Anybody make their own weights?

[tullibee]

I have made a couple different types - the ones I actually melted lead for were pretty much just crude blocks of lead for stuffing into my integrated pouches.  buddy and I also sewed up some soft pouches out of ballistic nylon to fill with lead shot (just bough a #25 bag and we had plenty of shot for several pouches each.  I also poured a weight to attach to the bottom of a dive flag to make my own float (wanted a bigger flag than standard to appease my mother since I was doing so many solo dives at her place).  

my technique was pretty simple and crude - I put a coffee can on top of the camp stove and cranked the heat.  also had the MAPP gas torch going to assist the camp stove.  had made a mold out of some wood blocks and lined the cavities with alumminum foil to help stuff from leaking out thru the cracks.  got the lead melted, grabbed the can with a vise-grip and poured (had squeezed the can prior to heating to make a pour spout corner).  I'd suggest working outside at a picnic table to avoid fumes and/or fire hazards!  if you're looking for better-looking results, you could look on-line for actual molds!  I wasn't worried about appearance, only function - and a hunk of lead is a hunk of lead!

my molds did smolder/scorch from the heat - but were good enough for the number of pours I was planning.  it might be better to do a sand-cast type of effort if you're going for more than a couple runs.  back in high school, we made casting sand by getting some fine clean sand spread out on the floor, then sprayed motor oil on it thru a paint sprayer to get the right mist action, then rake the sand around to get everything coated good.  I'm sure there are better products available, but I'm basically a cheap sob when it comes to DIY projects - it just seems like more fun that way!

have fun and be safe - eye protection is strongly suggested, as well as gloves!