Lead free weights

[petn7]

Seems like lead free substitutes involve zinc or steel, with the latter not being useful because of corrosion. However, what about nickel plated brass? Those Wal-Mart Subworks submarines came with lead free weights that I believe are pieces of brass coated with nickel or maybe chrome. Does anybody know where to buy these? I would like to avoid using lead and I'm pretty sure I'll have enough space to avoid using denser, but more dangerous lead.

These seem to be a promising possibility

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wt ... XDH63&P=ML

[davietait]

There are lead free angling

There are lead free angling split shot weights ( from the size of a grain of rice up to BB size ) available over here that could be used to glue into the bilge of a model petn7. Been available over here for 22 years since they banned the use of lead angling weights on freshwater fisheries ( lead weights get eaten by Swans/Ducks/etc and its a pretty nasty way for them to die.. )

http://www.non-toxic-fishing-weights.co ... cturer.htm

[petn7]

The weights from the tower

The weights from the tower hobbies website are made of zinc, nickel, and tin, in case you guys are curious. It looks like that's what I'll get unless you guys have other lead-free suggestions.

[Guest]

If you can get hold

If you can get hold of any chunks of tungsten, that is very dense stuff- almost twice the weight per volume of lead.

[petn7]

If you can get hold

If you can get hold of any chunks of tungsten, that is very dense stuff- almost twice the weight per volume of lead.

Interesting. How expensive is that stuff?

[anonymous]

McMaster-Carr sells it.
Good luck cutting

McMaster-Carr sells it.
Good luck cutting it to size....

[redboat219]

How about using discarded tungsten

How about using discarded tungsten carbide machine tools

[petn7]

How about using discarded tungsten

How about using discarded tungsten carbide machine tools

I don't have any.

[Rogue Sub]

tungsten welding probes, its brittle

tungsten welding probes, its brittle stuf so you can break it with enough force. Grinding is a challenge, cutting..forget it. And if you get thoriated tungsten it will be radioactive like the real boats!
If your bored you can melt pennies or just glue nickels in there. Ive used money to trim at the pond before.

Kevin

[redboat219]

tungsten welding probes, its brittle

tungsten welding probes, its brittle stuf so you can break it with enough force. Grinding is a challenge, cutting..forget it. And if you get thoriated tungsten it will be radioactive like the real boats!
Kevin

WOW
Maybe we can use it to fuel a pico nuclear reactor instead

You can run yours sub for years.

[Rogue Sub]

That would be a cool

That would be a cool thing but would probably take way to much room to convert the energy to power. Not to mention those things are gamma emitters (i believe) and we would be after neutrons. Oh and their radiation levels are just a little higher then you would get from a banana!

[polaris]

Guys, Tungsten is avalible in

Guys, Tungsten is avalible in shot form, I use it in my turkey loads. It first came on the scene in the hunting world as hevi-shot, and has since become aval from several shot load manufacturers. Check out your local reloading supply store or search it on the web. Here is a website I found through Google,

http://www.tungsten-spheres.com/tungsten_shot.html

http://www.hevishot.com/home.html

It can be expensive to buy in bulk ( 150$ for a 7lb bag) but depending on how much weight you need just buy a box of Hevi-Shot shells and remove the shot. And make your own fireworks with the powder and primer charge.

regards,
Stuart

[petn7]

Sounds dangerous, Polaris.

I already ordered

Sounds dangerous, Polaris.

I already ordered those nickel, tin, and zinc weights. Maybe I'll try tungsten next time I build a submarine. Sounds like a great thing for small subs where space is limited.

[redboat219]

Not to mention those things

Not to mention those things are gamma emitters

OMG!

RAGH!!! Hulk smash!!!!

[tmsmalley]

What are your reasons for

What are your reasons for not wanting to use lead?

It doesn't leach into the water unless you leave your boat in the water for a few dozn years. The main reason it is used in bird shot is due to water birds picking it up and grinding it up in their gizards and injuring the birds or killing raptors (eagles, hawks, owls, etc. ) that may kill them. With the little bit we use, unless you breathe the fumes, it while melting it, or eat a bunch of it, the effect is non-existant.