Hey guys!

Me and a bud want to start making our own weights and wanna learn-- Can anyone here give me a list of materials and costs that would be involved? I'd really appreciate it! Only been looking at molds so far--

-Chris

The price of CLEAN lead at the salvage ? 20-75 cents a lb usually

Sinker molds 30-50 dollars average? How many different styles of sinkers you want??


Melting pot 70-150 dollars for a good one.... you could do it W/O a melting pot but lead is dangerous...

Thick leather gloves.... 15 bucks...

diagonal side cutters to trim with.....8-15 dollars for good ones

a Mill file smooth the cut when ya trim it..8 dollars


Lot of money for one man and work...however me & my friends all have different molds and pots etc...so we trade around I make3oz no rolls chris makes 4 oz no rolls johnny makes 5 oz no rolls etc....making lead is not fun in my books you spill it one time on ya and your done

I use my fish cooker burner with fire turned down low, a old pan from Goodwill to heat lead in,I think it was $5. A old spoon to dip trash out of hot lead. mold from Barlow's around $20. tire weight lead from Plano tire .20 lb (I think). A bottle of Dawn dish soap to clean lead before I melt it I make several types slabs and weights. The weights that I like are egg with a small steel rod that you pull out.
For slab I use a production pot to heat the lead. they are around $70 at Barlow's

But like Big Sam said lead is dangerous BE CAREFULL and always do this outside

Hey, can i suggest another alternative to your lead weights! try just plain ole mild steel, yes iron, that rust!
steel it cheap, we have plenty we throw away in our shop, i cut small amount in our band saw, drill some small holes just
big enough for a brass snap swivel to hook into and your on your way, if your worried about rust, and yes it will rust, buya cheap
can of spray paint, i like black, gloss black last a while and its cheap! so if you have a source of metals all shapes and sizes, i like small flat bar, or cold roll steel, works great, yes its not as heavy as lead but much safer and for me easy to work with....
Just my 05 cents worth....!

Im still trying to find a good bait for my catfish in my pond that i cannot catch! trying out different baits......


happy fishing.... hogflyer.......

I do my own pretty simple really lead,heat (camp stove) mold. Just depends how cheap ya get your lead if its worth it

Lead has got a lot more expensive due to no more lead smelters in the USA. Tire weights
are the worse lead you can use.
Johnny

Why is that? Too soft or too much alloy in it or something?

If you want flat sinkers you don't nee a mold. Get some wooden spoons and pour as little or as much for the size. Drill a hole for a snap swivel. Use an old pot and fish fryer burner to melt. Not always pretty but they work.

I have the Do It 20# cast iron pot & cast iron ladle.


Lee Pro Melter is so much nicer. I just use the cast iron pot too clean up the old lead

if you decide to make them, do it outside and stay upwind,

Tire weights are real dirty and a lot of alloy in it. More junk than lead in it.
Johnny

most tire weights are made of zinc now,its hard to drill through I haven't tried melting it yet.

Old cast net weights melted and cleaned up ready too pour some sinkers

Tire weights are fine if they are lead. You do need flux to refine wheel weights. Once melted add flux and everything floats to the top. Flux it a couple times and pour it into one pound molds. Clean lead for bullets and weights.