Tungsten Shot for soft weights?

[uffstuffson]

Ok so I am pretty new to diving and when I bought all of my gear I didn't quite have enough money left over for weights. I have been fortunate to have some friends that are willing to let me borrow their plethora of weights. I am not to keen on borrowing gear if I don't have to and when I talked to the dive shop he said I could save money by just sewing up some canvas and getting some lead pellet shot. My dilemma comes that I have read on here about lead contamination from the dust created by the pellets grinding together. I also read that the lead shot they use in manufactured weights is tumbled in granite to keep it from contaminating the environment with lead dust. So the questions! How does tungsten oxidize and is it something I would have to worry about in fresh or salt water. I read it doesn't corrode below 400 degrees F but I'm not sure I am using the correct terminology. Could I just sew that up in a mesh type of material without having to worry about contamination or the shot oxidizing/corroding? The tungsten they use in reloading shot, is that just tungsten or tungsten carbide or some other alloy? I noticed that tungsten has a density of 19.25 g/cc, tungsten carbide 15.8 g/cc and lead has 11.34 g/cc so I was hoping for actual tungsten but I don't imagine it is. I was told the in my area for certain hunting you have to use something other than lead and tungsten is popular so it should be readily available. I don't know how accurate that is but I'm hoping the local gun shop can help me out with that. Is there any other problems I'm not seeing with this idea? I'm sure there are tons of posts on here about making your own weights but the only ones I've seen are at least 6 months since anyone has posted in them. I am not to fond of the vacuum sealed plastic bag with water and lead shot in it. It sounds like it wouldn't be very sturdy and if the bag would get punctured it would leak pretty concentrated lead out into my BC and the environment. I am hoping to be able to just sew something up into mesh with out having to contain it. Even if this is more expensive than just buying soft lead weights from the dive shop I am willing to do it, I am hoping to get away from lead all together.

 

[mike1010]

Are you really worried about the possible health hazards of lead from your dive gear? Seems a little silly the amount your getting exposed to is pretty low id imagine. Lead is the cheap too

 

[eelnoraa]

tungsten is definitely a good choice for weight due to its density, so you get the same weight with less volumn. Less water dissplacement also mean more effective weight under water. However, the cost would prohibit general public adaptation.

 

[vladimir]

Pure tungsten sounds like the perfect metal for weights, disregarding the cost. "Tungsten concentrate" appears to be about $16 to $17/kg. "Ferrotungsten" goes for about $50/kg. Those are wholesale prices, by the tonne, so I'd expect to pay more for a weightbelt's worth. Tungsten carbide (W₂C) reacts strongly with chlorine to form tungsten hexachloride (WCl₆). Hydrolysis of tungsten hexachloride releases hydrochloric acid (HCl). So tungsten carbide weights might not be suitable for pool use (based solely on 4 minutes of Wiki-chemistry). Hopefully having a $500 weightbelt won't make you reluctant to drop it in an emergency.

 

[mmerriman]

this is the PERFECT material - Depleted uranium - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[emoreira]

Gold or Platinium are also excellent metals for weights, as the especific weight is near 0,7 pounds/cu in where as lead is 0,41 pounds/cu in.
Besides, gold and platinium do not react with sea water.
However, cost is something to consider .......

 

[emoreira]

Out of jokes, lead has the value that can be melted at home in your kitchen.
If you can get that Tungsten shot, nice for you. Take care of what Vladimir wrote.
At least, lead is a proven weight material that has been used for decades. No diver has died owing to lead intoxication.