Lead tape to add weight to a steam loco

[Simon D.]

In the UK I've bought this stuff - lead strip for weighing down plants in aquariums.  Maybe a bit thicker (about 1mm) than the tennis racquet strip, but works well, easily cut and shaped.  Doesn't seem to harm the fish.


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[mmagliaro]

In the UK I've bought this stuff - lead strip for weighing down plants in aquariums.  Maybe a bit thicker (about 1mm) than the tennis racquet strip, but works well, easily cut and shaped.  Doesn't seem to harm the fish.


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Any chance you can weigh a carefully measured piece of this on a gram scale?  The debate about whether modern aquarium plant "lead" weights are really lead rages all over the aquarium forums, with some people claiming they are really zinc, some people claiming they are lead "but it won't harm your fish" and others claiming that the lead does get into the water over long periods of time because the weight really IS lead.

[Bill H]

A lot of times it isn't 100% lead so you could be loosing out, but it does look convenient. I bought a pretty large roll of sheet lead. Well I guess not that large, but very heavy 

Same as Chris, I bought mine sheet from the local builder's supply - sheet lead used by roofers for flashing. Have been using that sheet for close to ten years, weighted perhaps 500 cars and still have most of it left.

[Simon D.]

Just done a quick trawl through aquarium sites, and this stuff is most likely 'zinc magnesium', as a lead substitute.  Still quite heavy.  No toxicology warnings on shopping sites which I would expect for lead.

[wazzou]

For simply weighting freight cars, I bought this box of self adhesive wheel weights probably 30 years ago.

[djconway]

I have been using a 3M lead tape in 1" and 3/4" widths for at least 20 years or more.  A 100' roll goes a long way in N scale. 

It was sold as a stained glass edge sealer.

[peteski]

Same as Chris, I bought mine sheet from the local builder's supply - sheet lead used by roofers for flashing. Have been using that sheet for close to ten years, weighted perhaps 500 cars and still have most of it left.

Yes, that stuff is real lead.  I also bough a piece of the lead flashing back in the day when Home Depot sold it by the foot. Now I believe all the have are full rolls (which would be way more than what I need).

[nkalanaga]

Bryan:  I did the same, a couple years ago, as I was getting low on the "packed for modelers" weights.  O'Reilly Auto Parts, at least, can order it, if they don't stock it.  In my case, I ordered it at the local store, and they shipped it straight to me.  The rural-route mail carrier wasn't thrilled....