King PDM30 - head counterbalance lift assist.

[Canuck75]

Yeah the old style cast iron barbell weights would be perfect for that. They can usually be found for cheap or even free.

20 some yeas ago, I built a counterbalanced pot rack for my kitchen. I cast lead weights in empty soup cans and had to make a hole through centers for a threaded rod. It was one of the trickiest materials I ever worked, it grabs and snaps drills like crazy, yeah even dulled ones.

Would a masonry drill work?

 

[woodchucker]

Would a masonry drill work?

yes. Masonry bits are perfect for the cast iron that the plates have. They are soft enough to not break when hitting a hard spot.
just make sure the bit is sharp to begin with, not a really old grind... BTW, if you get plates with holes in it, you don't need to drill.. Just stick an eyebolt into a plate of steel use some loctite and attach the plates on top.. use a carabiner type latch to connect /disconnect it from your cable...

 

[Eddyde]

Would a masonry drill work?

For the lead? maybe, I didn't try using one. I wound up using a regular twist drill dulled, at a slow speed and lube. I retracted the drill a lot to clear the chips. You have to be carful not to feed too fast or the drill will grab, dig in, and sometimes snap. In hindsight, a spade/paddle bit might be the way to go.

 

[Weldingrod1]

I would use the same grind as for brass, lube it, and clear chips a LOT.

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