making lead weights

Message

#1 Post by **croppyboy** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 8:11 pm

Hi All

i have moulds for making my own sinkers i have all the lead i would need but when i melt the lead and pour it in to the mould it hardens before it fills up any ideas

#2 Post by **Pat Spillane** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 8:21 pm

The trick is twofold.
1. Make sure the lead is well melted, some gas stoves are hot enough to melt the lead but dont have the power to get it hot enough to pour properly.
2. Heat the mould up slightly.

Make sure you use eye protection.

I make my own using a single camping stove and a steel pot.

Good luck

teacher · #3 Post by **teacher** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 8:24 pm

There is some good advice on this thread from a couple of weeks ago:

http://www.sea-angling-ireland.org/bull ... php?t=6966

#4 Post by **stevecrow74** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 8:45 pm

make sure you do it in a well ventalated place (outside is best) too many poisonous gasses from melted lead...

#5 Post by **fenitbob** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 9:42 pm

it is possible you are trying to melt too much lead at a time try it with smaller amounts of lead and leave it over the flame for a longer period of time so that it absords more heat.

just a thought. :)

#6 Post by **croppyboy** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 11:12 pm

thanks lads
ive been using an old bean can over an open fire to melt my lead
thanks for the advice

#7 Post by **fenitbob** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 7:48 pm

my brother used make those lead soldiers so I have one of those for that sort of thing have a look in hobby shops

your taking the beans out first right?

#8 Post by **merv147** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 10:21 pm

what i do mate is use a blow torch as well as the ring to heat the lead and heat the mold i am sure that i must have made maybe 150-200 leads like that and it has never failed. just make sure that you take any crap that is on top of the lead that is in the pot now as for a blow torch i would advise anyone that is making a lot of leads to get a small tank of propane and the blow torch to go with it the ones that you can get in hardware stores that have the gas cylinder on the blow torch are OK but do not last you very long and wile your at it get your self a pair of welders gloves and maybe an apron

#9 Post by **fenitbob** » Thu Sep 21, 2006 10:24 pm

yeah I should have mentioned that I used a gas camping stove.

#10 Post by **seagull** » Sun Sep 24, 2006 3:35 pm

Oh Fenit Bob, you made me laugh! Take the beans out indeed! Anyway, I use a bean can too (empty) and I cut up anpther bean can and use a couple of jubilee clips to make a handle. I'd say that your problem is definately not heating up the mould first, this is very important as there's a chance of it having moisture in it and this will make it explode. Be careful that you don't over heat the mould as I once left my gemini mould on the burner for too long and is was destroyed (much to my wife's amusement)

#11 Post by **fenitbob** » Wed Sep 27, 2006 12:21 am

hurray! :D thank you very much I'm here all week!

just for clarification its a small ladle type thing is the pot i use to melt lead over a gas flame.

the moulds were held together with little vice that was spring loaded

and there was some sort of powder dusted unto the moulds (chalk powder?) applied to the inside of the mould to prevent cast from sticking to it.

not too sure about the chalk powder....