So I know everybody and their brother has posted about making their own soft weights but I wanted to share mine.
I looked and looked for a fine mesh at all the local fabric stores and couldn't find anything. I really wanted the coated mesh someone found a few threads below but found that too expensive.
Walking through the hardware store on an unrelated project I found black PVC window screen. EUREKA!! It is tough and flexible and best of all cheap. This store sells it custom sized so a 36"x36" piece was around three dollars if that. I went to Gander Mountain and purchased 25# of #7.5 lead shot.
Once I arrived home I got out my trusty sewing machine and scissors. Cut two pieces and sewed down three sides. I used the shortest length and thinnest width my machine can do and an all purpose thread. I went up and down each side 3-4 times to really lock it in so it can withstand abuse.
Turn your bag inside out to make it look pretty and fill with desired amount of shot. I made 2#ers and 4#ers. To make it easier to sew the top I used a few quilting pins to hold all the shot in the bottom so it wouldn't get under the presser foot of the machine and sewed the top 3-4 times making sure to get all the way to the ends. Trim the top of any excess if any and remove the pins.
Especially once you have the shot in the bags the material does not like to backstitch easily so you'll need both hands to guide it. (my machine doesn't lock in reverse so i had to tape down the lever. You may not have that problem.) Also I want to point out what ever you put the lead in should probably NOT be used for food ever again because, at least the brand I bought, the bag says they contain natural arsenic.
I made 16# of weight and still have plenty of material left-over to make more if I need it. Diving on Sunday with them the first time. Hopefully everything goes alright.
I looked and looked for a fine mesh at all the local fabric stores and couldn't find anything. I really wanted the coated mesh someone found a few threads below but found that too expensive.
Walking through the hardware store on an unrelated project I found black PVC window screen. EUREKA!! It is tough and flexible and best of all cheap. This store sells it custom sized so a 36"x36" piece was around three dollars if that. I went to Gander Mountain and purchased 25# of #7.5 lead shot.
Once I arrived home I got out my trusty sewing machine and scissors. Cut two pieces and sewed down three sides. I used the shortest length and thinnest width my machine can do and an all purpose thread. I went up and down each side 3-4 times to really lock it in so it can withstand abuse.
Turn your bag inside out to make it look pretty and fill with desired amount of shot. I made 2#ers and 4#ers. To make it easier to sew the top I used a few quilting pins to hold all the shot in the bottom so it wouldn't get under the presser foot of the machine and sewed the top 3-4 times making sure to get all the way to the ends. Trim the top of any excess if any and remove the pins.
Especially once you have the shot in the bags the material does not like to backstitch easily so you'll need both hands to guide it. (my machine doesn't lock in reverse so i had to tape down the lever. You may not have that problem.) Also I want to point out what ever you put the lead in should probably NOT be used for food ever again because, at least the brand I bought, the bag says they contain natural arsenic.
I made 16# of weight and still have plenty of material left-over to make more if I need it. Diving on Sunday with them the first time. Hopefully everything goes alright.
