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Melting/Pouring Lead #7614236
06/27/22 09:07 PM
06/27/22 09:07 PM
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 990
Eastern Shore, MD
J
JoMiBru Offline OP
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JoMiBru  Offline OP
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Joined: Jan 2007
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Eastern Shore, MD

Been wreck fishing for years, for sea bass, flounder, tog etc. Normally have to use between 3 and 8 oz lead sinker, depending on current, depth, conditions. Tend to get hung up a lot and lose a lot of lures and sinkers.

So, I decided to get a small lead melting pot and a few molds to pour my own. Friend of mine works at Benelli, and hooked me up with 6- 5 gallon buckets of spent lead shot from their indoor gun testing range. Probably a life time of sinkers! Might also look into decoy weights, maybe jig heads.

Anyone pour their own lead weights? I’m looking for tips, pictures, recommendations to help me get rolling. I melted some the other day and made a few batches of sinkers, seemed fairly simple. I was in my shop with the doors and windows open, had a breeze going. You guys use a respirator? Thanks for any advice.

John

Re: Melting/Pouring Lead [Re: JoMiBru] #7614240
06/27/22 09:14 PM
06/27/22 09:14 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 29,751
williamsburg ks
D
danny clifton Offline
"Grumpy Old Man"
danny clifton  Offline
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Posts: 29,751
williamsburg ks
No respirator. Get your mold hot and keep it hot. dont get any molten lead on you. Do not for any reason let even a pin drop of water hit the molten lead.


Those who would give up essential liberty, to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety. Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790)
Re: Melting/Pouring Lead [Re: JoMiBru] #7614244
06/27/22 09:20 PM
06/27/22 09:20 PM
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 990
Eastern Shore, MD
J
JoMiBru Offline OP
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JoMiBru  Offline OP
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Joined: Jan 2007
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Eastern Shore, MD
Thanks Danny, had a feeling you’d respond! I appreciate it.

Re: Melting/Pouring Lead [Re: JoMiBru] #7614245
06/27/22 09:25 PM
06/27/22 09:25 PM
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 18,392
Green County Wisconsin
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GREENCOUNTYPETE Online content
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GREENCOUNTYPETE  Online Content
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Joined: Sep 2013
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Green County Wisconsin
smelt outside stand up wind

cast iron or stainless steel pot only

saw dust and candle wax to flux , you need a big slotted spoon and a lead ladle

water hitting the lead isn't so much an issue as trapped water under the lead start by filling the pot with cold shot then head you boil off any water before the first lead starts to melt.

but yes a water in hot oil effect instant steam that sends lead flying

long sleeves , smelt over a sheet of plywood , safety glasses and gloves

once you have ingots a smaller electric furnace I run a LEE 4-20 pro this is a 20 pound pot bottom pour I cast bullets mainly

pure lead melts at 621 degrees , you need it hotter than that to be workable but you want to cast generally 700-800 vapor is minimal in this temp range higher makes more lead oxide vapor

I got my start casting for a muzzle loader on a borrowed mold , with a ladle and ss pan from good will on a camp stove so you don't need a lot but it helps with volume

not long after i bought a bigger pan , my own mold , then the 4-20 furnace

Last edited by GREENCOUNTYPETE; 06/27/22 09:29 PM.

America only has one issue, we have a Responsibility crisis and everything else stems from it.
Re: Melting/Pouring Lead [Re: JoMiBru] #7614246
06/27/22 09:26 PM
06/27/22 09:26 PM
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 23,494
New Hampshire
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Nessmuck Offline
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New Hampshire
[Linked Image]

Just have a small fan moving the air away


It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees.
Re: Melting/Pouring Lead [Re: JoMiBru] #7614247
06/27/22 09:30 PM
06/27/22 09:30 PM
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 5,101
Northern Michigan
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J.Morse Offline
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J.Morse  Offline
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Joined: May 2013
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Northern Michigan
Danny and GCP told you about everything you need to know to be safe. A respirator sure ain't gunna hurt much. Lead is nasty.

Last edited by J.Morse; 06/27/22 09:33 PM.

Re: Melting/Pouring Lead [Re: JoMiBru] #7614254
06/27/22 09:36 PM
06/27/22 09:36 PM
Joined: Sep 2020
Posts: 943
Missouri
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Osagian Offline
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Joined: Sep 2020
Posts: 943
Missouri
Originally Posted by JoMiBru

I was in my shop with the doors and windows open, had a breeze going. You guys use a respirator? Thanks for any advice.

John


Just like that and you'll be OK. I use a fan with the shop doors open. No I don't use a respirator. But I do wear safety glasses.

Take care to wash your hands often. It's the oxide on the lead that causes trouble.. Skim that mess off down to the clean shiny melted lead, then dispose of it in an old metal coffee can or something. An old table spoon with some 1/16" holes drilled in works well for me as a skimmer.

Last edited by Osagian; 06/27/22 09:38 PM.
Re: Melting/Pouring Lead [Re: JoMiBru] #7614256
06/27/22 09:42 PM
06/27/22 09:42 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,190
MN
M
Mark K Offline
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MN
I don't even bother with the holes. I just pour the lead out of the slag by holding the spoon next to the edge.

Re: Melting/Pouring Lead [Re: Mark K] #7614262
06/27/22 09:47 PM
06/27/22 09:47 PM
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 4,024
ND
grumley701 Offline
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ND
Originally Posted by Mark K
I don't even bother with the holes. I just pour the lead out of the slag by holding the spoon next to the edge.


same here.


Pure Blood
Re: Melting/Pouring Lead [Re: JoMiBru] #7614273
06/27/22 10:09 PM
06/27/22 10:09 PM
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 3,960
Northern Nevada
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Bob Offline
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Northern Nevada
Its real simple. Skim the junk off the top, keep your mold hot, and your ventilation you used is fine. Wash your hands real good before touching anything that’ll go in your mouth. I work for the DOT on the maintenance side so I find wheel weights all the time and melt em down into sinkers. Saves a ton of money!


"I have two guns, one for each of ya."
Re: Melting/Pouring Lead [Re: JoMiBru] #7614324
06/28/22 12:07 AM
06/28/22 12:07 AM
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 3,897
minnesota
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mnsota Offline
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minnesota
I use my coleman stove to keep the mold heated,skim off the top junk with spoon. When pouring, don't hesitate in the pour until it tops the hole or you may find hollow spots.

Re: Melting/Pouring Lead [Re: JoMiBru] #7614330
06/28/22 12:33 AM
06/28/22 12:33 AM
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 16,261
Iowa
~ADC~ Offline
The Count
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The Count

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Posts: 16,261
Iowa
[Linked Image]

Old school for me. Melt the lead in a small cast iron skillet on a camp stove and pour out of the skillet. I use an old spoon to skim off impurities since I use wheel weights. I only pour 6-8oz. egg sinkers for my (and friend's) ditty poles.

Re: Melting/Pouring Lead [Re: JoMiBru] #7614376
06/28/22 06:25 AM
06/28/22 06:25 AM
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 990
Eastern Shore, MD
J
JoMiBru Offline OP
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JoMiBru  Offline OP
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Joined: Jan 2007
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Eastern Shore, MD
Thanks guys. Is fluxing with candle wax necessary? What does this do? Wealth of information on here I appreciate it.

Re: Melting/Pouring Lead [Re: JoMiBru] #7614377
06/28/22 06:29 AM
06/28/22 06:29 AM
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 3,897
Wisconsin
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Eagleye Offline
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Wisconsin
Originally Posted by JoMiBru
Thanks guys. Is fluxing with candle wax necessary? What does this do? Wealth of information on here I appreciate it.

I soot my molds with a candle- I never use wax

Re: Melting/Pouring Lead [Re: JoMiBru] #7614379
06/28/22 06:30 AM
06/28/22 06:30 AM
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 16,171
ny
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upstateNY Offline
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Originally Posted by JoMiBru
Thanks guys. Is fluxing with candle wax necessary? What does this do? Wealth of information on here I appreciate it.

I pour all my own sinkers (including splitshots) jig heads,,Duck Decoy Weights,,down rigger weights,,sling shot ammo,pretty much everything.I don't use flux for any of it.


the wheels of the gods turn very slowly
Re: Melting/Pouring Lead [Re: JoMiBru] #7614385
06/28/22 06:36 AM
06/28/22 06:36 AM
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 18,392
Green County Wisconsin
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GREENCOUNTYPETE Online content
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Green County Wisconsin
Originally Posted by JoMiBru
Thanks guys. Is fluxing with candle wax necessary? What does this do? Wealth of information on here I appreciate it.


lead oxidizes very fast , fluxing with wax provides an oxygen deprived environment the fire is depleting the oxygen

the saw dust does some of the same but gives a vehicle for the non lead impurities to be carried out

in lead weights fill out and stuff is a lot less critical , a wrinkled fishing weight isn't a big deal

my pouring in volume and detail is more than is needed for a fishing weight, but if your looking for well filled out jig heads it is closer to that.
I run hundreds of bullets in a sitting and may reload my pot a few times , often wish I had 2 pots one to warm up while I am pouring from the other to keep my cadence going I run mostly 6 cavity molds


America only has one issue, we have a Responsibility crisis and everything else stems from it.
Re: Melting/Pouring Lead [Re: JoMiBru] #7614389
06/28/22 06:42 AM
06/28/22 06:42 AM
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 990
Eastern Shore, MD
J
JoMiBru Offline OP
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JoMiBru  Offline OP
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Eastern Shore, MD
How much wax and how often? I’ll try both ways to see the difference. Don’t think I’ll need it for these sinkers , but maybe for jig heads

Re: Melting/Pouring Lead [Re: JoMiBru] #7614393
06/28/22 06:47 AM
06/28/22 06:47 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 19,932
SEPA
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Lugnut Offline
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SEPA
I poured lead for a living for a few years back in the 70's. I made battery cable ends (the part that goes over the posts on auto batteries). We worked out of 30 gallon pots that were right beside us. Used a short (16") ladle to fill the molds.

We'd set the pigs on the edge of the pots until they were getting soft before tipping them in to try and evaporate any moisture. We'd tipped them in with the ends of our ladles and our arms extended and get away from the pot as soon as the pig slid in. Most of the time it was fine but occasionally there'd be a burp and splatter of molten lead. Once and a great while the water trapped inside a pig of lead would explode with enough force to crack the melting pot, what a mess and a real PITA to clean up after it hardened.

We'd "smoke" the inside of the molds occasionally with an acetylene torch and "powder" them more frequently with baby powder balled up in a rag we patted the inside of the mold with.This kept the castings smooth and shiny.


Eh...wot?

Re: Melting/Pouring Lead [Re: JoMiBru] #7614411
06/28/22 07:17 AM
06/28/22 07:17 AM
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 8,121
Manitoba
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Northof50 Offline
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Manitoba
If Rally ever cues in on this thread he will have some insight.

Re: Melting/Pouring Lead [Re: JoMiBru] #7614424
06/28/22 07:35 AM
06/28/22 07:35 AM
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 2,421
Idaho
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bearcat2 Offline
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Idaho
I've mainly only ever cast bullets. I shave off a sliver of stick bullet lube and use it for flux. Try it once, you won't believe how it brings all the impurities to the top and out of the lead. Like you said, wrinkled fishing weights will still sink fine, but it isn't any headache to drop a sliver of lube in the lead and light the smoke that comes up.

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