Today I melted and poured the lead to form the elevator counterweights. I poured more than would be needed and will grind away the lead until I get the correct balance. I used plywood as a form as other builders have done but if given the opportunity to do it over again I would use steel or at least line the inside of the plywood with steel. The lead burned the plywood and there is now a grain pattern on the lead that will have to be filed down. No biggie as the weights will have to be ground and sanded anyway but at least I would have started out with a smoother finish. To melt the lead I used a cheap steel paint bucket from the hardware store on top of my fish cooker. A torch helped speed the melting process.