Where to get the foam and lead weights

[novagator]

Ok, where is a good place to get the foam and lead weights for my sub?

Thanks in advance.

[novagator]

Also the the linkages and

Also the the linkages and stuff like that for a Thor Alfa.

[Guest]

Novogator,
Foam from a builder. They

Novogator,
Foam from a builder. They will probably give you a broken sheet of 1" thick blue insulation foam. Also, a roofer can sell you a foot or two of sheet lead which can be shaped to the contour of the bottom of the hull, where it belongs.
Try our vendor's section for suppliers of the linkages.
Art

[joeangi]

I have had good luck

I have had good luck using the wheel weights for cars. You can go to any tire store and buy the new "stick on" ones, or they will give you plenty of the used clip on ones...dealerships are also good sources. Body shops get plenty of the closed cell foam as packaging. They are more than happy to give it away.

Joe

[novagator]

Thanks for the info guys,

Thanks for the info guys, this helps alot.


John

[tmsmalley]

If the wheel weights or

If the wheel weights or roofer's sheet lead don't work out, you can get strap type duck decoy weights from an outdoor sporting goods store like www.Cabelas.com . They are nice and flat, can be easily bent and cut.



The blue or pink builders foam (same stuff , just different manufacturers) is also available in 2" thickness. Any builders supply will sell you a 4X8 sheet for less than $10.
Tim

[sam reichart]

instead of wheel weights or

instead of wheel weights or strapping, you could also get some number 7 birdshot (any shooting supply place sells it by the bag)....mix it up with a two part epoxy to make a birdshot/epoxy slurry. As the epoxy hardens, shape into long skinny fillets or "loaves". What's nice about it is the birdshot can be broken off by tiny pieces- especially convenient for small boats where it becomes more critical. Additionally, you can put some wax paper in the hull of your boat, put this on top, and it will form to the shape of your hull. Then pull it off the bottom and trim as you need.

[tmsmalley]

As Sam pointed out -

As Sam pointed out - there are lots of options for finding lead - A box of duck decoy strap weights is about $7. Wheel weights at a tire store can sometimes be had for the asking or a couple of bucks. For birdshot, around here anyway, it seems you wind up having to buy a 25 lb bag of it at a sporting arms reloading shop at $50 or more.

However, if you go in with a couple of guys, you can save some bucks on buying it by the 25# sack and divying it up.

Some better hobby stores might sell it in smaller quantities but at a higher / lb markup. Since lead shot is now illegal for waterfowl hunting, you might even find a duck hunter that has lead shot he might give you. I predict in ten years, lead weights will be gone as well - so stock up on plumbium

There are many sizes of shot - I like the smaller (#6 - #8) because it conforms to the shape of the hull better than the #4 or larger stuff - but again - use what you can get. It really doesn't matter all that much.

I have mixed birdshot with epoxy in a Zip-loc sandwich bag (to keep the epoxy from making a gooey mess and running all over the place) and then pressed it into the hull where I wanted it to go. Once the mixture sets up, you can easily peel off the bag and as Sam mentioned, break off small pieces with a needle nose pliers if you have a bit too much. Then just silicone the amorphous lead chunk into the hull. Silicone facilitates its removal better than epoxy if you ever decide to change the boat's trim!



Edited By TMSmalley on 1076514564

[novagator]

Great ideas, thanks guys!

Great ideas, thanks guys!

[dietzer]

Many hobby shops sell lead

Many hobby shops sell lead weights for pinewood derby cars. Usually they are sold in 1 lb packages, with 16 1-oz flat rectangular lead pieces in the package. Some hobby stores even carry these lead weights that are adhesive backed, which is perfect for weighting subs.

Carl