[IronLion]

I have a pair of Skylan stands that are setup but have remained un-filled for the past month; well, I finally decided to fill them up this past weekend and went to a Home Depot to look for sandblasting media to fill them with, and they didn't have it.  The only sand they had was stored outside and very damp, and I don't want to go through the trouble of drying it myself, so sandblasting media seems the way to go to me.  If any place were to have it, Home Depot seems like it would have been it; where can one find sandblasting media if not at Home Depot? 

[loki1957]

Try contacting some landscape contractors. They use silica sand to sweep between bricks or find a cement mix company.

[Carl V]

you can buy bags of dry "play sand" from places like Home Depot.
Also consider Steal/brass/lead from reloading supply houses.  (BB's)

Plater of paris (which comes in many densities) from Art supply stores
works quite well.  More expensive but very dense would be Resin.
Such as Methl-methacrylate (Wilson Audio has used this in the past).

[Toka]

I got a bag of sand from Home Depot (or was it Lowes?) that was stored indoors, only $2. It said it was dried, and it appears to be working fine, but it has only been about 2 months. I found it in the construction supply area (near the cement).

[IronLion]

Maybe I've got to try another Home Depot, but every Home Depot or hardware story I've gone to that sells sand so far has kept it outdoors, and it has been almost wet every time. 

[dilznoofus]

.

[lazydays]

the media used for blasting isn't all that cheap, but that's what you gotta have then look for zircon. You can buy it from someone who sells heat treating supplys. It comes is many sizes and actually several shapes to giver certain finishes. Another way that works well is to buy cat litter (unused of course!). It coarser, and has less chance of bleeding thru the mating joints. The cat litter is much cheaper than blasting media.
gary

[IronLion]

I have considered the cat litter before; is pretty high humidity in my area a concern with cat litter?  Also, I imagine its heavy enough but not quite as heavy as sand or sand blasting media?

[TheChairGuy]

There's steel or lead shot from a Gun or Sporting Goods store...no humidity issues and it does the job. Pricey relative to sand, tho.

A lot of small hardware stores carry sand, too....maybe they don't have anything but interiors to sell it, so it will be dry.  It's so cheap - I think I paid $8 for 50 lb bag of it.

[JohnR]

I'd avoid the lead, hard to get rid of if you need to ship the stands later...

[Bob in St. Louis]

An idea I've thought about using for some of my own similar projects is to get (free) used lead automotive wheel weights from your local service center. They have it by the 5 gallon bucket full. While you're there, ask them if you can have the fine steel shavings from the brake lathe. Most shops have 5 gallon buckets FULL of these shavings. They'd be MORE than happy for you to take it away for them. Trust me on this one. Those buckets of metal are so heavy, nobody in the shop is willing to carry them to the dumpster. Laziness. Also a metal machine shop would/should have a decent supply of this material. Usually has the consistency of salt/sugar.

I was going to fill the speaker stand with a few handfuls of wheel weights, then a few handfuls of metal shavings to avoid any voids. Should have enough mass, I'd think.

Bob

[IronLion]

Thanks for all the suggestions; I'm trying to avoid lead in any and all its forms.  I'm gonna try and find some sand in the near future...

[rajacat]

I use play sand bought at the local hardware store. In order to avoid a mess and to make the stands easier to move, I put the sand in small plastic bags and then pack these in the stand. One possible problem with this method is that it is harder to keep from creating small voids in the cavity. Also this might not be possible to implement is the stand cavity if very narrow.

Raj

[lazydays]

the cat litter was actually recommended to me by the manufacturer of the Skylan stands. The problem with many stands is that they don't seal up well enough to use anything that is very fine. Cat litter is cheap and easy to get rid of, and seems to really do well at absorbing vibrations.
gary

[melgross]

An idea I've thought about using for some of my own similar projects is to get (free) used lead automotive wheel weights from your local service center. They have it by the 5 gallon bucket full. While you're there, ask them if you can have the fine steel shavings from the brake lathe. Most shops have 5 gallon buckets FULL of these shavings. They'd be MORE than happy for you to take it away for them. Trust me on this one. Those buckets of metal are so heavy, nobody in the shop is willing to carry them to the dumpster. Laziness. Also a metal machine shop would/should have a decent supply of this material. Usually has the consistency of salt/sugar.

I was going to fill the speaker stand with a few handfuls of wheel weights, then a few handfuls of metal shavings to avoid any voids. Should have enough mass, I'd think.

Bob

I don't ever advise using unencapsulated lead for anything. Lead sublimates into the air over time and isn't safe for a home environment.

As far as steel shavings go, I have shops at home. I don't advise using steel shaving either. Not so much because of health, but because they often rust away over time.

Regular building sand is the best, and cheapest, method.

[RodMCV]

If you google search sandblasting and metal peening supplies you can find
 multiple material forms at reasonable prices.
Ceramic and steel micro balls etc.

Great resonance reducers per many hi-end manufacturers.

Rod