NJ Saltwater Fisherman Forums

General Forum => NJ Saltwater Fisherman Customs => Topic started by: Jeffish on November 11, 2010, 09:59:08 AM

Title: Custom cheap belly weights. Pics!
Post by: Jeffish on November 11, 2010, 09:59:08 AM
Since the round lead belly weights can run anywhere from $1.59 per 10 and up, I've decided to think of another way.

These exact steps are for plugs with lips on them only. I'm sure it can be modified to work though.

There are numerous freshwater weights that can be converted to belly weights. My idea eliminates drilling a hole in the belly and having to spend the extra time to wood putty it and make it look like there wasn't a hole there in the first place.
(http://img261.imageshack.us/img261/9766/imag0588.jpg)
These are the weights I used for this. I'm sure Dick's has these, along with other styles of this.

What I did was squish the lead into the roundest shape possible, like so.
(http://img594.imageshack.us/img594/9724/imag0589x.jpg)

Then, I grabbed my drill bits, and matched up a drill bit to the size of my new belly weight, drilled a hole underneath the through wire hole. Then I put the lead in, and tapped it with a hammer. It looks like this.
(http://img602.imageshack.us/img602/6348/imag0590.jpg)

No need for wood putty, nor epoxy in this step. Saves time, epoxy, and wood putty.

Once you have that in, the plug is painted, and ready to be finished, put the lip on, and it will hide it from sight. The combination of the size of the hole you drill, and the epoxy you use to adhere the lip onto the plug itself will be more then enough to hold it in place. Should look similar to this.
(http://img190.imageshack.us/img190/4910/imag0591.jpg)
Title: Re: Custom cheap belly weights. Pics!
Post by: Jeffish on November 11, 2010, 10:02:59 AM
You can also look for "Insert Weights", made by Lunker City. They are soft so they cut easily, and come in light sizes. .04 oz and .09 oz.
Title: Re: Custom cheap belly weights. Pics!
Post by: SurfJockey on November 11, 2010, 10:10:41 AM
Nice idea Jeff.  t^
Title: Re: Custom cheap belly weights. Pics!
Post by: Bucktail on November 11, 2010, 11:01:06 AM
Nice Jeff.  t^

You can also attach those weights to the shanks of your hook to add weight to soft plastics, bucktails, spinnerbaits, etc.
Title: Re: Custom cheap belly weights. Pics!
Post by: Jeffish on November 11, 2010, 01:01:13 PM
I can't seem to find the name of these types of weights.
Title: Re: Custom cheap belly weights. Pics!
Post by: IrishAyes on November 11, 2010, 02:10:04 PM
Jeff, they are called pinch on sinkers.
Title: Re: Custom cheap belly weights. Pics!
Post by: Hunter 2 on November 11, 2010, 07:13:13 PM
Thanks Jeff t^