I don't lose many sinkers fishing fresh water, but if I'm fishing the rock jetties on the coast, I just use old rusted nuts instead of lead sinkers. I have used old steel muffin tins for making lead anchors for my duck decoys though.
I am 68 I have a couple of my fathers molds, but haven't made any myself yet. I watched him do this a a young boy, he would pour then drop the mold sometimes into a bucket of water to help the mold cool. The fail of this technique was if you don't get every molecule of water out of the mold and pour, the lead will shoot back out of the mold like a bullet! One sinker mold I have you would either place a swivel, or my Father would make a loop with twisted copper to insert into the mold before pouring, the lead would cool around the wire, or swivel and you would have a place to tie the line. Much more technical to work, but were awesome if you had good technique as my Father did. Good tutorial.
Tip on the wheel weights. I pour a 5 gallon bucket of wheel weights onto a piece of plywood and run a magnet over them and it makes the process of removing the steel weights easier.
Casting your own stuff is a great money saver. Scrap is a great way to maximize savings. Beware the danger of melting scrap metal containing even slight amounts of water. FYI- The time lead explodes is when metal containing encased water is placed into the liquid metal that is in the pot. The enclosed water flashes into steam and explodes the contents of the pot. Always melt scrap by starting with a cold pot. Be safe!
My paternal grandmother used to make sinkers in the kitchen, melting the lead on the stove in a cast iron skillet. Unbeknownst to my mother, I, at single digit ages, helped. I loved to do the pouring. Safety first! LOL
Another great video! Started making my own sinkers this spring I got a 5 gallon bucket of old tire weights from one the local tire shops. I’m about halfway through the bucket got more sinkers than I know what to do with.
I make my own as well. Great video! My sinkers always have a small amount of flashing around the edges. It is like the mold is not getting a tight enough seal. Have you ran into this problem before?
I have had that problem when I didn’t get my mold shut completely. Maybe make sure there isn’t something inside keeping it from shutting all the way. Thank you for watching.
Aka wild man.. we have missed ya buddy.. come out an fish with me in Leavenworth buddy we've hit some good ones this past year and it's only getting better
Been doing this for years,out of old cast nets ,scrap lead tire weights, the moles are expensive but you can make your own for Bank sinkers and also no rolls
I've got an 80Lb Dixie Lead ingot I keep having to move around my carport. Wish I could remember to save up some money for a big no roll mold....Every time I have to move it I'm broke...lol
We used to be able to go to tire stores and get buckets of used wheel weights, but now they seem to be made "lead free", I guess so if they come off and get back out in nature again, they won't damage something. I really don't think thats a real thing, but its hard to get that stuff now.
Hope you not gonna reuse cast iron pot for cooking. Lead is toxic , also try bot to dump any lead into soil. When we were kids we just used empty food can to melt lead on a wood fire and cast into clay
love your content, keeping it real and clean. tight lines my friend!
Saves some money an your still spending quality time with Landon. I remember helping my Dad make sinkers when I was a youngin
Me too those were some good memories
I definitely gave this a thumbs up!!! These "how to" videos are very helpful.
Thank you
Have my own molds handed down from Dad. Thousands made!
I've never done sinkers but I used to cast a lot of bullets. Saves money and kinda makes you feel good to use something you created by hand.
Another great video Hagen
WoW! i'm first to be here I'm honored! Thank you for your content and sharing!
Yeah Man ! great job on the video.
👍👍👍👍👍great fishing tackle video
I don't lose many sinkers fishing fresh water, but if I'm fishing the rock jetties on the coast, I just use old rusted nuts instead of lead sinkers. I have used old steel muffin tins for making lead anchors for my duck decoys though.
Great video
Thanks for the tutorial. It is useful information.
Real good. simple and cost effective.
Hagen, here's a tip for ya. You can grind up the graphite from a pencil and use a brush to apply it to your molds to help keep the lead from sticking.
Great vid.
I am 68 I have a couple of my fathers molds, but haven't made any myself yet. I watched him do this a a young boy, he would pour then drop the mold sometimes into a bucket of water to help the mold cool. The fail of this technique was if you don't get every molecule of water out of the mold and pour, the lead will shoot back out of the mold like a bullet! One sinker mold I have you would either place a swivel, or my Father would make a loop with twisted copper to insert into the mold before pouring, the lead would cool around the wire, or swivel and you would have a place to tie the line. Much more technical to work, but were awesome if you had good technique as my Father did. Good tutorial.
Tip on the wheel weights. I pour a 5 gallon bucket of wheel weights onto a piece of plywood and run a magnet over them and it makes the process of removing the steel weights easier.
Casting your own stuff is a great money saver. Scrap is a great way to maximize savings. Beware the danger of melting scrap metal containing even slight amounts of water. FYI- The time lead explodes is when metal containing encased water is placed into the liquid metal that is in the pot. The enclosed water flashes into steam and explodes the contents of the pot. Always melt scrap by starting with a cold pot. Be safe!
My paternal grandmother used to make sinkers in the kitchen, melting the lead on the stove in a cast iron skillet. Unbeknownst to my mother, I, at single digit ages, helped. I loved to do the pouring. Safety first! LOL
Another great video! Started making my own sinkers this spring I got a 5 gallon bucket of old tire weights from one the local tire shops. I’m about halfway through the bucket got more sinkers than I know what to do with.
Thanks Man
I make my own as well. Great video! My sinkers always have a small amount of flashing around the edges. It is like the mold is not getting a tight enough seal. Have you ran into this problem before?
I have had that problem when I didn’t get my mold shut completely. Maybe make sure there isn’t something inside keeping it from shutting all the way. Thank you for watching.
Aka wild man.. we have missed ya buddy.. come out an fish with me in Leavenworth buddy we've hit some good ones this past year and it's only getting better
Been doing this for years,out of old cast nets ,scrap lead tire weights, the moles are expensive but you can make your own for Bank sinkers and also no rolls
That’s what I’m talking bout!!
You don't need soo much heat from propane. A fire from wood or charcoals will work. Lead melts pretty easily
Oil them hinges lol...sounds just like my molds😂😂
I've got an 80Lb Dixie Lead ingot I keep having to move around my carport. Wish I could remember to save up some money for a big no roll mold....Every time I have to move it I'm broke...lol
We used to be able to go to tire stores and get buckets of used wheel weights, but now they seem to be made "lead free", I guess so if they come off and get back out in nature again, they won't damage something. I really don't think thats a real thing, but its hard to get that stuff now.
I do that every year getting ready for spoonbilling
BTW, is that a new boat behind you?
I think that is his dad's boat.
Hope you not gonna reuse cast iron pot for cooking. Lead is toxic , also try bot to dump any lead into soil. When we were kids we just used empty food can to melt lead on a wood fire and cast into clay
I can make bank ones up to 8oz
Please please please mark or drill that pot when you're done so someone 30 years later does not try to cook with it.