sinker molds and puring lead

[PeggyLee]

have some old cast iron production sinker molds and would like some ideas,suggestions and thoughts on the best way to do some lead pore outback.Thanks AJ.

[IrishAyes]

I use the Lee Magnum Melter from Do-It molds.  Works great.
http://www.do-itmolds.com/productlist.aspx?c=188

I also buy molds made by Do-It Molds from Barlow's

http://www.barlowstackle.com/lead-molds.html

Plug in the Lee melter, put some lead in, wait about ten to fifteen minutes till the lead melts, ladle the molten lead into a mold, remove formed sinker from mold, let cool and your done.

Do in a WELL ventilated area, preferably outside on a decent day.

[PeggyLee]

my plan is to pour outside in yard.Do I have to pre heat the molds and what is best way? On these Do It and Palmer molds how do ya heep the molds closed tight before you pour? any ideas out there ? Thanks

[IrishAyes]

Do-It recommends AGAINST pre-heating the molds.  Claims they will warp.

Do-It molds have wooden handles.  They don't get hot when you pour.  Just hold the handles shut and pour molten lead into the cavity.  The weights come out perfect.  No trimming, no punching/drilling out hole in top.

I don't know of any other molds that pour as well as Do-It molds.

Others use propane tanks hooked up to stove to heat a melting pot with lead in it.  I use the electric melter that I posted previously.

[PeggyLee]

Irish Ayes, thanks for the two sites, will check em out. AJ

[IrishAyes]

AJ, I personally feel that you can not beat the Do-It molds.  They pour work great. No trimming the edges at all.   

[PeggyLee]

I have the propane and the the melting pot with the old time laddle.I'll search for a bigger laddle.The Do It molds do have wooden handles, but the others do not.Maybe a Welders clamp will do the trick.
will see what other suggestions come in about this melting and pouring.

[PeggyLee]

does the lead being used have to be cleaned up in any cleaners as they are tire balance and plumbers lead pieces.Are they ok to use? Also,do ya line the molds on the  inside with any kind of flux or whatever?I remember helping do this with my Pops long long ago when I was a young kid. Too bad I did not pay attention( as always).Any suggestions would be helpful. Thanks AJ.

[IrishAyes]

I just put the lead in the hopper.  Melt it and skim any thing that's floating on the top.  I also use wheel weights and lead I get from plumbers.

I don't put anything in the mold but the molten lead.

[rossg]

I NEED 50-100 4 OUNCE ULTRA MINNOW JIGS(A DOIT MOLD)
ANY OF YOU RETIRED GUYS INTERESTED IN POURING THESE FOR ME.
SEND ME A PRIVATE MESSAGE AND WE CAN TALK
JUST DONT HAVE THE TIME

ROSS
THE LADY J
BELMAR

[IrishAyes]

PM sent.

[ped579]

Good Luck...

[sealife]

I used to use some palmer molds and drilled a couple of holes in the handles and bolted some wood to them so I could hold them.   They still produced sinkers and jigs with a lot of flashing around them.  I now have all do it molds which are terrific.  I do not preheat them but the first couple of pours do not fill all the way so I remelt them.  Once the mold is hot you can pour away and every one is perfect.  Keep the hinge oiled and wear safety glasses or a face shield as you work.  Sometimes the lead will splatter when you add new lead to the pot especially if it is dirty. Always work outdoors in a well ventilated area.

[PeggyLee]

Irish Ayes and
Sea Life   
            the wood on the molds makes good sence as does skimming of the junk on top.Its going to definately be an outdoor project with safety glasses,gloves (and a cold beer).Maybe I will start a small fire on the xtra grill do some dogs or brots.(my neighbors will definately think I am nuts which could be a good thing). Thanks, AJ 

[IrishAyes]

You should have no problem pouring your own sinkers AJ.  Not hard to do at all.  Once you start, you will never buy sinkers again.  As I have said before and Captain Dave backed me up on, Do It molds are the way to go.

Good luck.   

[PenMaker]

I realize this is an old thread but wanted to add a few comments.
Lead pouring is not difficult.
the main concerns is that no mater what way you go about it the lead is hot, it can and will splatter, and it is toxic. so wear protective clothing and eyewear (gloves and glasses will usually do)and keep your fingers out of your mouth.
any way you can get the lead hot enough to melt will work. I have melted lead on a hot plate for years, and simply dipped it with even a small ladle for very small sinkers.
prepping the mold. first oil the hinges and keep them that way. mold are supposed to be precision and the hinge is what keeps them that way. do not pre heat the mold from the outside surfaces. but you can get better lead flow by blackening the inner surface with a candle flame. just hold the mold cavities above a candle flam so that you see the black soot cover the surface. leave this in the cavity for the first few pours. it will have vanished or so you think. it is actually carbon that has now gotten into the metal of your mold. sort of gives it a teflon coating. I have found this only needs to be done once.
As for heating the mold. get it hot the way it was made to be heated. from the inside. do this by simply pouring your first batches and then dumping the incomplete castings back into your melting pot. As the mold warms up it will make finer and finer details in the casting. keep working and do not let the mold cool down. just pour until you run out of lead there is plenty of time for clean up later. letting the mold cool will result in a set back in complete castings. I pour very tiny lures ans sinkers at tiny as 1/64 oz. they are far more trouble than the larger sinkers. basically tiny amounts of lead will harden much faster than a pour that has lots of mass.
Finally the mass of the pour (size of the sinker or lure) and the mass of the mold both make a difference in how well your lead stays molten and is able to flow in to the mold completely. more mass mans the lead stays liquid longer. I see lots of molds that have the spaces between the cavities hollowed out. this means less mass in the mold. less mass means less heat is kept and lead will cool down faster. this is a bad thing and can even make pouring fine detail impossible. think about the little teeth that need to be formed in a split shot sinker. they are pretty useless with out them.
OH and if you want really clean looking sinkers and lures. stick with DO-IT Molds. if all you want is lead in the general shape you are looking for. any mold will do. I have a palmer type mold that the two halves do not match up. It makes a trolling sinker that looks like it is splitting in half down the middle. it does not effect it's preformance but is also not an item I am proud to tells others that I made.