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S330 or S280 shot blasting media
Folks,
In thinking about weighting steam era freight cars, I came across “Liquid Gravity” in a story by Cody Grivno in this month’s Model Railroader, where he weights an old Ulrich Gondola. The stuff looks like tiny steel shot… (I say steel because
it is “non-toxic” so it isn’t lead)
It turns out that it sells for around $13 for 240 grams.
S330 or S280 steel shot blasting media sells for $36 for a 50# bag of S330 or $22 for a 25# bag of S280. Shipping adds significantly to the bill, due to the weight, of course… but sheesh, that’s several lifetime supplies of beetle metal balls…
I think Tichy used something like this for the weights in their derrick kit.
This seems like a no-brainer - is anyone using this stuff? Either as weight or to media blast?
Regards
Bruce
Bruce F. Smith
Auburn, AL
https://www5.vetmed.auburn.edu/~smithbf/
"Some days you are the bug, some days you are the windshield."
Dave Parker
Bruce:
Looks like steel shot, but there is this video on U-tube describing use in "wagons" (in a charming British accent):
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Remember, as long as the cavity is big enough, there isn't any advantage to little tiny balls of steel. Hexagonal closest pack orientation yields 74% balls and 26% glue/air, regardless of the diameter of the spheres.
That price would be more attractive if the product was tungsten, but I'm pretty sure if it was, they would say so.
Dave Parker
Riverside, CA
On Monday, June 5, 2017 2:19 PM, "'Bruce F. Smith' smithbf@... [STMFC]" wrote:
Folks,
In thinking about weighting steam era freight cars, I came across “Liquid Gravity” in a story by Cody Grivno in this month’s Model Railroader, where he weights an old Ulrich Gondola. The stuff looks like tiny steel shot… (I say steel because
it is “non-toxic” so it isn’t lead)
It turns out that it sells for around $13 for 240 grams.
S330 or S280 steel shot blasting media sells for $36 for a 50# bag of S330 or $22 for a 25# bag of S280. Shipping adds significantly to the bill, due to the weight, of course… but sheesh, that’s several lifetime supplies of beetle metal balls…
I think Tichy used something like this for the weights in their derrick kit.
This seems like a no-brainer - is anyone using this stuff? Either as weight or to media blast?
Regards
Bruce
Bruce F. Smith
Auburn, AL
"Some days you are the bug, some days you are the windshield."
They always gouge on shipping. Flat Rate Priority Mail weight limit is
something like 75 lbs!! I remember when I ordered a ton of stuff from
AZ Rock & Minerals years ago... came in one box. The postman probably
was not happy that day :-)
Tim O'
S330 or S280 steel shot blasting media sells for $36 for a 50# bag of S330 or $22 for a 25# bag of S280. Shipping adds significantly to the bill, due to the weight, of course� but sheeshh, that’s several lifetime supplies of beetle metal balls�
I think Tichy used something like this for the weights in their derrick kit.
This seems like a no-brainer - is anyone using this stuff? Either as weight or to media blast?
Bruce F. Smith
riverman_vt@...
Guess it depends on what one is into. I shoot a lot and could pick up
non-lead shot, which some of us use for reloading, but it is easier to
pick up a little lead sheet from a roofing contractor or plumbing
supply house. I was recently given enough lead sheet to last me
a couple of lifetimes but can always run any extra through my Lyman
furnace and cast bullets with it. To each their own!
Cordially, Don Valentine
Don,
Maybe I'm not into one-size fits all solutions ;)
Lead sheet is great, as are tire weights, for specific applications. In the case I have in mind, F&C GR gons and FM flats, about the only space available for weight is between the center sills and between the side and center sills. While lead sheet might
work for the latter, F&C nicely cast all the stringers in place and so a "pourable" solution that would get down into those spaces would be superior to trying to get lead sheet into those spaces... just what Cody used it for.
Regards,
Bruce Smith
Auburn, AL
From: STMFC@... on behalf of riverman_vt@... [STMFC]
Sent: Monday, June 5, 2017 7:47 PM
To: STMFC@...
Subject: [STMFC] Re: S330 or S280 shot blasting media
Sent: Monday, June 5, 2017 7:47 PM
To: STMFC@...
Subject: [STMFC] Re: S330 or S280 shot blasting media
Guess it depends on what one is into. I shoot a lot and could pick up
non-lead shot, which some of us use for reloading, but it is easier to
pick up a little lead sheet from a roofing contractor or plumbing
supply house. I was recently given enough lead sheet to last me
a couple of lifetimes but can always run any extra through my Lyman
furnace and cast bullets with it. To each their own!
Cordially, Don Valentine
Tony Thompson
Bruce, unless your MR is different than mine, the article is about a Varney gondola.
Tony Thompson
On Jun 5, 2017, at 2:19 PM, 'Bruce F. Smith' smithbf@... [STMFC] <STMFC@...> wrote:
Folks,
In thinking about weighting steam era freight cars, I came across “Liquid Gravity” in a story by Cody Grivno in this month’s Model Railroader, where he weights an old Ulrich Gondola. The stuff looks like tiny steel shot… (I say steel because it is “non-toxic” so it isn’t lead)
It turns out that it sells for around $13 for 240 grams.
S330 or S280 steel shot blasting media sells for $36 for a 50# bag of S330 or $22 for a 25# bag of S280. Shipping adds significantly to the bill, due to the weight, of course… but sheesh, that’s several lifetime supplies of beetle metal balls…
I think Tichy used something like this for the weights in their derrick kit.
This seems like a no-brainer - is anyone using this stuff? Either as weight or to media blast?
Regards
Bruce
Bruce F. Smith
Auburn, AL
https://www5.vetmed.auburn.edu/~smithbf/
"Some days you are the bug, some days you are the windshield."
Clearly I cared more about what Cody was using to weight the car than the car ;)
Regards
Bruce
Bruce Smith
Auburn, AL
From: STMFC@... on behalf of Tony Thompson tony@... [STMFC]
Sent: Monday, June 5, 2017 8:46 PM
To: STMFC@...
Subject: Re: [STMFC] S330 or S280 shot blasting media
To: STMFC@...
Subject: Re: [STMFC] S330 or S280 shot blasting media
Bruce, unless your MR is different than mine, the article is about a Varney gondola.
Tony Thompson
Folks,
In thinking about weighting steam era freight cars, I came across “Liquid Gravity” in a story by Cody Grivno in this month’s Model Railroader, where he weights an old Ulrich Gondola. The stuff looks like tiny steel shot… (I say steel because it is “non-toxic” so it isn’t lead)
It turns out that it sells for around $13 for 240 grams.
S330 or S280 steel shot blasting media sells for $36 for a 50# bag of S330 or $22 for a 25# bag of S280. Shipping adds significantly to the bill, due to the weight, of course… but sheesh, that’s several lifetime supplies of beetle metal balls…
I think Tichy used something like this for the weights in their derrick kit.
This seems like a no-brainer - is anyone using this stuff? Either as weight or to media blast?
Regards
Bruce
Bruce F. Smith
Auburn, AL
https://www5.vetmed.auburn.edu/~smithbf/
"Some days you are the bug, some days you are the windshield."