I am not having any luck locating sheet lead here in Winnipeg. I can get old wheel weights and/or fishing sinkers. It just seems simpler to line the bottom of a gondola or the floor of a boxcar with something flat. Any ideas where to buy some lead sheet?
In the past, I have used lead shot. It can be pored in the hollows in the underbody of passenger cars or adhered to the inner floor on a coat of Elmer’s glue. I also use it in hopper cars.
For brass steam engines I pour in low temp alloy. For plastic diesels I invert the shell and glue in the lead shot
For my Walthers passenger cars I am going to make a plaster of paris mold to fit the car floor and pour in melted lead tire weights.
1 Like
Any builders supply, lumber yard and even most Home Depots will carry the sheet lead “flashing” that your looking for. It is usually sold by weight.
1 Like
If you’re looking for little bits and pieces, if you get a Hunter ceiling fan, the balancing kit includes several pieces of thin lead about 1.25" square. It even has adhesive already on it!
Lee
1 Like
In the U.S. it’s sold in roll form as a roofing product. Did you check your home improvement stores? They may not know it as lead sheet and call it something else.
Check out a hobby shop that sell R/C airplane supplies. They’ll have weights complete with mounting tape.
A Chinese toy factory, maybe…?[:o)]
[(-D][(-D][(-D][(-D]
“Major Vollmer, are you trying to set off an International Incident?” [|(](insert General’s name)
(Heard that a few times after showing off some of my railfanning photos back when.)[swg]
Seriously, any lead that is reasonably pure will be malleable enough that a few minutes between a hammer and an anvil will flatten it enough for most purposes. If what you have is used wheel weights from your local tire emporium, scrub 'em clean, pound 'em flat and press on.[8D]
Chuck (modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)
Mr B & O
Harold
I am surprised You haven’t heard from the PC Green crowd about how you are going to poison yourself with lead.
Someone was selling packaged lead strips through the hobby market a few years back, but I haven’t seen them lately.
Another source might be a place that deals in science supplies or classroom materials. American Science & Surplus ( www.sciplus.com ) sold me some lead strip a fews years back. (The product is used in science classes where the students make batteries.) I had to ask for it, and the clerk simply went into a back room, brought out a roll, and reeled off a few feet for me.
Another source for lead might be stores catering to stained-glass hobbyists. However, they stock they sell is usually a grooved bar.
Finally, hardware and plumbing supply stores often carry lead wool, used to pack plumbing joints. It strikes me this would be good for a gondola load, as it could be painted to represent shredded scrap metal.
1 Like
http://www.ppw-aline.com/weights.htm
Look towards the bottom of the page, they sell lead sheets.
2 Likes
Look up a mason that builds chimneys. They have plenty of scraps that are big enough to make full size car weights.
Good luck,
1 Like
Try these guys, I believe they have the largest stock of sheet lead in Canada.
1 Like
OK! I had not read this series of posts until it was revived today.
I don’t know if Dave Vollmer is still on the forum (his last post was in 2019), but he should win some kind of award for his November, 2007, answer for where to find lead:
That’s got to be one of the forum’s best!
Long time ago, I know.
Elmer’s and lead shot…once it sets and dries, if it gets damp, the mass swells and blows things apart. Last year ? we had to have a Lobaugh Challenger repaired. Previous owner did that, damp basement, split the boiler and blew the seams. Horrible mess. Don’t.
Amazon: Amazon.com: Lead Sheet - Lead Sheeting - Sheet Lead Rolls - 99.9% Pure - Multi-Use - ASTM & QQ-L Compliant - Various Sizes (1, 1/32" x 12" x 12") : Industrial & Scientific
I wouldn’t go more than 1/32" thick, you can cut it with scissors at 1/32", at 1/16" it’s still cuttable but much harder on your hands and scissors. Much easier to make accurate cuts at 1/32" or thinner.
1 Like
