Coating soft weights
- Thread starter Hatul
- Start date
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Belmont
Contributor
OP
Hatul
Contributor
Can you explain why not?
fairybasslet
Contributor
Have you ever tried rinsing soft weights? See what happens to the water. I was shocked the first time I saw it.
Herk_Man
Contributor
Honestly, with lead weights just placed in a quick release pocket, how much lead is being released into the water. How much lead is a person getting in their system by handling unsealed lead weights.
I certainly understand the problems associated with kids eating paint chips with lead in them but I have never heard of lead weights just being handled or lead weights suspended in a pocket during a dive posing an environmental hazard.
Lead shotgun shot that is released to lay on the bottom of ponds along with lead sinkers that are lost to the lake from a fishing line is one thing. But lead that is just floating around with a diver for an hour or less, I just haven't ever heard that this poses a danger to anyone.
I have also never heard of a dive professional being diagnosed with lead poisoning due to handling lead weights over the course of a career. Am I living in a cave?
I'm all for doing things to keep from harming the environment but I'm almost inclined to believe that toxins released from whatever someone might use to coat/paint the lead with might be worse than the lead.
I certainly understand the problems associated with kids eating paint chips with lead in them but I have never heard of lead weights just being handled or lead weights suspended in a pocket during a dive posing an environmental hazard.
Lead shotgun shot that is released to lay on the bottom of ponds along with lead sinkers that are lost to the lake from a fishing line is one thing. But lead that is just floating around with a diver for an hour or less, I just haven't ever heard that this poses a danger to anyone.
I have also never heard of a dive professional being diagnosed with lead poisoning due to handling lead weights over the course of a career. Am I living in a cave?
I'm all for doing things to keep from harming the environment but I'm almost inclined to believe that toxins released from whatever someone might use to coat/paint the lead with might be worse than the lead.
Herk_Man
Contributor
So I decided to take the self-help route and do some research. According to some articles on wikipedia and scubadivingpro.org it seems that there is a very low risk associated with both handling weights or having uncoated lead in the water while diving.
Basically, in order to be a hazard, the lead has to be ingested either as a powder or has to be introduced to the blood through a wound. So solid weights only present a hazard to people that are exposed to them on a long term basis (dive professionals) IF they make a habit of handling the weights and then putting their hands in their mouth without washing them.
Even the scary cloud of lead discharge that someone mentioned when rinsing their soft weights is apparently not all that big of a problem due to some sort of chemical process that occurs when the discharge bonds with the water around it. As long as you make a habit of rinsing your soft lead weights with fresh water after you dive, even that is not really a big deal.
So I'm going to stand by my theory (note that I said "theory") that the potential for harm is increased by using paint or some other untested coating product.
As one article stated, "It appears that the greatest danger one faces when handling lead dive weights occurs when wearing flip-flops."
I welcome any opposing views based on research results. Not against changing if it is warranted.
Basically, in order to be a hazard, the lead has to be ingested either as a powder or has to be introduced to the blood through a wound. So solid weights only present a hazard to people that are exposed to them on a long term basis (dive professionals) IF they make a habit of handling the weights and then putting their hands in their mouth without washing them.
Even the scary cloud of lead discharge that someone mentioned when rinsing their soft weights is apparently not all that big of a problem due to some sort of chemical process that occurs when the discharge bonds with the water around it. As long as you make a habit of rinsing your soft lead weights with fresh water after you dive, even that is not really a big deal.
So I'm going to stand by my theory (note that I said "theory") that the potential for harm is increased by using paint or some other untested coating product.
As one article stated, "It appears that the greatest danger one faces when handling lead dive weights occurs when wearing flip-flops."
I welcome any opposing views based on research results. Not against changing if it is warranted.
OP
Hatul
Contributor
The coating has no shear strength and the weights are subjected to fairly heavy wear. My guess is small holes will appear and coating won't seal.
But rather than theorizing why not try it?
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