Homemade Soft Weights

[Merman]

Hello,
I recently made some soft weights. Basically, they consist of fiberglass screen sewed into pouches into wich I added reclaimed lead shot.
My question: Anything wrong with this? I think I can count on the durablility, but need I be concerned about the lead?
Thanks

 

[Uncle Pug]

Originally posted by Merman
Hello,
I recently made some soft weights. Basically, they consist of fiberglass screen sewed into pouches into wich I added reclaimed lead shot.
My question: Anything wrong with this? I think I can count on the durablility, but need I be concerned about the lead?
Thanks

Seems to be less than satisfactory in my experience...
Better to put the shot in old socks first so it doesn't dribble out of the holes in the screen when the stretch or tear...
Another thing that I didn't like is the way the lead oxidized and weeped leaded milk out all over the deck after a dive...

Sock trick... fill a sock 1/4 full with shot... twist and then pull sock back over itself and the trapped shot... twist again and pull it over again... hope it stays...

 

[Merman]

Thanks for the reply...
How are these weights any different than what one might buy in his LDS?

 

[Uncle Pug]

Originally posted by Merman
Thanks for the reply...
How are these weights any different than what one might buy in his LDS?

Do they sell shot~n~socks at your LDS???

I was just suggesting that you might want to encase the shot in something (socks for example) before putting it into your mesh belt so you don't end up with a mess on the floor everywhere you go.

 

[Merman]

I doubled up the screen, and made the sections diagonal to one another, and used #4 shot. Have used them on a few dives so far, no problems really, besides some cloudy runoff. My question, to be more specific, is how is this lead different from what you might buy at the LDS?

 

[Uncle Pug]

Originally posted by Merman
how is this lead different from what you might buy at the LDS?

I don't know that it is... I've seen the milk from store bought ones too... but most soft weights are using a smaller shot size IIRC...

 

[dvleemin]

Why not wrap the lead in plastic before putting it in the sock. Wouldn't that stop the 'milk' problem?

Darryl

 

[wannabe]

I have used old nylons that have been left at my house --- I kind of wish there were some more opportunities for making weights but I am out of material (any female volunteers to forget some nylons?)

back to the original point....
Like UP said fold it over repeatedly and you will have a nice clean soft weight for a whole lot less than seasoft.

I like the plastic bag idea but suspect air trapped in side would compress and rupture the bag.

 

[tholt576]

Or you could just buy the bags w/o the lead and add your own lead. (not to advertise, but I sell such bags) It's still a lot cheaper than buying from LDS and a whole lot easier than making your own.

Just a thought.

 

[tchil01]

Originally posted by tholt576
Or you could just buy the bags w/o the lead and add your own lead. (not to advertise, but I sell such bags) It's still a lot cheaper than buying from LDS and a whole lot easier than making your own.

Just a thought.

I bought some of your bags and they worked great. I went to a local sporting good shop and bought 50lbs of #5 shot for $20. My buddy this weekend needed a little extra weight to get down, so we shoved a 2lbs weight in each of his BC pockets, and he was good to go.

Ty