Creating A 3.5 Ton Lead Ingot
I knew that I needed lead, and lots of it. I had been
collecting small ingots and tire weights off of the streets for years, but still
only had about 1,000 lbs.
So I bought three 55gal drums full of used tire weights.
The casting had to be made solid by doing it in one complete pour.
An old cast iron bath tub was the perfect size to melt everything together in.
(I did wonder if it was going to be strong enuf to hold all that weight.)
I had a wooden mold of the ingot's shape from when the
main keel was laid. Irvington Marina welded steel plates
together around that to make an exact fit, steel mold.
Here you can see where I buried that into the
ground completely surrounded by dry sand.
The next day the marina hoists the 3.5 ton package out of the ground.
Here's one massive 9' long nugget! Note how the 4x4's are being crushed by the weight.
And poor Elsa has to lug this thing around for the rest of her life.
Hope it doesn't fall off!
It also doesn't want to be moved very
easily either..
Easier to move the boat and position her directly on top of it.
Great Fit !!
I used six- 1" stainless steel thru-bolts which took three men on a massive wrench to tighten.
Hope the damn thing never falls off!