As a UK manufacturer of lead products for automotive restoration, Heaps, Arnold & Heaps Ltd supplies body solders, beaded lead wire, lead castings and bespoke lead components to classic car restorers, coachbuilders, vintage vehicle specialists and aerospace engineers across the UK and worldwide. Manufactured in-house at our Rotherham facility from over 250 years of metallurgical experience, our lead and lead alloy products meet the exacting demands of period restoration, body repair and specialist engineering applications.
Our automotive restoration range covers the four principal product types used across vehicle restoration and specialist coachwork — body solders for filling and shaping panels, beaded lead wire for trim and decorative work, lead castings for counterweights and engineered components, and bespoke lead parts manufactured to original drawings or sample.
Body Solder & Lead Loading
Traditional grade-rich lead/tin body solders for panel filling, dent repair and authentic period restoration.
Beaded Lead Wire
Beaded lead wire for trim work, decorative edging and traditional coachwork detailing.
Castings & Bespoke Parts
Lead castings, counterweights and bespoke lead components manufactured to original specification or sample.
Body Solder & Lead Loading
Beaded Lead Wire
Standard Beaded Wire Range
Custom Beaded Profiles
Lead Castings & Counterweights
Lead anodes and lead alloy anodes are well suited to cathodic protection due to their durability and high corrosion resistance. They are most often used in impressed current cathodic protection (ICCP) systems as a non-sacrificial material to conduct current. While we can manufacture cathodic protection anodes from pure lead, anodes for this application are typically made from lead alloys containing silver, tin, calcium or antimony.
Standard Castings
- Counterweights for restoration projects
- Balance weights for crankshafts and rotating assemblies
- Lead ballast in cast block form
- Cast lead components to drawing
- Rebated and shaped castings
Bespoke Castings
- Pattern making from sample or drawing One-off prototype castings - Small batch production - Pure lead and alloy options - Machined finishing on request
- One-off prototype castings
- Small batch production
- Pure lead and alloy options
- Machined finishing on request
Why Choose a UK Manufacturer for
Restoration Lead Products
Period-correct alloys
Traditional tin/lead body solder ratios and historic alloys for authentic restoration. Bespoke alloys to original specification on request
Bespoke capability
In-house pattern making, tooling and machining for one-off prototypes, replacement parts or small batch restoration runs.
Faster lead times
UK manufacturing with stock-held standard items. Bespoke lead castings and beaded wire typically supplied within two to three weeks.
Technical Support
Direct access to metallurgical advice on alloy selection, working temperatures and finishing for restoration applications.
Bespoke Lead Manufacturing for Restoration
Frequently Asked Questions
Restoration Lead Products
What's the difference between lead loading and modern body filler?
Lead loading uses traditional tin/lead solder applied with a torch and paddle to fill, shape and smooth body panels. Unlike modern plastic body fillers, lead loading creates a permanent, structurally sound repair that won't crack, shrink or absorb moisture, and remains the only period-correct option for pre-1980 vehicle restoration.
What body solder alloys do you supply?
We manufacture body solder in a range of tin/lead alloy compositions to suit different working temperatures and panel applications. Bespoke alloys are produced on request to match original specifications or specific working requirements.
Can you match an original beaded wire profile?
Yes. Our extrusion facility allows us to produce beaded lead wire to non-standard profiles for period restoration. Send us a sample or drawing of the original wire and we can match the bead profile, weight per metre and alloy composition.
Do you supply lead castings to drawing?
Yes. We manufacture cast lead components from your drawings, samples or original parts, in pure lead or lead alloy compositions. Both one-off prototypes and small batch production runs can be accommodated.
What's the minimum order quantity?
We have no fixed minimum order quantity. Whether you need a single replacement counterweight for a restoration, a small batch of body solder sticks for a workshop, or production volumes for an OEM restoration programme, we can quote and supply.
Do you supply lead products for aerospace and specialist engineering?
Yes. Beyond classic vehicle restoration, our bespoke lead components are supplied to aerospace, motorsport and specialist engineering customers for counterweights, ballast and engineered test masses. Drawings, samples or original parts can all form the basis of a quote.
How do I request a quote?
Visit our quote request form, email us with your specification, or call our sales office on +44 (0)1709 837669. Our team responds within one working day with availability, pricing and lead time. For bespoke castings or non-standard beaded wire, please include drawings, samples or photographs where available.
Industries We Supply
Our automotive lead products serve every corner of the restoration industry — classic vehicles, period coachwork, motorsport and specialist engineering.
Lead and lead alloy products supporting the UK nuclear sector
Lead solders, lead wire and bespoke lead components for automotive restoration.
