Wayne0 897 #1 Posted March 30 (edited) Anyone cast their own weights with lead? I've got a mess of it and need something to do with it. Edited March 30 by Wayne0 stupidity 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chaz54 69 #2 Posted March 30 Seems like someone had done this in the past. If I remember correctly, they used a wheel for their mold. I assume you tried doing a search for this on the forum? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ri702bill 8,933 #3 Posted March 30 (edited) Making lead fishing sinkers from old wheel weights is one thing, but the dangers from melting 20 or more pounds of it for an all-at-once pour are high. Melting lead emits toxic fumes. The mold MUST be bone dry to prevent steam "explosions" Manuvering a container filled with 20 plus pounds of molten material - is one of those "What could possibly go wrong" moments... Even touching lead with your bare hands is a health issue. Best to scrap the lead, IMHO, and use the cash to buy cast iron barbell weight plates and modify them... The price of lead, as a commodity, closed at 91.5 cents / pound on Friday. Expect to see scrap price about 55 to 60 cents... Edited March 30 by ri702bill Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SylvanLakeWH 27,351 #4 Posted March 30 Agree... Could use as dead weight as is... milk / ammo crate off the back / front... no health risk if you don't eat it, rub it or breath it... 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wayne0 897 #5 Posted March 30 2 hours ago, ri702bill said: Making lead fishing sinkers from old wheel weights is one thing, but the dangers from melting 20 or more pounds of it for an all-at-once pour are high. Melting lead emits toxic fumes. The mold MUST be bone dry to prevent steam "explosions" Manuvering a container filled with 20 plus pounds of molten material - is one of those "What could possibly go wrong" moments... Even touching lead with your bare hands is a health issue. Best to scrap the lead, IMHO, and use the cash to buy cast iron barbell weight plates and modify them... The price of lead, as a commodity, closed at 91.5 cents / pound on Friday. Expect to see scrap price about 55 to 60 cents... I understand the caveats of casting lead, as I've done it for years casting bullets and sinkers. With a wheel weight it would have to be done in stages, not 50 Lbs at a whack. Just wondering if anyone has done it. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kpinnc 13,622 #6 Posted March 30 4 hours ago, ri702bill said: Best to scrap the lead, IMHO, and use the cash to buy cast iron barbell weight plates and modify them... Not to mention lead is so soft that it would be impossible to keep any kind of paint on whatever you make. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
953 nut 57,706 #7 Posted March 30 4 hours ago, ri702bill said: scrap the lead, At about a dollar a pound for scrap lead and the cost of melting and casting that muck lead you would be loosing money. If you want home made wheel weights you could cast them from concrete at a dime a pound; no heating required. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pullstart 64,411 #8 Posted March 31 2 hours ago, kpinnc said: Not to mention lead is so soft that it would be impossible to keep any kind of paint on whatever you make. Race teams all over the country would disagree. White painted lead with a car’s number is very common on every car at the track. Chloe the 953 happens to have many lead blocks bolted to her nose. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kpinnc 13,622 #9 Posted March 31 6 minutes ago, Pullstart said: Race teams all over the country would disagree. White painted lead with a car’s number is very common on every car at the track. Yeah but they only need a paint job to last a couple hundred laps! 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
oliver2-44 10,298 #10 Posted March 31 When my son was young and getting into wake boarding I didn’t have one of the fillable fat sacks. But I had a lot of lead weight. I go about a dozen pieces of 3x3 16”scrap steel tubing and filled the in several pours. They had steel plate welded to close each end soon lead remained exposed. Yes I-used a good respirator while doing it. If you could find some larger shoot pieces of steel pipe they could make good lead containers. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wayne0 897 #11 Posted March 31 Yeah, I guess it's not a great idea. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JPWH 6,250 #12 Posted March 31 You could harden the lead to make it more durable then powder coat it to encapsulate the lead. I was at a tractor pull a few years ago and there was two older brothers using lead discs to fine tune their tractor weight for a desired weight class. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wayne0 897 #13 Posted March 31 I suppose I could pour some lead pan cakes and go from there, but I don't think I want to go through the hassle. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CCW 1,333 #14 Posted April 1 I too have some lead. Not a lot, but this discussion brings up and idea. Using a form of some kind to cast a concrete weight simply add the solid lead into the middle of the pour. Makes use of its weight without the melting of it. 2 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
