Heavy milk bottles

[rigi36]

I have some milk bottles to fill with something suitably heavy - these will act as sinkers to hold small buoys in place.

I have no clue when it comes to concrete/cement so what would be the best stuff I can buy in Homebase to do this?

It needs to be cheap (and obviously heavy). How do I mix it?

Thanks.

[Al Baker]

You can buy a bag of readymix from homebase and follow the instructions. :-p

Personally I'd go for tying a piece of string around a rock, however neither come with instructions so there's no possibility to sue if it goes wrong.

[rigi36]

If that's all I need it's great. I thought there were loads of different types and I had to mix gravel in etc

[Poly]

If I had money to spend in homebase I'd be round the local scrappy looking for some heavy steel (an old wheel etc). If you really want to do it the way you describe then a builders merchant will be cheaper. I'm sure someone will be able to provide expert advice - but (1) Cement is not "that" dense. (2) Its density that matters for a sinker rather simply weight (3) I'd be looking to add some heavy gravel / chuckies etc to try and get it denser.

I wonder if you can't get a nice shaped bit of steel if you could use concrete with small bits of scrap mixed through it (old bolts / nuts etc)? That would give you "form" and reasonable density.

[Al Baker]

Originally Posted by maxhar

If that's all I need it's great. I thought there were loads of different types and I had to mix gravel in etc

Here: General Purpose Mortar from Homebase.co.uk

[Al Baker]

Originally Posted by Poly

I'd be looking to add some heavy gravel / chuckies etc to try and get it denser.

They don't have chuckies in England

[rigi36]

The milk bottles are quite small and compact, easy to store. These are only temporary buoys put out for a course so we don't really want to lug a load of bulky metal about.

I should add that we would use them in a slow moving river.

Thanks for all the tips - ready mix and gravel will probably do the job.

Thanks

[Nos4r2]

Postcrete might be easier-it's almost totally liquid when you first mix it.

[SPR]

sash weights - are good ! easy to store and prob weigh more!

S.

[Boatnomad]

Originally Posted by SPR

sash weights - are good ! easy to store and prob weigh more!

S.

Sash weights +1

[rigi36]

Where do I get them from?

[SPR]

freindly joiners or salvage yards - they used in the old sash window as counter balances - council workers!

[Bigmuz7]

Originally Posted by SPR

freindly joiners or salvage yards - they used in the old sash window as counter balances - council workers!

Aye theres not many of 'em about anymore .... sash weights or council workers


ooh .. ooh.... my phones just gone off

[kerny]

Originally Posted by Bigmuz7

Aye theres not many of 'em about anymore .... sash weights or council workers

That's very true, just rich retired ones.... innit jambo

[ShinyShoe]

Postcrete - don't be fooled into adding the crete first and pouring the water into the bottles... the top will set before it gets to the bottom!!

For this sort of weight, we use 8" plant pots. Filled with concrete (weight 5-6kg dry) and a u shaped hoop of stainless steel stuck in. We leave them at least a month before use to be 100% sure of them curing completely.

We use these as weights to balance large inlatables upright. But we use ground anchors to secure the marks.

[willk]

Originally Posted by Bigmuz7

sash weights or council workers

The OED now encompasses both terms under Dead Weight. See also: Counter Balanced - i.e. balanced against...