The Upholstery Forum

Hey! I maybe getting ahead of myself. I have done no research, just thinking. What do you use for weights? Right now I just use anything in reach that is heavy lol. But I was thinking of how to make my own. I was thinking of grabbing tire balancing lead weights when I'm at the junk yard, melting them and pouring into a round mold, then spray painting to seal... would this even work? I have never even tried to get one of those off a tire.

I use these small chrome weights i found that were part of a dumb bell set that was getting thrown out. Anything smooth and heavy will work.

Ohhh that's a good idea. I'll have to watch for those at garage sales and online sales

I used some scrap vinyl and made a small 6x6 pillow and filled it with aquarium gravel and sewed it shut. This gave me practice as well as a good weight that will not tear or mark my material. and of course you can make them any size you want.

I use 2.5 and 10 pound barbell weights. They slide with ease, and can be found at a cheap price.

Haha, I guess I'll have to see what my hubby has in the weight room. He might notice of they are missing, but God knows I don't use it. Maybe I'll ask for the small ones. I do like the aquarium gravel idea too. Thank you all!

@Stiffchick ,

I do exactly like John and use flat 2.5 pound Olympic plate and 05 pound Olympic plates.

I still use what’s handy, depends on what area I’m working in. One bad thing I could see with the lead weights from tires is, and I may be wrong as I don’t work with them really, is that lead tends to rub off a blackish mark. If you touch a lot of lead, like from a classic car that the seams were welded enough while working my fingers will have black smudges.

@Cody
That is a serious thought to ponder. Handing over a completed project to a custom with a customized set of prints on the fabric may result in a redo.

@Jayscanvas just showed me these fabric weights I have never seen before. They should work great! On amazon here https://amzn.to/2QrOUTg

Since they are handy for me I use cans of tuna and boned chicken

I also use sand bags I make from stamoid marine vinyl. It’s the long white tubes those are for glueing canvas or stamoid to acrylic windows for ridged enclosures but also make just square ones with handles

This are cool but for the price I can get a lot of canned food for one of those and not only have weight but also not be hungry. @Jayscanvas never seen tyvex for patterning. Does it work well?

Yes Tyvek is the best pattern material for doing marine enclosures. I do have emergency water storage and I use the gallon jugs as wieghts also