Dry mix or wet concrete for ballast box

[crazyal]

My 55 gallon drum ballast "box" has a layer of cement that I mixed up. I did that simply because if the bottom of the drum rusted out the cement would hold everything in. After that bottom layer, that also holds a tube that connects both lower link pins, I used anything scrap I had. From rocks to a few 5 gallon buckets of old tire weights. If it wasn't needed and had weight I used it. I filled in the gaps with dry cement. The the last 6 inches or so I used mixed cement to seal it off.

 

[crazyal]

My local cement plant will fill whatever I take down there for free with their overages. I took a ballast box I built down, left it on a trailer, then 2 days later, they called and said it was done. I took them a couple of pizzas for their efforts. I left it on the trailer for about a week to set up, then removed it with my f.e.l. About 2500 lbs. If you have any car repair shops locally, some of them will give away used antifreeze that they store and have to pay someone to haul it off. I put about 100 gallons of it in each of my rear tires. Between that and the ballast box, I can use my JD 542 loader to it's full potential.

A friend owns a sprinkler business. Some of the systems he services need to have antifreeze put in them and then in the spring he drains them back out so they can be filled with water. He uses non-toxic antifreeze because when it drains he just lets it flow out onto the ground as long as it doesn't make a mess. When he can't let it drain on the ground he fills a bulk container and brings it back to his shop. It's mixed with the oil used to cut the threads into the pipe and the dope used to seal the joints so it's not food safe. On occasion someone will ask him for it to fill tires but usually it just gets thrown out. If you have a local sprinkler company it could be an option (I'm not sure if pipes freezing is an issue around you like it is up here).

 

[JimWalch]

This is my future "box" when I get time to melt it. one cubic ft. = 707.96lbs. (scrap lead from restoring old stained glass windows) have about a ton of it

I have lots of old lead roof flashing...at least 500lbs.
What sort of pot/heater do you plan to use for melting your scrap lead?
....and what for a mold?

not sure about the melting pot yet but I think I'll make a larger bottom drain out of a large cast iron kettle. I don't think my 25lb ladle will cut it. mold will be made out of castable refractory with metal reinforcement on the outside that will come off when cool.
Any information?[/QUOTE]