I recently attempted to convert 1 kg of old lead piping in my 'scrap' store
into a nice neat 1 kg weight for exercising a damaged shoulder. Was
trying to make a cylindrical shape; I know naff-all about casting but
melted it down on my gas hob in a baked-bean can, with the aid of a
blowlamp. Wrongly hoping that it would not be hot enough to melt a
plastic wastepipe, I then poured the molten lead into a short length of it,
which promptly splayed outwards providing me with a very mishappen plastic-
encased lump of lead! It does weight 1 kg at least; but I'd like to have
another crack at it.

Other than the obvious, searching for a length of suitable metal pipe to
use as a mould, anyone got any better ideas? (bearing in mind my level of
expertise and available kit?!)

Thanks

On 01/12/17 13:15, Lobster wrote:
I recently attempted to convert 1 kg of old lead piping in my 'scrap' store
into a nice neat 1 kg weight for exercising a damaged shoulder. Was
trying to make a cylindrical shape; I know naff-all about casting but
melted it down on my gas hob in a baked-bean can, with the aid of a
blowlamp. Wrongly hoping that it would not be hot enough to melt a
plastic wastepipe, I then poured the molten lead into a short length of it,
which promptly splayed outwards providing me with a very mishappen plastic-
encased lump of lead! It does weight 1 kg at least; but I'd like to have
another crack at it.

Other than the obvious, searching for a length of suitable metal pipe to
use as a mould, anyone got any better ideas? (bearing in mind my level of
expertise and available kit?!)

Thanks

plaster of paris will take lead OK. Use plasticene or clay to make te
shape you want and then put plaster around it in a suitable container.
you will have to dig the clay or palastocene out before you put lead
in, so a shape with a wide flat top is best


--
"Socialist governments traditionally do make a financial mess. They
always run out of other people's money. It's quite a characteristic of them"

Margaret Thatcher

Lobster wrote:

I recently attempted to convert 1 kg of old lead piping in my 'scrap'
store into a nice neat 1 kg weight Other than the obvious, searching
for a length of suitable metal pipe to use as a mould, anyone got any
better ideas?
I was going to suggest a length of 22mm copper tube, about 27cm would
hold 1kg of lead according to my fag packet

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=1+%2F+((11340+kg+per+cubic+metre)+*+(pi+* +(10.1mm+*+10.1mm)))

you could make it a bit shorter to deduct the weight of the copper
itself if you need it that accurate.

Lobster wrote:
I recently attempted to convert 1 kg of old lead piping in my 'scrap' store
into a nice neat 1 kg weight for exercising a damaged shoulder. Was
trying to make a cylindrical shape; I know naff-all about casting but
melted it down on my gas hob in a baked-bean can, with the aid of a
blowlamp. Wrongly hoping that it would not be hot enough to melt a
plastic wastepipe, I then poured the molten lead into a short length of it,
which promptly splayed outwards providing me with a very mishappen plastic-
encased lump of lead! It does weight 1 kg at least; but I'd like to have
another crack at it.

Other than the obvious, searching for a length of suitable metal pipe to
use as a mould, anyone got any better ideas? (bearing in mind my level of
expertise and available kit?!)

Thanks

make the weight shape with a sprue out of polystyrene cover it with
plaster of paris and let completely dry
and bury it in very dry fine sand.

similar method
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bvklUlD1YBo

On Sat, 2 Dec 2017 01:35:12 +1100, FMurtz wrote:

make the weight shape with a sprue out of polystyrene cover it with
plaster of paris and let completely dry
and bury it in very dry fine sand.

That'll work if you place the plaster of paris in the oven and heat it well to
dry. Otherwise, the faintest trace of moisture in the plaster will turn to steam
and spatter lead all over the place.


Thomas Prufer

In article ,
Lobster wrote:
Other than the obvious, searching for a length of suitable metal pipe to
use as a mould, anyone got any better ideas? (bearing in mind my level of
expertise and available kit?!)

A bit of suitable copper tube (28mm?) which it will stick nicely too with
some flux? And much nicer to handle than lead - or to provide some form of
fixing to.

--
*Give me ambiguity or give me something else.

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

On Fri, 01 Dec 2017 13:15:32 GMT, Lobster
wrote:

Other than the obvious, searching for a length of suitable metal pipe to
use as a mould, anyone got any better ideas? (bearing in mind my level of
expertise and available kit?!)

You could saw a suitable mold in wood, provided it is open. Say, an "I" shape
cut through some wood, then clamped to another flat board, to provide an open
mold. Run a blow torch over it to char and dry the inside, and expect it to
spatter and bubble when casting. This kind of mold works better the second time
you use it.

Otherwise, maybe a tin of approximate dimensions, and leave the lead in the tin?

Bits of angle iron clamped to an iron plate, to provide a "box" to pour into?

Misappropriate a baking mold, using talc as a release agent?


Thomas Prufer

On Fri, 01 Dec 2017 15:57:42 +0100, Thomas Prufer
wrote:


That'll work if you place the plaster of paris in the oven and heat it well to
dry. Otherwise, the faintest trace of moisture in the plaster will turn to steam
and spatter lead all over the place.

Still got the scars on my hand from learning that (as a 10 year old).
Melted in can on gas stove and trying to make "pennies" for the meter.
Parents used to be a bit less restrictive back then...

Sounds a bit dangerous. Much fuming during this melt. Lead fumes not good.
Brian

--
----- -
This newsgroup posting comes to you directly from...
The Sofa of Brian Gaff...

Blind user, so no pictures please!
"Lobster" wrote in message
. 236...
I recently attempted to convert 1 kg of old lead piping in my 'scrap' store
into a nice neat 1 kg weight for exercising a damaged shoulder. Was
trying to make a cylindrical shape; I know naff-all about casting but
melted it down on my gas hob in a baked-bean can, with the aid of a
blowlamp. Wrongly hoping that it would not be hot enough to melt a
plastic wastepipe, I then poured the molten lead into a short length of
it,
which promptly splayed outwards providing me with a very mishappen
plastic-
encased lump of lead! It does weight 1 kg at least; but I'd like to have
another crack at it.

Other than the obvious, searching for a length of suitable metal pipe to
use as a mould, anyone got any better ideas? (bearing in mind my level of
expertise and available kit?!)

Thanks

"Lobster" wrote in message
. 236...
I recently attempted to convert 1 kg of old lead piping in my 'scrap'
store
into a nice neat 1 kg weight for exercising a damaged shoulder. Was
trying to make a cylindrical shape; I know naff-all about casting but
melted it down on my gas hob in a baked-bean can, with the aid of a
blowlamp. Wrongly hoping that it would not be hot enough to melt a
plastic wastepipe, I then poured the molten lead into a short length of
it,
which promptly splayed outwards providing me with a very mishappen
plastic-
encased lump of lead! It does weight 1 kg at least; but I'd like to have
another crack at it.

Other than the obvious, searching for a length of suitable metal pipe to
use as a mould, anyone got any better ideas? (bearing in mind my level of
expertise and available kit?!)

Just let it set in the baked bean can.

Might as well leave the can around it, that way its easier to grip.

On 01/12/2017 15:56, Geo wrote:
On Fri, 01 Dec 2017 15:57:42 +0100, Thomas Prufer
wrote:

That'll work if you place the plaster of paris in the oven and heat it well to
dry. Otherwise, the faintest trace of moisture in the plaster will turn to steam
and spatter lead all over the place.

Still got the scars on my hand from learning that (as a 10 year old).
Melted in can on gas stove and trying to make "pennies" for the meter.
Parents used to be a bit less restrictive back then...

What meter? Sure you don't mean half crowns for the fag machine?

--
Max Demian

On 01/12/2017 18:52, Rod Speed wrote:


"Lobster" wrote in message
. 236...
I recently attempted to convert 1 kg of old lead piping in my 'scrap'
store
into a nice neat 1 kg weight for exercising a damaged shoulder.** Was
trying to make a cylindrical shape; I know naff-all about casting but
melted it down on my gas hob in a baked-bean can, with the aid of a
blowlamp.** Wrongly hoping* that it would not be hot enough to melt a
plastic wastepipe, I then poured the molten lead into a short length
of it,
which promptly splayed outwards providing me with a very mishappen
plastic-
encased lump of lead!* It does weight 1 kg at least; but I'd like to have
another crack at it.

Other than the obvious, searching for a length of suitable metal pipe to
use as a mould, anyone got any better ideas? (bearing in mind my level of
expertise and available kit?!)

Just let it set in the baked bean can.

Might as well leave the can around it, that way its easier to grip.

If you can be bothered make a mound from a mixture of sand and a little
bit of cement.

Bill

On 01/12/2017 15:56, Geo wrote:
On Fri, 01 Dec 2017 15:57:42 +0100, Thomas Prufer
wrote:


That'll work if you place the plaster of paris in the oven and heat it well to
dry. Otherwise, the faintest trace of moisture in the plaster will turn to steam
and spatter lead all over the place.

Still got the scars on my hand from learning that (as a 10 year old).
Melted in can on gas stove and trying to make "pennies" for the meter.
Parents used to be a bit less restrictive back then...


You should have used pennies made from ice. Then drilled a small hole in
whatever they were collected in.


--
Michael Chare

"Brian Gaff" Wrote in message:
Sounds a bit dangerous. Much fuming during this melt. Lead fumes not good.
Brian


fx Bond villain lacky voice
"Extractor fans to maximum..."
--
Jim K


----Android NewsGroup Reader----
http://usenet.sinaapp.com/

On 01/12/17 13:15, Lobster wrote:
I recently attempted to convert 1 kg of old lead piping in my 'scrap' store
into a nice neat 1 kg weight for exercising a damaged shoulder. Was
trying to make a cylindrical shape; I know naff-all about casting but
melted it down on my gas hob in a baked-bean can, with the aid of a
blowlamp. Wrongly hoping that it would not be hot enough to melt a
plastic wastepipe, I then poured the molten lead into a short length of it,
which promptly splayed outwards providing me with a very mishappen plastic-
encased lump of lead! It does weight 1 kg at least; but I'd like to have
another crack at it.

Other than the obvious, searching for a length of suitable metal pipe to
use as a mould, anyone got any better ideas? (bearing in mind my level of
expertise and available kit?!)

Thanks


Having done it, 2" aluminium tube will work excellently - you will not
get the lead out again, so look to simply filling the tube and using that.

Scaffold tube would work too. You will need to make a cap to close off
one end - or plug it with clay and let that dry.

On 01/12/17 17:25, Brian Gaff wrote:
Sounds a bit dangerous. Much fuming during this melt. Lead fumes not good.
Brian


Obviously, do it outside - not in an enclosed space

On Fri, 1 Dec 2017 19:16:27 +0000, Max Demian
wrote:

On 01/12/2017 15:56, Geo wrote:

Melted in can on gas stove and trying to make "pennies" for the meter.

What meter? Sure you don't mean half crowns for the fag machine?

Gas meter. London slum - no electricity.
Are you allowed to say fags these days?

On 02/12/2017 16:22, Geo wrote:
On Fri, 1 Dec 2017 19:16:27 +0000, Max Demian
wrote:

On 01/12/2017 15:56, Geo wrote:

Melted in can on gas stove and trying to make "pennies" for the meter.

What meter? Sure you don't mean half crowns for the fag machine?

Gas meter. London slum - no electricity.
Are you allowed to say fags these days?

So you did it at your parents' instigation? Wouldn't they be discovered
when the meter is emptied?

--
Max Demian

On Sat, 2 Dec 2017 12:09:31 +0000
Tim Watts wrote:

On 01/12/17 17:25, Brian Gaff wrote:
Sounds a bit dangerous. Much fuming during this melt. Lead fumes
not good. Brian


Obviously, do it outside - not in an enclosed space

So how do you move the gas cooker outside? :-)

Geo wrote:
snip
Are you allowed to say fags these days?

Why on earth should we *not* be allowed to?

--

Roger Hayter

On 02/12/17 19:35, Rob Morley wrote:
On Sat, 2 Dec 2017 12:09:31 +0000
Tim Watts wrote:

On 01/12/17 17:25, Brian Gaff wrote:
Sounds a bit dangerous. Much fuming during this melt. Lead fumes
not good. Brian


Obviously, do it outside - not in an enclosed space

So how do you move the gas cooker outside? :-)


BBQ

With a hoover in blow mode (some of the old cylinder ones could do this)
to turn it into a blast forge

On Sat, 2 Dec 2017 19:35:50 +0000, Rob Morley wrote:

Sounds a bit dangerous. Much fuming during this melt. Lead fumes
not good. Brian

Obviously, do it outside - not in an enclosed space

So how do you move the gas cooker outside? :-)

You don't, I didn't...

--
Cheers
Dave.

On Fri, 01 Dec 2017 16:05:03 +0100, Thomas Prufer wrote:

Otherwise, maybe a tin of approximate dimensions, and leave the lead in
the tin?

I was going to say that. B-)

Yer normal sized can filled with lead will be 1 kg or maybe more.
ICBATDTMs Wrap in racket tape to make it a little more pleasant (and
less slippy) to handle.

--
Cheers
Dave.

Dave Liquorice wrote:

On Fri, 01 Dec 2017 16:05:03 +0100, Thomas Prufer wrote:

Otherwise, maybe a tin of approximate dimensions, and leave the lead in
the tin?

I was going to say that. B-)

Yer normal sized can filled with lead will be 1 kg or maybe more.
ICBATDTMs Wrap in racket tape to make it a little more pleasant (and
less slippy) to handle.

11 x 0.4 = approx 4 1/2 Kg
--

Roger Hayter

Rob Morley wrote:
On Sat, 2 Dec 2017 12:09:31 +0000
Tim Watts wrote:

On 01/12/17 17:25, Brian Gaff wrote:
Sounds a bit dangerous. Much fuming during this melt. Lead fumes
not good. Brian


Obviously, do it outside - not in an enclosed space

So how do you move the gas cooker outside? :-)

Outside barbecue.

On Sun, 3 Dec 2017 01:11:31 +0000, Roger Hayter wrote:

Yer normal sized can filled with lead will be 1 kg or maybe more.
ICBATDTMs

11 x 0.4 = approx 4 1/2 Kg

Ta. THAT heavy... Mind you the 12" wide 5" dia roll of lead flashing
I have is almost but not quite glued to the floor.

--
Cheers
Dave.

Dave Liquorice wrote:

the 12" wide 5" dia roll of lead flashing I have is almost but not
quite glued to the floor.

I have several rolls of lead waiting for tuits, they surprise me how
heavy they are every time I need to move them, even when I try to
prepare myself for how heavy they are going to be.

On Sat, 2 Dec 2017 17:38:27 +0000, Max Demian
wrote:


So you did it at your parents' instigation? Wouldn't they be discovered
when the meter is emptied?

No - was my own idea. Used to boil U2 batteries too to get the carbon
rods out to make arc lamps - can still see.

On Sat, 2 Dec 2017 19:37:58 +0000, (Roger Hayter)
wrote:

Geo wrote:
snip
Are you allowed to say fags these days?

Why on earth should we *not* be allowed to?

Can't understand it - but my family castigate me for calling a wog a
wog...

On Sunday, 3 December 2017 15:00:55 UTC, Geo wrote:
On Sat, 2 Dec 2017 17:38:27 +0000, Max Demian
wrote:


So you did it at your parents' instigation? Wouldn't they be discovered
when the meter is emptied?

No - was my own idea. Used to boil U2 batteries too to get the carbon
rods out to make arc lamps - can still see.

I'm puzzled that you'd need to boil them. I just took the rods out. (I've no memory of what size the cells were.)


NT

On Sun, 3 Dec 2017 09:24:48 -0800 (PST), wrote:

On Sunday, 3 December 2017 15:00:55 UTC, Geo wrote:

No - was my own idea. Used to boil U2 batteries too to get the carbon
rods out to make arc lamps - can still see.

I'm puzzled that you'd need to boil them. I just took the rods out. (I've no memory of what size the cells were.)


Maybe didn't /need/ to - but it was more interesting to see the rods
ejected slowly under their own "steam".

Geo wrote:

On Sat, 2 Dec 2017 19:37:58 +0000, (Roger Hayter)
wrote:

Geo wrote:
snip
Are you allowed to say fags these days?

Why on earth should we *not* be allowed to?

Can't understand it - but my family castigate me for calling a wog a
wog...

Calling a person a wog is an rude. Calling a cigarette a fag isn't, in
UK English at least.

--

Roger Hayter

(Roger Hayter) grunted in
:

Dave Liquorice wrote:

On Fri, 01 Dec 2017 16:05:03 +0100, Thomas Prufer wrote:

Otherwise, maybe a tin of approximate dimensions, and leave the
lead in the tin?

I was going to say that. B-)

Yer normal sized can filled with lead will be 1 kg or maybe more.
ICBATDTMs Wrap in racket tape to make it a little more pleasant (and
less slippy) to handle.

11 x 0.4 = approx 4 1/2 Kg

Had forgotten about this thread... FWIW I ended up casting my weight in a
sawn-off deodorant can, and about two inches tall equated to my 1 kg.
Thanks all!