I just got an 18″ diameter “shot bag” for hammering sheet copper into shapes that are for “art”. It is leather and about 2″ final thickness, pretty cool actually…
My quandry is it holds 3 25lb bags of lead shot, or about 35 lbs of sand, I have a tube of sand and have used it with good results so far, I mean the textile ( feed bag type of woven plastic) had held up so far…but the thing is a tube of play sand and I see a mess in my future.
So, if you was to be a hammering on a real life hammering bag, would ya fill it with lead or sand? The opening is about 1/2″ diameter, so a funnel is in order either way.
Any thoughts on what the finished copper will show with lead shot as being Bee Bees? Vs. The more consistant ( read smaller) particles of sand?
By the way, I had a hard time finding the bag, and even the lead shot is BO’d on many sites I have been to..I got the bag from an Aircraft supplier, Aircraft Spruce actually, somewhere in Ga, I think.
I bet Stan Foster may know of the place, or have advice.
Any help?
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
The secret to a long life is knowing when its time to go. M. Shocked
Replies
Why not compromise and use BB's ?
They are consistant. Smaller than shot, but larger than sand. And cheap.
Get them in pint sized containers pretty much anywhere...
My concern about that is 2 fold, one,is they are harder than lead and of a certain diameter .017 IIRC. and two that may telegraph poorly through the leather?
I know I can obtain lead in any size, but the main concern is the stipple effect anything ( inculding my bashers) may impart. I am not burnishing with say an english wheel or anything, I want a bit of hammered texture..I think?
Actually, tho' you have good point, I can always dump it out I suppose if I hate the results, but MAN that would be a chore, that hole is SMALL and velcroed closed, I don't wanna fill it and fugg it up...and a nother one is 45 bucks, not too cheep.
Maybe if I sell some "object de art" I could have two, one lead, one sand.
I just thought maybe someone like Stan or Workshop Jon could advise as to the pitfalls...hey? Where has Jon been?
Thanks for the idea Jeff, I think I could dump the steel BB's out if it doesn't suit my needs.
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
The secret to a long life is knowing when its time to go. M. Shocked
Lead shot is available in a multitude of sizes from 00 buck (about .25 inch) to #8 (very small, almost sand size) and should be available at almost any decent gun shop.
I know that, What I am asking is what would you use?
Around here and on many websites, the lead is either very high cost or just plain out of stock.
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
The secret to a long life is knowing when its time to go. M. Shocked
Midway supply- reloading supplies , differant size nickel plated
lead shot 11pd. bags or 44pd. boxes. They are a great company
good service.
That Nickle plated is $$$$$$$$$....I found some online. Whooooheeee tho'
So, I see yer near Fancy Gap? Man, I LOVE THAT area. I gotta come pester ya.
Sorry about not not getting back about the stone surround on the wood stove, I winged it half-azzed, and it kinda works OK, I need a better plan before I get ya over here.
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
The secret to a long life is knowing when its time to go. M. Shocked
yess im a from a few hollows over from fancy gap- snake creek comunity-
just down the road from groundhog mountain- but realt closer to buffalo
mt. -one of the first contractors I worked for,last name was Hambone .
Back in the early 70,s when the world was many differant colors Iwent with
some kin to the legal liquer store in pulaski,once there we went to the sears
store where a nice lady was excepting credit card applications for sears and
rareback since our hands was full of tools ,britches ,underware and stuff
we asked her if she would do the writeing and ciphering for us,well anyway
we told her our address-sniker sniker she went- what our income was-hehe-
she tittered--what our exploiter was- "Hambones erection and const.co"-- she
almost wet herself on that one -address of employer-groundhog mt.-she quit
laughing,after a few more questions "heck , we was telling the truth" she finally
balled the applacations up, deep sixed them and said i,m not to be made a fool of
we didnt know what tosay-we didnt get the credit card. manoman some people
just aint got a sence of humor.
Laughing my butt off...oh man, we HAVE to hook up and get silly together. That was a classic story.
Sounds like some of my time in MTns. in western NC. Truth is stranger than fiction.
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
The secret to a long life is knowing when its time to go. M. Shocked
if we ever do remind me to tell ya the one about the black
lesbien I helped move to a new domincile, and the object
that looked like a babys arm holin a yellow delicios apple
with a model tee crack hooked up to it. hoooooboooy--gotta go to wallmart
LOL..yeah, I'll tell ya about me almost getting aressted for having a drunk turkey in a wheel barrow.
Our guts will hurt from laffing.
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
The secret to a long life is knowing when its time to go. M. Shocked
Last time I hammered copper it was the hammer marks that made the pattern, not the form.
That was in 1961 I think, 7th grade. Soft copper and little hammers like body hammers.
I'd fill it with sand and go for it, sand is free if it doesn't work, lead shot that doesn't make any difference is $ you coulda spent on beerzzzzzzzzzz.
Joe H
the reason NOT to use sand in your nice new leather bag... is... it will work it's way thru the leather and will be there for life.... you don't want to be banging into a sandy surface... keep the sand far away from your copper...
they have used lead shot in leather bags since before we were born... must be a reason... besides there is something that just feels right about it
p
ponytl,
see nobody told me that several decades ago when I loaded mine with sand.. when can I start to expect it to come thru? Formed an awfull lot of metal with mine.. everything from steel to dead soft copper..
I do have a hole where a hungary mouse chewed thru but it doesn't affect it's operation at all once in a while i put a new piece of tape over the hole..
I got mine from an old Italian guy who got them from his father... i was maybe 17 he was over 70... his dad use to travel by wagon fix'n peoples pots & pans... his kids were all educated professionals and had no interest in his skills or tools... so a few were gifted to me.... he wasn't french so how could he have known? the deal is... you just haven't used your long enough...
speak'n of hungry mice.... I had some really nice lambs wool paint rollers put away... they became dinner for micky & minnie
p
Ponytl, I learned something new already today.
Guess I'd have had a new sanding tool if it was my bag.
Joe H
Hi Sphere
I work as a automotive body man and own a leather bag like yours. Mine is about 16 inches diameter and 4 inches tall. I had it "custom" made by a shoe maker. I am using this bag for about 15 years and had no complaints about it so far. It is filled with dry play sand. Nothing has worked its way out of the bag yet. I use the bag occasionally for some hot rod work (not for a living, just for some extra income).
Martin
I have a pile of sand i use some times for pinging copper. I didn't know they had bags. When its too cold to go play in the sand. I use a piece of high density carpet backer, like they put under oriental rugs. I just lay it down on my workbench and ping away.
wouldn't lead shot eventually allow lead powder or particles to escape the bag through the stitching?
You'd be contaminating your clothes and your CNS with each use, then bringing same into your family's home.
sand is probably safer.
Wow, about even on the choice.
I am gonna go with sand today, if it ain't right, I guess I can gt most of back out and get lead.
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
The secret to a long life is knowing when its time to go. M. Shocked