Does anyone pour your own weights and is it worth your time? I’m thinking about getting a mold and trying.
I’ve been making my own for years, depends on if you have a source for lead and how much the lead will cost you. I usually pay 1.00-1.10 a pound for lead.
BRIAN WELLS
Pioneer 197SF
https://squareup.com/store/lead-bandit
Decent price but I understand folks wanting to pour their own.
After being released, a lot of fish die, but a lot of them live also.
The telephone company used to use a lot of lead for their cables. I have an old bell system lead pot and a lot of molds. I make diving weights, egg sinkers, bank sinkers etc. I mostly use wheel weights from a tire shop.
ZX
You can go by the scrap yard and get it relatively cheap usually. If you got any buddies that work at a tire store that’s a good place. I work construction so I would get a good bit from the roofer. About 15 years ago I got a revolving door from an x-ray room. About 250 pounds. come out of it. I used to cast my own bullets & and weights. But I had to give it up. Had elevated led levels in my blood. Just be careful don’t be a dummy like me.
I make my own for trolley anchors. Spend money on material, make about 25. Going rate $5-6 apiece. Pays off in the end.
It’s a good practice to do outside. Well ventilated area.
Ya know, it must be nice living in Neverneverland. Remind me to come visit you, when I need a break from reality.
most of the old wheel weights from tire stores are unuseable anymore ; some type of a glue on alloy that won’t melt:frowning_face:
George McDonald
US Navy Seabees,Retired,
MAD, Charleston Chapter
[http://www.militaryappreciationday.org
When you see “Old Glory” waving in the breeze, know that it is the dying breaths of our fallen hero’s that makes it wave.
author unknown
quote:
Originally posted by gail winsmost of the old wheel weights from tire stores are unuseable anymore ; some type of a glue on alloy that won’t melt:frowning_face:
George McDonald
US Navy Seabees,Retired,
MAD, Charleston Chapter
[http://www.militaryappreciationday.org
When you see “Old Glory” waving in the breeze, know that it is the dying breaths of our fallen hero’s that makes it wave.
author unknown
Nasty stuff all mixed in with the new tire weights. ! We got several buckets a couple of years ago and tried it. I think maybe magnesium? Some of it flared up really bright.
Second bucket we got a little smarter and picked through it.
Might give racing junk . Com a try. ? We picked up 2000lbs pretty cheap right before Christmas on 80lb bars. Some times you get lucky and find an old dirt track racer selling out.
Find an old plumber, years ago all sewer pipe was okem and lead! I use to get it off all my demo jobs and pour offshore weights in an old tolet paper roll, then peel off the paper and flatten out the end with a hammer and drill a hole, easy to make any size.
I remember packing oakum into cast Iron pipe joints before pouring lead into them to seal them up.haha.If you find any lead pipe,make sure there aren’t any pockets of water in them before you put it in your melting pot.It will explode!
When I ran the Carolina clipper we made all the weights there were 16 oz & 20 oz we used a cast iron pot and a cast ladle with an insulated handle. We used tire weights, battery lead , but the most came from the hospital. Lead from radioactive shipping boxes & containers. The weights only cost the cost of the propane , except for the time we caught the shem creek dock on fire.
I’ve poured plenty, hundreds of pounds, at least, some wheel weights. Alot of the new wheel weights are zinc. Sort prior or just skim off the junk when done melting as all of the trash will float. Gonna have to skim alot anyway. Put a little candle wax in there once you have most of trash skimmed off. It should start on fire for a moment, but will help when it burns out with cleaning the lead once you skim that off.
NEVER put/add a piece of lead that could have moisture in it in the pot that is already melted!!! I do it outdoors under shed with fan blowing fumes downstream. I do mine on a fish cooker, but hit the lead in pot from the top as well with a propane torch from above to get the melting process going.
Smoke those molds prior to use with a candle, make em black with the soot and they will release from mold very well and it lasts along time. All of mine are Do-It molds and they are great. I spray the mold hinges from time to time with WD-40 when pouring, as they will start to stiffen up. You will be able to tell when it’s needed. Also, if doing egg sinkers, I spray the copper rod every few times as well to make easier to pull out.
Lead melts at 621 degrees. so be safe. Hope this helps…Let me know of any more ???
NN
The retail cost of lead weights will make the cost of molds and propane seem like nothing! one mistake I made once was replacing a broken hinge pin with steel. The lead would stick to the pin
quote:
Originally posted by natureboyThe retail cost of lead weights will make the cost of molds and propane seem like nothing! one mistake I made once was replacing a broken hinge pin with steel. The lead would stick to the pin
You nailed it, NB. Not even close…especially when you get into the heavier weights. Crazy prices at the shops…
NN
quote:Only gentiles pay retail
Originally posted by natureboyThe retail cost of lead weights will make the cost of molds and propane seem like nothing! one mistake I made once was replacing a broken hinge pin with steel. The lead would stick to the pin
After being released, a lot of fish die, but a lot of them live also.