There is no technical reason why you shouldn't use iron wweights.
There are practical reasons. Iron has a density of 7.87 while lead has a density of 11.36.
The size of the iron you would need to bolt on is quarter again as big as teh lump of lead.
Secondly, you can bend a lump of lead an inch thick with a hammer, moulding it to the shape of the seat. An inch of steel sheet isn't going to be so easily persuaded.
If you are going to melt lead, build yourself a little oven out of thermic block (that sort of soft grey-blue insulating block used in huse building ( Skip dive on a building site). You can cut it with a hacksaw blade.
Make a space big enough to take a tin can + half an inch. The Lip should come up as high as teh top of the can. The flame goes into the space from the side, level with teh bottom of the can.
It's even better if you leave space for teh flame to go under the can.
fill with lead scrap. Depending on teh power of the burner, the lead will melt.
Do it in the open, Wear face protection and stand with the kiln down wind of you (lead fumes are very nasty)
Though Most people cut the lead flashing to shape roll it in duct tape and drill the holes. Works nearly as well.
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