May 27, 200521 yr I did a remodeling job to an old farm house and I picked up a half dozen sash weights that were destined for the garbage. What type of metal was these made from? and what could they be used for(made into)? They are approx an inch and a half in diameter.
May 27, 200521 yr The sash weights I've snagged are cast iron. They work good for grommet weights for the tarp on the firewood pile.
May 27, 200521 yr thats about all they are good for, it is really junk cast, full of air holes and the outside is full of casting sand. they are really brittle.
June 6, 200520 yr hehe , just snagged 8 or so of these yesterday, glad a logged on cause i was curious about the uses myself. :)
June 6, 200520 yr Donald Streeter mentioned in his book that he used one for a small anvil near the forge. He would do small delicate welding jobs on it because he didn't have to go very far.
August 20, 200817 yr I've got one attached to the leg of my demo anvil stand by a small chain (2ft or so). When I need an extra hand to vein a leaf or such, I pull the chain across the anvil and let the weight drop down. When I pull the stock out of the forge to vein, I tuck the cold end under the weighted chain and go to town with the leaf. Works great as a third hand. Bill
August 21, 200817 yr Make good weights for trot lines. Tie line to bicycle innertube and wrap around a large rock. Put several large hooks on the line and tie the window weight at the end and throw it in and get ready for some flatheads. Fred
August 21, 200817 yr I have one that I use when I go fishing... A single window weight is just enough for calm days to use as an anchor, and it never comes up all nasty and weed covered like the other objects I have used in the past. For days that the wind picks up I actually use two or three more of them hooked to the first one with snap clips and it works great. Currently I have a pile of these things, must be 40 or 50 of them, so more ideas for uses is great!
August 21, 200817 yr I like them for trotline weights..Most Ive seen are cast or some of the really old ones were lead Ive heard..
August 21, 200817 yr Up here in Maine they use them as weights in lobster pots or what flat landers would call lobster traps. I like using them as tarp weights for my firewood and sand/salt pile.
August 21, 200817 yr as weights in lobster pots or what flat landers would call lobster traps. We "flat landers" down here call them pots too, crab "pots" and lobster "pots" welder19
January 9, 201016 yr I seem to remember this topic before, but i couldn't find it with the search function. Are window sash weights cast? My sister and her husband replaced the old windows in their house and said they have a pile of weights if I want them. I haven't seen them and from the age of the house (about 1910) thought they could be either cast or wrought. If anyone knows, please let me know. The weather has turned in the west. 40 above today! John
January 9, 201016 yr Most likely cast. Good for trotline weights or put them in the legs of your anvilstand for added weight.
January 9, 201016 yr Don't throw them in the trash though, take them into be recycled into something useful. They will be sent to China and come back as an ASO at Harbor Freight. LOL
January 9, 201016 yr Some of the best wrought I have ever used was from window weights. I would check them out before throwing away for sure!
January 9, 201016 yr found one batch that were smaller than usual,very heavy for the size my helper says,turned out to be some type of lead alloy. got a good price from the junk yard. Turns out the scrappie sells them to the trappers for trap weights . Lee
January 9, 201016 yr Whether cast or wrought, with a polished rounded end, a sash weight makes a nice stake. It can be held in the vise. http://www.turleyforge.com
January 10, 201016 yr They are usually cast and are the bottom of the barrel junk, when they would cast them they would use any kind of scrap and throw it in the pot so they were also very inconsistent as far as what type of alloy they were. I have never seen or heard of wrought iron window weights but apperantly there are some out there but I have seen lead used but the difference between lead and iron is very obvious. welder19
January 10, 201016 yr I too was curious about the weights as I have a bunch of them from an old house build around 1890 I once owned and restored, I'm glad someone asked. I have a wide variety of sizes and weight and use them on occasion as weights to help tie or hold down a tarp. I keep them around for the heck of it kind of like an endangered species as the old houses start to go so do they, and yes they do make great trotline weights. BillP
January 10, 201016 yr If they are round then they might be cast but if they are square then they might be wrought and it would be a shame to not use the wrought.
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