Lead Weights? - Scroll Saw Woodworking & Crafts Message Board

PowayDave · 04-16-2012, 04:54 AM

Still making that chess set. I want to weight the pieces (for a quality feel) with something heavy and dense (NOT my skull). I can't find lead anywhere except in industrial quantity and I don't need 500 lbs. Any ideas? I thought I'd drill a 3/4" X 3/4" hole in the bases, add the weight and seal, and finish off with a good felt bottom. I've tried plumbners and bullet casters with no luck.
All suggestions will be appreciated.

Dave

JimSawyer · 04-16-2012, 05:02 AM

Look in the roofing section of the big box stores...
The stuff for flashing chimneys should work fine. It's very malleable. I have some for those book-ends I've yet to make...lol.

ASDLF22 · 04-16-2012, 06:04 AM

Split shot sinkers in the fishing department?

wood-n-things · 04-16-2012, 06:05 AM

Try your local sporting goods store and get fishing weights...they can be pounded into almost any shape...

OOPs looks like Douglas and I were posting at the same time. I must be a slower typist...oh well still good suggestions..

sawdustus · 04-16-2012, 10:13 AM

Like Doug and Mike said, fishing weights work great. Your other option is to find someone who does stained glass and have them pour some of their melted solder into the holes you drilled.

george

evilbadger · 04-16-2012, 10:58 AM

You can stop by a local tire shop and they will usually give the used weights from balancing tires. Then you just melt them down and pour into a mold whatever size you need.

jim_mex · 04-16-2012, 11:01 AM

Hi Dave - I'm not sure whether it's still available in the US due to H&S concerns but I buy lead buckshot from the local shooting store when I want to weigh things down. Its small enough to fill a bore hole with and real easy to use.

shinzam · 04-16-2012, 03:29 PM

Try your local diving club (If there is one) as the lead weights they use is lead shot in bags as this shapes to thier body and makes it more comfortable to dive with.
Regards graham

PowayDave · 04-16-2012, 04:09 PM

Wow! What great ideas. Thanks to all for taking time to help me out.

Wood Dog · 04-16-2012, 08:27 PM

I drilled a hole with my Forstner bit and put in 4 nickels when I made some small clocks to give them a little weight, epoxied them in and glued some felt to the bottom....... another suggestion for ya.

04-16-2012, 04:54 AM	#1
PowayDave Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Ont the north edge of San Diego Posts: 6 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Lead Weights? Still making that chess set. I want to weight the pieces (for a quality feel) with something heavy and dense (NOT my skull). I can't find lead anywhere except in industrial quantity and I don't need 500 lbs. Any ideas? I thought I'd drill a 3/4" X 3/4" hole in the bases, add the weight and seal, and finish off with a good felt bottom. I've tried plumbners and bullet casters with no luck. All suggestions will be appreciated. Dave

04-16-2012, 05:02 AM	#2
JimSawyer Laying into Inlay Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Lincoln, RI Posts: 3,853 Thanks: 5 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Look in the roofing section of the big box stores... The stuff for flashing chimneys should work fine. It's very malleable. I have some for those book-ends I've yet to make...lol. __________________ Jim The limits of the imagination are imaginary. No task is too tedious for Art. Rock and Scroll My Gallery My Website Featherwood Woodcrafts

04-16-2012, 06:04 AM	#3
ASDLF22 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Eagle River, Alaska Posts: 519 Thanks: 8 Thanked 16 Times in 16 Posts	Split shot sinkers in the fishing department? __________________ Douglas Fraser Eagle River, Alaska My Gallery - Aurora Wood Crafts

04-16-2012, 06:05 AM	#4
wood-n-things Staying Positive Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Hamilton, Montana Posts: 18,571 Thanks: 50 Thanked 382 Times in 282 Posts	Try your local sporting goods store and get fishing weights...they can be pounded into almost any shape... OOPs looks like Douglas and I were posting at the same time. I must be a slower typist...oh well still good suggestions.. __________________ "Montana MIKE" There is a very fine line between “hobby” and “mental illness.” As You Slide Down the Banister of Life, Pray That All The Splinters Are Pointed The Other Way... "Don't worry about old age--it doesn't last that long." Mike's Wood-n-Things Last edited by wood-n-things; 04-16-2012 at 03:09 PM.

04-16-2012, 10:13 AM	#5
sawdustus Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: New Jersey Posts: 3,944 Thanks: 0 Thanked 16 Times in 15 Posts	Like Doug and Mike said, fishing weights work great. Your other option is to find someone who does stained glass and have them pour some of their melted solder into the holes you drilled. george __________________ A day without sawdust is a day without sunshine. George delta 650, hawk G426

04-16-2012, 10:58 AM	#6
evilbadger Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Central Florida Posts: 2,055 Thanks: 12 Thanked 59 Times in 58 Posts	You can stop by a local tire shop and they will usually give the used weights from balancing tires. Then you just melt them down and pour into a mold whatever size you need. __________________ Tim In God we trust, all others must pay cash! I don't want no bargains, they always cost me more money.

04-16-2012, 11:01 AM	#7
jim_mex 100% toilet trained! Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Pachuca, Mexico Posts: 5,497 Thanks: 0 Thanked 53 Times in 46 Posts	Hi Dave - I'm not sure whether it's still available in the US due to H&S concerns but I buy lead buckshot from the local shooting store when I want to weigh things down. Its small enough to fill a bore hole with and real easy to use. __________________ Jim in Mexico Dozing off? - nah, I'm creatively thinking with my eyes closed!

04-16-2012, 03:29 PM	#8
shinzam Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: livingston scotland Posts: 218 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Try your local diving club (If there is one) as the lead weights they use is lead shot in bags as this shapes to thier body and makes it more comfortable to dive with. Regards graham __________________ Keep on scrolling

04-16-2012, 04:09 PM	#9
PowayDave Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Ont the north edge of San Diego Posts: 6 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Wow! What great ideas. Thanks to all for taking time to help me out.

04-16-2012, 08:27 PM	#10
Wood Dog Senior member...Sweeet Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: MA USA Posts: 7,746 Thanks: 13 Thanked 22 Times in 20 Posts	I drilled a hole with my Forstner bit and put in 4 nickels when I made some small clocks to give them a little weight, epoxied them in and glued some felt to the bottom....... another suggestion for ya. __________________ WD aka: Gloria My Gallery " Two difficult things to say in life are Hello for the first time and Goodby for the last"

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