Lead shot to add weight to implements?

[Weedy Fields]

Go to a firing range, usually you'll find areas that are covered with fired bullets.

 

[MossRoad]

I have a BX. Accordingly, my rear implements are fairly lightweight.

I would like to add weight and thought about welding some more steel onto the implements, but then I thought about just buying some lead shot, cutting open some of the members, fill with lead shot and then weld cut end closed again.

I figure adding a hundred or two hundred pounds to box blade and rake would help engage the ground better, and this is the easiest way to do it.

Am I nuts, or is this a reasonable idea?

Cutting open enough areas to add that much lead and then welding it shut does not seem like the easiest way to do it. Mounting a post or two on the unit and hanging barbell weights or salvaged tractor weights seems much easier and much more flexible.

 

[FTG-05]

millsan, I had the same problem with my 675 lb 6' wide BB. So I built an 8"x8" weight block out of steel, lead and concrete. It weighs 410 lbs. It also doubles as my Rachet Rake holder adding another 110 lbs for a total of 520 lbs hanging off the end of my BB. It made my BB far more effective on my one mile gravel road.

Pics:

ETA: I got about 140 lbs of lead weight from a reloader friend. he gave me lead that he didn't want to use in reloading (it was mixed with too much tin or something like that, easier to sell it than fool with it).

good luck!

 

[Tractor Seabee]

I invested in 500# of suitcase weights in 50# size. Made a rack that works on the 3 PT QH and working on a similar rack for the front end. Would be easy to make a rack on other ground engaging attachment. Advantage: Add and delete weight to match the requirement. Bought mine from Home Depot on-line catalog. About $1 per pound +/-.

Ron

 

[4570Man]

Does anyone think filling the front tires on my B7200 is a bad idea? I could pickup reclaimed shot so it wouldn't cost anything.

 

[Teachu2]

Realize that lead is toxic, and more so when heated. It would be easy to make a barbell with a piece of sq tubing (or even pipe) and a couple 5 gallon buckets of concrete, and strap it on the BB.

 

[MHarryE]

At Caterpillar for our compactors, we used punching someone from sheet metal fabrication shops for ballast. Not the same density as lead, of course, but also non-toxic. Very inexpensive weight. Our purchasing departments in the different countries we built them had no problem getting an unlimited supply and I thing we got them for about $200 per ton but the price will be down with scrap so low.

 

[bdog]

Just today I added some weight to my box scraper. It is not 3-point it is a pull type with gauge wheels on the back that are raised and lowered hydraulically. It is ten foot wide. No idea what it weighed before hand but it bounced around and didn't dig in like I thought it should.

I took two 22.5" semi wheels I had laying around and welded them on top of the blade. One on each end. I then took some scrap plate and welded it over the holes in the wheels. A 14" circle covered the hole for the hub and the lug nuts and two 4"x5" pieces covered the holes used to reach the inner valve stems. I then filled them with concrete. Between the two wheels I added 560lbs of concrete plus the wheels are close to 50lbs each I bet. I am letting it sit so the concrete can cure so I haven't tried it yet but I bet it helped a lot. I plan to get some more wheels and do the same to my disc.

 

[Fallon]

One warning... weight is a proxy for strength in a lot of implements. In theory, the heavier they are, the more steel & the stronger they are. If you just strap on more ballast, they will dig better, but not be any stronger. Probably not a problem with your B, but a tractor with more traction will just tear up a lighter blade.

I put a chain in a 5 gallon bucket & filled it with cement. Hung it by the bit of chain coming out of the cement on my PHD. Have a 200lbs chunk of some massive pipe I mount on some brackets I welded on now.

Basically I think you are over thinking it. It's an ugly box blade. Don't bother trying to make it pretty. Just strap on weight however you can with minimal effort. Makes it easier to remove if needed later too.

 

[Panik]

I have a BX. Accordingly, my rear implements are fairly lightweight.

I would like to add weight and thought about welding some more steel onto the implements, but then I thought about just buying some lead shot, cutting open some of the members, fill with lead shot and then weld cut end closed again.

I figure adding a hundred or two hundred pounds to box blade and rake would help engage the ground better, and this is the easiest way to do it.

Am I nuts, or is this a reasonable idea?

If you are serious about using shot, I would suggest looking at reclaimed lead shot. It should be significantly cheaper than new. Typically some of the larger skeet and trap ranges will carry it. As a cheap experiment/alternative pick up several bags of play sand from the local big box store and try strapping it to the cross members of your box blade. It will give you some idea how the implement will function with the additional weight prior to spending the time and money of permanently adding weight.

I usually use bags of play sand with my landscape rack when I need the extra weight. If one of the bags breaks its not a big deal given how inexpensive they are.