Cheap weights for Losmandy

[rogerg]

G'day all,

I am in need of another few KG counterweight on my Losmandy GM-8 (shaft size 1.25").

Does anyone have recommendations?

The cheapest counterweight I have found intended for the Losmandy is around the $100 mark. I can't help but think there is a cheaper alternative.

I have considered fitness shops but online searching indicates weights come in sets, and if I find an individual weight I'm not sure how I would attach a locking mechanism to the fitness weight such that it can be locked in place?

Thanks,
Roger.

[DavidU]

Why not get a machine shop to re drill a Sky watcher counter weight.
It should be a very cheap job

[Lester]

Hi Roger, I got some individual weights from K-Mart. A locking collar could be made up easily, or use grub screw type locking collar that holds sealed bearing, from an engineering place.

Make sure that the weights have the correct centre hole diameter, as some of these are too hard to drill out.

[rogerg]

I hadn't thought of that. Although I'd still have to buy the weight in from the eatern states, so I suspect it woud end up costing a little by the time it's all said and done.



K-mart ... I hadn't thought of that kind of store. Great idea. Thanks.

I don't really know what you mean with the sealed bearing and locking collar, but step one - finding a weight.

Thanks,
Roger.

[[1ponders]]

this worked for me ;)

http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/attachment_browse.php?a=3047

[Geoff45]

I got a steel company to slice of a chunk of steel rod (4" I think) and then got a mate to machine it for me in exchange for a bottle of red.
Geoff

[jjjnettie]

You can buy individual weights from Big W, approx $3 per kilo.
Should be able to buy the lock thingo there as well.

[Ian Robinson]

I think if I remember correctly AEC in SA makes up counterweights to order. Try him.

Getting them machined up by someone with a lathe and metal shop will be pricey.

Another option is to make a mould , get some scrap lead and make your own from lead ,like us fishos do when we want more sinkers.
It's dead easy to do , just a bit dangerous though and you need access to either a gas stove, or an oxytorch and something to melt the lead in which can also be used to pour it .
Lead is much denser than steel so your counterweights will be smaller in size too.

[bmitchell82]

My setup is a bit crude... :) but initially i used a 2 5kg weights sandwhiched between my 2 SW weights and to lock it all down i slapped a small g clamp on. :) worked a absolute treat. (thats my uni brain working) 20 dollars for the 10kgs of weight... HAZZAR. i went to Jim Kidd sports shop,

[rogerg]

Aye, not a bad idea. I only have one counterweight so can't wedge another between, but I could just get another (hopefully from k-mart or big-w today) and use a clamp to hold it to the existing weight.

It'd hopefuly work fine until I devise a way to clamp the new weight on by its self.

:thumbsup:

[bmitchell82]

ive used mine that way since January this year... doesn't have a issue with it :)

[leon]

Roger I make my own all the time from very small to many KG's, just melt lead in a very thick based saucepan on the BBQ jets and when melted pour into different sized cake tins or egg rings, drill out the hole you need and presto one counter weight.

Leon

[rogerg]

Thanks everyone.

I had a look in K-mart and Big-W today on the way home. No luck, all having a shaft hole which is too small.

I will investigate a few other options before I buy one of those and have it drilled out.

Roger.

[spearo]

For what its worth
I took my counterweight bar into a gym shop to actually test that the individual weight plates fitted (they did just but some wouldnt probably by half a mm.
about 2$/kg
best bang for my buck
f

[Benny L]

my dad has a lathe so we just buy scrap from metal yards and machine/finish it ourselves.. much cheaper than paying the shipping for a 20lb losmandy weight :S