HAs anyone tried making their own soft weights?

[Sparkyvett]

I was just wondering if anyone has made their own? Shipping for lead is obviously high, but I can get lead shot pretty easy and cheap. (for shotguns) Could I just weigh and then sew my own soft weights? (When I say I, I actually mean, could my wife?)

[ChrisA]

Originally Posted by Sparkyvett

I was just wondering if anyone has made their own? Shipping for lead is obviously high, but I can get lead shot pretty easy and cheap. (for shotguns) Could I just weigh and then sew my own soft weights? (When I say I, I actually mean, could my wife?)

The smartest DIY softweight I saw was amother diver who bought some nylon tubular webbing. He put a plastic buckle on one end, filled it with shoot then put a matching buckle on the other end. Custom trim wieghts can be made this way to your exact specs with no sewing.

I've always figured that the only real reason to make your own weights is so that you can have something you can't buy.

Now a word about soft weights: They are NOT "Eco Freindly". Friction between the shot causes lead dust and this get into the water. Try this experiment, get a bucket of clean fresh water place your soft weights in the bucket and swish them around. Notice how the water turns grey. That's lead you are seeing. repete this experiment with rubber coated hard weights. The water in the bucket stays clear.

[mike_s]

I thought the lead soft weights (shot) were coated in something to help keep the 'dust' down.

of course after a while, even the coating will wear out from movement friction.

[Sparkyvett]

Now I feel all bad about my $ saving idea, suppose I filled surgical tubing with the lead shot (and a funnel) and knotted off both ends?
(thinking to myself: how long would it need to be to get to 5 lbs?)

[cmburch]

Some lead shot is coated with graphite. Since I get my lead for free, I assume mine is not coated at all. I will test my cordura nylon shot pouches this week by soaking my entire belt in a bucket of water overnight then lift it in and out of the water about 10 times then analyze for lead by EPA Method 200.8.

[ChrisA]

Originally Posted by Sparkyvett

Now I feel all bad about my $ saving idea, suppose I filled surgical tubing with the lead shot (and a funnel) and knotted off both ends?
(thinking to myself: how long would it need to be to get to 5 lbs?)

That won't work. If the container holding the lead is water tight it will trap air. The last thing you want is more trapped air. Trapping air would be counter productive to the purpose of the weight.

Lead weights are not the most expensive part of diving. Just buy a few and it is a lifetime investment

[ChrisA]

Originally Posted by cmburch

...overnight then lift it in and out of the water about 10 times then analyze for lead by EPA Method 200.8.

You can care about lead in the enviroment or not. I hadn't even thought about it until some one showed me. You will not need a lead test kit. It is completely obvious, so much so that one wonders if soft weights don't become lighter over the years.

[cmburch]

Originally Posted by ChrisA

You can care about lead in the environment or not. I hadn't even thought about it until some one showed me. You will not need a lead test kit. It is completely obvious, so much so that one wonders if soft weights don't become lighter over the years.

My weight belt can handle solid or shot. If the shot is bad, I can easily switch to my old solid weight. I personally do not want to contaminate the environment or my house and vehicle with lead. I am surprised that shot weight is still being sold if it is so obvious. The "lead test kit" is actually an ICP-MS instrument. I am wondering if this dust is actually graphite for I have been using the same shot pouches for over 10 years and have not noticed any dust. I soak my belt in a white bucket after each dive so the bucket must really be contaminated as well as my driveway when I turn the bucket over and put the belt on top of the bucket to dry. It will be interesting to see at what level.

[scubasavvy]

Bought these and made my own XS Scuba Weight Pouches, Weights, XS Scuba, XS Scuba Weight Pouches. I paid $50 for a bag of lead shot from a local firearm and ammo seller, and probably saved $50+ in shipping costs.

[Sparkyvett]

Originally Posted by ChrisA

That won't work. If the container holding the lead is water tight it will trap air. The last thing you want is more trapped air. Trapping air would be counter productive to the purpose of the weight.

Lead weights are not the most expensive part of diving. Just buy a few and it is a lifetime investment

That is a very good point, so I would need to fill the gaps with fluid.
I just thought I might save myself a little $.
I can get some it's just that shipping lead weights is expensive and there are not many dive shops in Wyoming. I could also drive south into Colorado but at that point I think shipping is cheaper than time and gas.