Sealing soft weights?

[Lenaxia]

Hey SBers,

I just picked up some soft weights for my integrated BC. The guy at the dive shop said they worked but after a time they start to produce some kind of toxic chlorine based white goop that kinda gets everywhere. Is this specific to the weights that I bought or to soft weights in general?

Also, I read somewhere that someone vacuum sealed their weights (can't remember if they were soft or hard). Has anyone else tried vacuum sealing soft weights? Do you find that there is significant air still trapped inside the weight that affects how much it really weighs? Is it even worth it?

Thanks

 

[knowone]

Anything of quality should be sealed in a urethane pouch prior to being sewn into a cordura pouch.

 

[Doc]

they start to produce some kind of toxic chlorine based white goop that kinda gets everywhere.

I have never seen "white goop" inferring a slimy-runny-pasty substance. I have seen white dust powder, I presume a lead oxide. Not high on the EPA watch list. If they are used 24/7 in a pool (as a dive shop might), I guess you could bother to ask a chemist if they are undergoing some kind of chemical reaction with the chlorine in the pool.

I guess you could do that.

Otherwise, just dive with them in the ocean or lake.

There will be no deleterious effect to you or the environment.

Sealing the lead shot in plastic and then re-stitching the bag around it is counter-indicated on a couple of fronts....

1) You are sealing some volume of air inside the weights while you do that. If you live at altitude in Denver or can dream up any number of other issues to worry about, that might be a problem.

2) The effort expended is more than if you were to simply stitch up the rare snag in the cloth as you find them. These soft bags simply do not tear open or rip with any regularity.

White goop I have yet to see, other than spatters of toothpaste from mask cleaning.

 

[johnsona1503]

The problem I have with soft weights is my weight pockets have velcro on the inside that help seal the pockets as well as velcro on the flap that closes the pockets. Its a major pain and considerable effort to get a 3lb or 4lb pouch past the inside velcro. I now only use the 1 and 2lb soft weights in trim pockets and the hard weights in the ditchable pockets. With only 50 dives I have not noticed any residue on the lead shot but do rinse and dry them after every dive. There is a small amout of lead dust I have noticed when rinsing them in the garage sink so I now rinse on the sidewalk with the hose. You can get plastic coated lead shot but I am going to start using all hard weights as they are easier to load in the truck and store on a weight belt than a bag full of soft weights. The salse pitch for soft weights was they wont hurt if you drop them on your feet but almost every other peice of dive equipment I have hurts when dropped so whats one more heavy item keep from dropping.

 

[rk288]

White "dust" not "goop" as a possible reaction with strong chlorine. Not yet on our various size soft weight pouches...how about uncoated split shot used for fishing...I have some that belonged to my grandfather...must be 60 years old...no white "Goop" or "dust"...ask the guy for more details or just forget about it and have fun diving!

 

[cmburch]

I have used soft weights for over 20 years with no white chlorine smelling goop. Sounds almost like some type of grease mixed with swimming pool chlorine tablets. Show them to the original seller. If unable to remedy, perhaps try wiping off goop and soaking in water. Any pics?

 

[Scuba.com]

I have seen this from time to time, with the goop just being the dust that is wet or damp. It gets a bit more common in soft lead pouches due to the overall surface of the various little bb's. The goop seems to be from a collection of the dust accumulating in the pouch and weight pocket. It doesn't always get totally flushed out as there isn't a whole lot of water movement in that portion of your bcd and it doesn't disolve. A good washing with the hose with the rest of your gear after your dives should solve the issue.