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Paul, Lead is easy to melt. Use an old pot of any kind that you will never use for cooking again. I use an old aluminum pot with high sides. However, depending on the strength of the handle, do not put too much weight in it. Any impurities will float to the surface; an old fork and spoon work well to scoop them out. It is interesting to see steel float. A gasoline or propane camping stove works well, but use it out of doors. Keep a pair of pliers handy in case the handle is not strong enough. Once the lead is melted, scoop out the impurities and pour. Timing and heat is not important, as long as the lead does not try to skin over on the top. However, make sure there is no moisture in the mold, or the water will explode, throwing the hot lead all over. There was a horrible industrial accident where several workers were encapsulated from such an explosion. With your doubles, you have two bolts going through the bands. Replace the bolts with threaded rod, preferably with a nut welded on about 1.8" from one end, depending on V-weight thickness. For my 7" diameter tanks, I needed 6.2" long studs. The V weight gets bolted on the back of the tank assembly. I ended up drilling two sets of bolt holes in order to get some adjustment for my underwater balance/trim. For Halcyon backplates, use 11" centers. ---Steve Danaher >Lead melts at relatively low temps but how do I know it is melted >enough? Does it bubble and splatter all over the place, or is it just >good >and runny? > >I have some old lead that has a coating of orange paint on it. Should >I >scrape the paint of first or does it really matter? > >I am still in the process of DIR-ifying my gear and currently using >twined AL80's with a manifold which are positively buoyant when >close to empty. I have a home made aluminum backplate which does >not add any real weight to the rig and a Viking rubber dry suit with >1/4" >Thinsulite undies. Currently I have about 16 lbs on my belt and 4 lbs >of ankle weights. So is there a generally accepted weight >criteria for the P/V when diving a rig like the one mentioned >above? (ie) The P had to be 5 lbs and the V has to be 7 lbs or >something like that. > > >From the web page it is not obvious if the V weight is connected >to something or does it just go in between the tanks+bands and is held >in >place by the back plate? > >If the V is not connected to anything I assume it is trimmed to >fit perfectly between the tanks+bands so not move around and make >annoying noise. > >I plan on using an old cast iron skillet as my smelter. Is this >a safe enough pot to use.? Being a frying pan type pot is it necessary >to use a pot with higher sides? > >Is there a simple formula that will let me know how much weight to >melt? (ie) Melt 10 lbs of lead to get a 5 lbs P weight, etc. > >Sorry for the long post, and thanx for any info, > > >Paul > > > >-- >Send mail for the `techdiver' mailing list to `techdiver@aquanaut.com'. >Send subscribe/unsubscribe requests to `techdiver-request@aquanaut.com'. -- Send mail for the `techdiver' mailing list to `techdiver@aquanaut.com'. Send subscribe/unsubscribe requests to `techdiver-request@aquanaut.com'.
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