Divers weights for lead

[Barney]

Anyone ever use them for a lead source? A feller gave me a couple that are cased in rubber or something that I can't seem to peel off easily.
Any suggestions?

Thanks

 

[Stumpkiller]

I've used them. I take a three pound mallet and a cold chisel to make smaller chunks. I wonder if some are pure lead, though. There's no reason the divers would care so they may contain other metals. Some of the encapsulated weights are iron, I was informed once. You'll know right away when you get the coating off.

 

[hung load]

They are most likely nearly all lead...probably similar ratio to tire weights. I'd imagine they would want to avoid ferrous metals in order to avoid the rusting / corrosion that would occur with contact to salt water.

Hmmm... :hmm: resourceful lead source. I'm going to visit some dive shops and see if they have any old weights they don't want any more.

 

[kodiakemt414]

My brother uses them all the time.

 

[Barney]

Seems like pretty soft lead, scratches easily with a finger nail. The part I'm having trouble with is getting off the jacket around it.

 

[mike alexandre]

The jacket is a plastic material and if your melting in a large pot first and fluxing it should burn off, dont breath the fumes. However I know that some people will make divers weights out of any crap lead they can get including battery lead and they dont bother to clean it either. I'm a diver and I wouldnt use dive weights for bullets.