Suggestions for filling speakers stands?

I have used a combination of lead shot and sand in most of my speaker stands. The lead is great for damping, and the sand fills in the spaces around the shot. Just be sure the sand you use is free of salt and thoroughly dry (I bake the sand in a 350-degree oven for about 2 hours to be sure it is dry.)

I had printed a copy of a chat from 7/30/00, so I looked up the address for you. There are detailed explanations of a few excellent methods of filling speaker stands. Hope this link works, otherwise try searching for a thread titled "sand or shot for speaker stands?
http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/forum.pl?asund&960562052&read&3&4&

Silicone (but not sand) is better than steel shot and steel shot is better than lead shot as far as passing mechanical energy. Brass is the most capable, but where ya' gonna find brass balls? Oh, i know :) I can't say which would be best for you rig, though. Gotta experiment

Ohlala: Where do you locate Silicone in a form that stands can be filled with. The fill holes on my stands are way too small fro even the smallest of breast implants. Is Silicone low mass as well? I am looking for a fill that is of low mass and that passes energy quickly.

I have experimented with much of what is listed here as fill material. I agree with Sdcampbell about the lead and sand combo, I use it in the tubular housings of my Soundlab U-1's. Silica turned out to be best for my aluminum turntable and phono stands. This is the material used for sand blasting. It's extra clean, and free of contaminants, bone dry, reasonable weighty, has sharp edges that packs like crystal inside the stand. Non toxic with normal handling, a 25 pound bag cost $21.00.

A word of caution when filling with playground sand or other gritty materials. If your stand has spikes exiting the bottom, be certain the threads are isolated from the compartment you are filling. Failure to do so will allow grit to fill the void as adjustment is made. The spike finally freezes up and cannot be turned without damage to the adjustment threads or the stand itself.