Lee Loader

Lots of you probably already know this, but dentists are a good source for clean lead. Best of all, they will usually give it to you for free. The lead is in the form of small foil sheets. It's on the soft side, so you will need to add other metal to it to harden it up a bit. Here is a box that I just picked up. It weighs about 30lbs.

Very cool, never heard of them as a source!

What are dentists using lead foil for? Never heard of that...

Fyodor wrote:What are dentists using lead foil for? Never heard of that...

Older practices use a dental x-ray machine incorporating film bite wings with thin layers of lead foil on the back to keep the x-rays form over penetrating. Newer dental practices use a digital system for dental x-rays and are no longer a good source of free lead.

My small town dentist didn't generate more than 1/2-3/4 of a lb per month. I stretched out my "pick ups" so I'd get more than a few ounces, I soon forgot about him and he retired...

Mine has been using digital for 15 years...or more.

Same here... I have never seen a film x-ray machine since I was a kid in the late 80s. All digital for a long time.

Small older practices are your best bet. I do computer work for lots of dental offices and there are plenty that haven't gone digital. I also live in a fairly urban area so I have more to choose from.