Re: [bolger] I broke down and ordered a set of old shoe plans!
smithriverranger wrote:
polyester resin, or concrete...
Bruce Fountain
Senior Software Engineer
Union Switch & Signal
Perth, Western Australia
> Already have about 200 lbs ofSounds like an expensive keel. You might consider using
> chilled lead shot from back when i used to reload shells and shoot
> skeet and sporting clays competively.....I want to mix it with epoxy
> and just pour it as opposed to the molten lead thing....
polyester resin, or concrete...
Bruce Fountain
Senior Software Engineer
Union Switch & Signal
Perth, Western Australia
--- Paul Lefebvre wrote:
A I understand it, you don't want to
eat or breath lead dust. Which means
especially, 'wash your hands' before
eating/drinking/smoking. The latter
two might be tough on Canadians [joke!];)
Also, I don't think that melting lead
makes much lead dust. Sawing it does.
As it only just passes the melting
point, so I am guessing that it doesn't
come close to turning into a vapor either.
The other risks, are: It is hot! and can
burn things or you. ...and, it is heavy
and can crush your toes!
> backyard crazinessWe have skipped talk of safety issues.
A I understand it, you don't want to
eat or breath lead dust. Which means
especially, 'wash your hands' before
eating/drinking/smoking. The latter
two might be tough on Canadians [joke!];)
Also, I don't think that melting lead
makes much lead dust. Sawing it does.
As it only just passes the melting
point, so I am guessing that it doesn't
come close to turning into a vapor either.
The other risks, are: It is hot! and can
burn things or you. ...and, it is heavy
and can crush your toes!
great, thanks for the info, Bruce! You may just have inspired some more
backyard craziness on my part...
Paul
backyard craziness on my part...
Paul
--- "Paul Lefebvre" <paul@w...> wrote:
bricks, it was plenty sturdy.
The bucket didn't really 'bulge' any.
The only concern I had was that the
soldered seams on the bucket got 'shiney'
but they didn't leak.
If it *did* fail, it would have only
spilled out on the dry dirt, and I would
have chopped it up and melted it
again, second try.
*Do* avoid mixing molten lead and water!
method and I wouldn't do that differently.
Pouring it in 3 layers wasn't a problem either.
> that was why I asked! that's quite an image,I built a fire pit of perhaps 20
> a bulging bucket straining on a
> couple of bricks over a fire.
bricks, it was plenty sturdy.
The bucket didn't really 'bulge' any.
The only concern I had was that the
soldered seams on the bucket got 'shiney'
but they didn't leak.
If it *did* fail, it would have only
spilled out on the dry dirt, and I would
have chopped it up and melted it
again, second try.
*Do* avoid mixing molten lead and water!
> ...plumb it up to a pipe for a one-shot pour...I was very happy with the ladle and pour
method and I wouldn't do that differently.
Pouring it in 3 layers wasn't a problem either.
> How many bags of charcoal did it take?About one and a half, 60 lbs???
>I bet that 400 lbs of lead would all fit in a 5-gallonbucket, but that is a frightening amount of weight in
a sheet metal bucket!
that was why I asked! that's quite an image, a bulging bucket straining on a
couple of bricks over a fire. I'm sure my wife will just love watching THIS
little adventure... If I decide to do this I'll grab an old compressor tank
or something from the metal pile at the dump - I'll find something with a
tap built-in, and plumb it up to a pipe for a one-shot pour... How many bags
of charcoal did it take?
Paul
--- Paul Lefebvre <paul@...> wrote:
and a third layer which re-melted the lower layer
and the whole thing stuck together well.
I did pour on another 20 lbs 'fourth' layer which
didn't fully stick together. I just nailed that tight
using the short fat '10DHDG nails' you buy at Home
Depot for 'Simpson Strong-Ties'. They drive easily
into lead with a hammer.
http://www.strongtie.com/products/connectors/nails.html
I bet that 400 lbs of lead would all fit in a 5-gallon
bucket, but that is a frightening amount of weight in
a sheet metal bucket!
> Bruce, You didn't fit all the lead for a Micro hullI did it in three layers. Pouring a second,
> in a 5 gallon bucket, all at once - did you?
and a third layer which re-melted the lower layer
and the whole thing stuck together well.
I did pour on another 20 lbs 'fourth' layer which
didn't fully stick together. I just nailed that tight
using the short fat '10DHDG nails' you buy at Home
Depot for 'Simpson Strong-Ties'. They drive easily
into lead with a hammer.
http://www.strongtie.com/products/connectors/nails.html
I bet that 400 lbs of lead would all fit in a 5-gallon
bucket, but that is a frightening amount of weight in
a sheet metal bucket!
Bruce,
You didn't fit all the lead for a Micro hull in a 5 gallon bucket, all at
once - did you?
I've shied away from doing this myself, it was the one thing I planned to
contract out for my boat (well that, and have a rudder stock welded up for
me) - but you make it sound so simple, I feel like giving it a try. Did you
get a single, solid pour, and not a 'baklava' layering effect, ladling it in
that way? I'm going with a Lestat-style bolt-on keel, not a panelled-in keel
as per the plans, so it'll have to be pretty fair. Wondering if I'm not
giving this a fair look before I run away from it...
thanks,
Paul Lefebvre
-----Original Message-----
From: Bruce Hallman [mailto:bruce@...]
Sent: Friday, March 05, 2004 2:21 PM
To:bolger@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [bolger] I broke down and ordered a set of old shoe plans!
I melted my lead for a Micro in
a salvaged 5 gallon paint bucket
sitting on bricks. I used BBQ
briquettes for heat, with my
leaf blower blowing air on the
coals to 'hot them up'.
You didn't fit all the lead for a Micro hull in a 5 gallon bucket, all at
once - did you?
I've shied away from doing this myself, it was the one thing I planned to
contract out for my boat (well that, and have a rudder stock welded up for
me) - but you make it sound so simple, I feel like giving it a try. Did you
get a single, solid pour, and not a 'baklava' layering effect, ladling it in
that way? I'm going with a Lestat-style bolt-on keel, not a panelled-in keel
as per the plans, so it'll have to be pretty fair. Wondering if I'm not
giving this a fair look before I run away from it...
thanks,
Paul Lefebvre
-----Original Message-----
From: Bruce Hallman [mailto:bruce@...]
Sent: Friday, March 05, 2004 2:21 PM
To:bolger@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [bolger] I broke down and ordered a set of old shoe plans!
I melted my lead for a Micro in
a salvaged 5 gallon paint bucket
sitting on bricks. I used BBQ
briquettes for heat, with my
leaf blower blowing air on the
coals to 'hot them up'.
I did that with Oink Jason, and it worked out well. Do it in 2 pours.
Let the first pour get quite tacky before pouring in the remainder.
This is because of possible heat buildup of the curing epoxy.
I made the keel thickness about 20% wider than standard, to allow for
the lesser density of lead shot in place. And be generous with the
epoxy, don't make too 'dry' a mix.
Good luck, she is an appealingly dinky design,
DonB
Let the first pour get quite tacky before pouring in the remainder.
This is because of possible heat buildup of the curing epoxy.
I made the keel thickness about 20% wider than standard, to allow for
the lesser density of lead shot in place. And be generous with the
epoxy, don't make too 'dry' a mix.
Good luck, she is an appealingly dinky design,
DonB
> and just pour it as opposed to the molten lead thing....I've read
> some micro owners have done this. How did it work out?
> Got to go clean out the garage and make some room.
> Jason
--- smithriverranger wrote:
If not, try a few pounds on a camp stove
and an old pot to see.
I melted my lead for a Micro in
a salvaged 5 gallon paint bucket
sitting on bricks. I used BBQ
briquettes for heat, with my
leaf blower blowing air on the
coals to 'hot them up'.
Rather than trying to pour the lead,
I just used an improvised can on a
metal rod as a 'ladle' and scooped it
out like soup.
I expected the process to be hard
and it turned out to be easy.
Wear gloves and boots and goggles.
In the end, it turned out my casting
wasn't shaped right at the ends, to
fit tight to my hull, so I trimmed it
using my Skilsaw, no problem.
You could use epoxy, but that seems
expensive, and you would end up with
something not as dense as poured lead.
Your fin keel would need to be thicker,
or the ballast made 'longer' if the
density was less.
> Already haveHave you tried melting lead before?
> about 200 lbs of
> chilled lead
If not, try a few pounds on a camp stove
and an old pot to see.
I melted my lead for a Micro in
a salvaged 5 gallon paint bucket
sitting on bricks. I used BBQ
briquettes for heat, with my
leaf blower blowing air on the
coals to 'hot them up'.
Rather than trying to pour the lead,
I just used an improvised can on a
metal rod as a 'ladle' and scooped it
out like soup.
I expected the process to be hard
and it turned out to be easy.
Wear gloves and boots and goggles.
In the end, it turned out my casting
wasn't shaped right at the ends, to
fit tight to my hull, so I trimmed it
using my Skilsaw, no problem.
You could use epoxy, but that seems
expensive, and you would end up with
something not as dense as poured lead.
Your fin keel would need to be thicker,
or the ballast made 'longer' if the
density was less.
I'm stoked, i've been beating this around for months now. Figure
i'll get started at the first of next month, going to be taking my
time with this one. Anyone ever seen an old shoe with a
pilothouse?.... Stay tuned. If any old shoe or micro builders have
some hints, dos or don'ts i'd love to hear it. This will be the
first ballasted boat i've built, should be a challange even though
it is small and simple as designed. Already have about 200 lbs of
chilled lead shot from back when i used to reload shells and shoot
skeet and sporting clays competively.....I want to mix it with epoxy
and just pour it as opposed to the molten lead thing....I've read
some micro owners have done this. How did it work out?
Got to go clean out the garage and make some room.
Jason
i'll get started at the first of next month, going to be taking my
time with this one. Anyone ever seen an old shoe with a
pilothouse?.... Stay tuned. If any old shoe or micro builders have
some hints, dos or don'ts i'd love to hear it. This will be the
first ballasted boat i've built, should be a challange even though
it is small and simple as designed. Already have about 200 lbs of
chilled lead shot from back when i used to reload shells and shoot
skeet and sporting clays competively.....I want to mix it with epoxy
and just pour it as opposed to the molten lead thing....I've read
some micro owners have done this. How did it work out?
Got to go clean out the garage and make some room.
Jason