DIY soft weights

[Rhone Man]

Would it not be a better idea to buy some mouldings and melt the lead into mouldings? You don't need a particularly high heat - you can do it on the stove if you wait until your wife goes out...

Universal Weight Mold without Handle from LeisurePro.com

 

[joeSteve1006]

Only problem with that is the "36.95" and that whole "incredibly toxic" thing lead has goin on, and I already have the bags and vacuum sealer. I hadn't thought about it losing mobility and becoming essentially a hard weight, darn foiled again. Something like that idea though would be great, an easy household item readily transformable into a weight bag. Any ideas guys?

 

[BNow0707]

Well your idea with the bags will work as long as your weight bags are correctly shapped for your BC or wieght belt pouches. Or if you left a minimal amount of air, becuase the air "pocket" will only reduce in size with the increase in pressure at depth. As long as you dont have an over whelming bubble i think you'd be ok. My BC has quick release pockets that are long and thin so instead of having three weights in each side of each pocket I just made 5 lb bags that were correctly sized for the pockets. All of my diving so far has been in a two piece 6.5mm suit and being fairly bouyant my self LOL, I usually require about 35 lbs to decend properly therefore reducing the number of bag of laying around weights was also an issue for me.

 

[hollywood703]

I made some out of a heavy nylon almost burlap type material....I put the lead in the pouch and then made another pouch around that and sewed it shut.....double protection.

 

[skdvr]

When I made mine I used "Flag Material" which is basically just heavy ribstop nylon (which someone else already mentioned). I used nylon thread, which is basically monofiliment fishing line. They have worked great for 2 seasons.

I think I would try your vacumme sealer and let us know how it works. I think that if you do not take every last bit of air out of the bag then you should still have a little flex left in the bag. IF it works well I think I may go and buy one. I have been wanting to buy one for the meat I get from hunting, this would just add one more reason why I need to get one...

Phil

 

[Dive Right In Scuba]

I agee with Phil, just try it...worst case is you cut it open and try something else

Phil, Might be coming to visit my sister soon......I will let you know and maybe we can meet up for diving....or to sample how good of meat you hunt and of course drink your favorite Bud Select

 

[skdvr]

I agee with Phil, just try it...worst case is you cut it open and try something else

Phil, Might be coming to visit my sister soon......I will let you know and maybe we can meet up for diving....or to sample how good of meat you hunt and of course drink your favorite Bud Select

Sounds good bro, just let me know....

Phil

 

[joeSteve1006]

It works!!! I used the vacuum sealer to seal the edges and make bags, then sealed off the tops of the bags. All in all, took about an hour to make the bags, fill them to the appropriate weight, measure them and trim the bags. I will post pictures later.

 

[Clammy]

I worked out and and ran until I sank with no weight on.

 

[RonFrank]

25# of soft weight was about $50 locally if memory serves last I looked. This was shot, and not *individually* bagged. So now figure in the cost of nylon bags, sewing, or whatever.

I'm using both soft and hard weights, and have about 50# of lead! I don't need that much lead, but it makes for great tarp weights!

I'm glad I purchased all this junk years ago, because it is getting absurd! You are paying more to DIY, that I paid just a few years ago to buy it off the shelf!