I always admire Meredith's resourcefulness. But I am
leary about the idea of melting lead. We used to do it
in the Aleutians to cast 1 pound lead sinkers for
catching Halibut, but always outside in the wind.

But to aviod lead poisoning and possibly more convenient:

A ready source of handy lead disks is McMaster-Carr:
(630-833-0300; no minumum, take charge cards)
Some examples:

2 3/4 od x 13/32 id x 1/2" thick 1 1/4 lbs # 90385k22 $  7.83
4 1/2 od x 25/64 id x 1/2" thk  3 1/4 lbs  # 90385k32 $ 13.68
4 1/2 od x 25/64 id x 1" thk  6 1/2 lbs    # 90385k34 $ 24.40
6 " od x 25/64 id x 1/2" thk  5 3/4 lbs    # 90385k42 $ 18.66
6" od  x 25/64 id x 1"  thk   11 1/2 lbs   # 90385k44 $ 33.52
(two of this last are used in the S5100 long period vertical seis)

Up to: (for sailboad ballast or a VERY large seis)
13" od x 41/64 id x 1" thick 54 lbs        # 90385k74 $ 124.97
 
They are somewhat roughly cut; I am using the smallest size
in newer versions of the VBB vertical and in another new
instrument development.

Regards,
Sean-Thomas

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