Official Luthiers Forum!

Hi After using blocks with cork or leather , Would like to upgrade to a shot bag to hold necks for fretting from small ukes , to dreadnaught guitars. What brand would you recommend?? how much weight 5-10-25 LBS and what size pellet #9 or ?? thanks.

Todd is spot on, as usual. The crappy thing is, the cost of a lead is crazy high. A 25 lbs bag will run you more than $40 excluding taxes and shipping or the cost of gas to go to Cabela's. And you will only ever need, at most, half that for things like fretting. I have shooting buddies that reload shot shells, so getting enough shot to fill a couple of small bags was not a big deal. If you know anyone that reloads, I'd hit them up for 6 or 7 pounds. If not, you can probably find someone willing to sell you a bit of shot at a trap range in the area. I sometimes shoot at the range at Smithville Lake, and I'm pretty sure you could buy a few pounds of the owner or one of the many avid shooters that frequent the place on a nice weekend. I've never been there, but I believe there is a gun club closer to you with a trap and skeet field at Lake Lotawana called the Lake Lotawana Sportsmen's Club. Google it and you can find a number. Might call and see if someone there could spare a few pounds of shot.

Heck, if you wanted, I could probably just see what my friend would take for a few pounds and meet up with you sometime. I work in downtown KC every day.

Just some thoughts for the frugal luthier. $40 for shot isn't much compared to most tools in a luthier's arsenal (paronomasia fully intended), but I hate to pay $40+ for something knowing I'll use less than 50% of its worth.

Aaron

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Aaron Craig

I use BBs. Probably don't work as well as lead since it wouldn't absorb the shock as well due to the relative hardness, but thousands of BBs in a bag do absorb some shock, and it has worked fine for me.
Cheap too.

Local gun shops charge 46 $ for 25 lb of *8 shot. Not sure about your last pt of using shot to check neck relief todd. Aaron if you have some spare shot will be glad to pay for it . Just need some for neck rest , Thanks to all who chimed in.

Thanks for the explanation Todd. I was curious also.

Ernie, I will try to get a hold of my friend and see if he still has some shot he would part with and get back with ya.

Aaron

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Aaron Craig

PM sent.

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Aaron Craig

Found 2 boxes of BB/s yesterday,next to my slingshot (used on rabbits to keep them away from garden). Todd I took your idea and wrapped it in a recycled woolsock. Used it as a neckrest for fretting a uke . Thanks Todd it saved me 1hr driving to gun shop and $$$

What about sand bags?

You can also buy bags of shot at a scuba shop that are used in soft weight belts. I don't know what the cost is at this time. Mine are over 20 years old. If you're concerned about lead dust you could throw them in a baggy.
Probably better off buying a 25lb bag though as you can also use part of the bag as a soft clamp or dead weight too. I some times throw it on top of the vacuum hose to hold it down while doing some work.

I use 2 large sand bags 50 lb tubes to weigh down the base of our floor model taiwan drill press. AS soon as snow flies ,and streets are slick they get recycled for use as dead weight in the back of our 14 yr old station wagon.