousses purposes. Sam Patania, Tucson