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What are training weights normally made from?

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loply:
Hi folks,

Anybody know what the metal used for weight-lifting weights is?

I have easy access to loads of these, most are 5kg or 10kg and thus measure 180mm x 30mm upwards.

I have a few projects in mind to use them for - As the disc on a disc sander, as the basis for a fixed steady on my Viceroy lathe, and potentially a series of them stacked together to make the large-bore pneumatic cylinder for my power drawbar.

I'm hoping they're a form of cast iron and will be turnable on the lathe but I thought I'd check if anybody knows what their properties are for sure.

Cheers,
Rich

mzt:
The ones I had were made in cast iron, of the lowest quality. Chills, hard spots and holes.
Tried turning one of them: it ate HSS and cheap carbide tools like butter, though I had put it into the stove and let slowly cool a couple of times.
Branded inserts purposely made for C.I. had reason of it, but I was really taxing my 7x10.

A couple of pictures:





the tools:



Marcello

David Jupp:
If you do make a pneumatic cylinder - go careful.

For containing pressure you generally want a nice tough material, to avoid any chance of building a shrapnel launcher.

Deko:
Hi Rich.
           The plastic coated ones are made of concrete :(

Cheers Derek

John Hill:
Some of those weights are not too bad but others are not too good! :coffee:

I find my lathe tools have a much easier lifer if I take all the raised lettering off before starting with the lathe, a sharp cold chisel does this in just a few minutes.

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