Cheapest place/form of lead

[Warhauk]

I know this isn't strictly leatherworking related, but the purpose is to add a lead core to the handles for my leather floggers for balancing purposes. Does anybody happen to know how difficult it is to work with lead ingots/bars? I don't really want to get a full setup for melting and casting them. 

For other options, does anybody know the cheapest way to get smaller bits of lead? I know there is lead shot, fishing weights, etc. Just wondering if there are other ones that would work well.

The idea is to basically pour small bits of lead into the drilled out core of the wood handle and then pour glue in to hold it in place.

[chuck123wapati]

12 minutes ago, Warhauk said:

I know this isn't strictly leatherworking related, but the purpose is to add a lead core to the handles for my leather floggers for balancing purposes. Does anybody happen to know how difficult it is to work with lead ingots/bars? I don't really want to get a full setup for melting and casting them. 

For other options, does anybody know the cheapest way to get smaller bits of lead? I know there is lead shot, fishing weights, etc. Just wondering if there are other ones that would work well.

The idea is to basically pour small bits of lead into the drilled out core of the wood handle and then pour glue in to hold it in place.

Its very easy once melted, however the fumes are very dangerous don't consider melting it at all. The hot lead will burn you handles. 

 Bismuth from a  reloading supply store would be your best bet. You can get whatever size shot works fill the void with the shot then pour in the epoxy over it. That way no heat and above all no fumes. Another thing lead may be illegal in some states. Bismuth would be safer by far. 

[HaloJones]

Another option to busmuth could be diving ballast, I have used that to make paper weights, and is available in many sizes & quantities 

[Warhauk]

35 minutes ago, chuck123wapati said:

Its very easy once melted, however the fumes are very dangerous don't consider melting it at all. The hot lead will burn you handles. 

 Bismuth from a  reloading supply store would be your best bet. You can get whatever size shot works fill the void with the shot then pour in the epoxy over it. That way no heat and above all no fumes. Another thing lead may be illegal in some states. Bismuth would be safer by far. 

Thanks for the heads up on potential legal issues I'll have to look into it. Unfortunately, it seems bismuth is quite a bit more expensive than lead.

8 minutes ago, HaloJones said:

Another option to busmuth could be diving ballast, I have used that to make paper weights, and is available in many sizes & quantities 

I'm not sure what you mean by diving ballast. When I looked it up on amazon, it was just a bunch of equipment or bags of lead shot.

[fredk]

56 minutes ago, Warhauk said:

I know this isn't strictly leatherworking related, but the purpose is to add a lead core to the handles for my leather floggers for balancing purposes. Does anybody happen to know how difficult it is to work with lead ingots/bars? I don't really want to get a full setup for melting and casting them. 

For other options, does anybody know the cheapest way to get smaller bits of lead? I know there is lead shot, fishing weights, etc. Just wondering if there are other ones that would work well.

Go to a fabric shop. They usually sell small weights, probably in zinc these days, as 'curtain weights'. Used by sewing into the hem of a curtain to keep it hanging down straight

[fredk]

or, small fishing weights, or stuff called 'Liquid Gravity' - expensive. 'lead' [now zinc] weights for fish tanks - to keep plants down

[GatoGordo]

You can buy lead weights on Amazon. Five pounds for $19.

https://smile.amazon.com/Arrow-Weights-Uncoated-Weight-perfect/dp/B001OAIQ4C/ref=sr_1_19?keywords=diving%2Bweights&qid=1642187785&sprefix=diving%2Bweight%2Caps%2C123&sr=8-19&th=1&psc=1

[fredk]

I think them be too big for the OPs needs

[Warhauk]

6 minutes ago, GatoGordo said:

You can buy lead weights on Amazon. Five pounds for $19.

https://smile.amazon.com/Arrow-Weights-Uncoated-Weight-perfect/dp/B001OAIQ4C/ref=sr_1_19?keywords=diving%2Bweights&qid=1642187785&sprefix=diving%2Bweight%2Caps%2C123&sr=8-19&th=1&psc=1

 

3 minutes ago, fredk said:

I think them be too big for the OPs needs

Yeah I would have to melt them downa nd reform them, which leads to same problem as ingots.

[fredk]

btw. I do some lead based pewter casting. Its easy peasy.

I use a camping stove which runs on gas. I use an old soup ladle which I have bent the rod on for easier pouring. The ladle will hold a maximum of 200g of lead, for safety. I usually melt about 80g -  3 oz at a time. It takes just a few minutes to melt. I wear a leather welders glove on my left hand which holds the mould. I pour the lead into the mould and put the ladle back on the stove. 

I also use oil sand in some casting