thejollysinker Posted October 23, 2022 Share Posted October 23, 2022 Anyone make their own leads? I’ve been at it for years now and really enjoy making a whole host of different types and weights. Been getting low on 5’s 6’s and 7’ozs (I still do a lot of shore fishing) lately so had a couple of hours spare this afternoon and made a few up. Got a new watch lead mould last year and finally found time to christen it 😅 found some thinnish chrome pipe in the garage so poured some lead into that to make some small pirks. All in all a good couple of hours setting up. Will spend my day tomorrow making a shed load more for future adventures 😊 suzook12 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thejollysinker Posted October 23, 2022 Author Share Posted October 23, 2022 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saintly Fish Posted October 23, 2022 Share Posted October 23, 2022 Please please please crop your photos before posting!!!! Nice leads btw. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thejollysinker Posted October 23, 2022 Author Share Posted October 23, 2022 y'see, I don't even know what you mean by that? I've done this on my phone and tried to select the smaller size options which i thought was the way to go 🤷♂️ Obviously, old people are shit at these things 😐 When you say crop, what do you actually mean? I take a photo with my phone, add the file and I get an option to select the size..... I select the smaller sizes because of the restrictions on size of file, don't see an option to crop? Obvs a sore point so sorry if I'm not very good with the pictures..... 😞 thank you for the compliment, no hard feelings here 😬 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saintly Fish Posted October 23, 2022 Share Posted October 23, 2022 51 minutes ago, thejollysinker said: Obvs a sore point so sorry if I'm not very good with the pictures..... 😞 More a pet peev!! When you look at a pic on your phone you can edit it yeah? So cropping means physically reducing the size of the photo by a mm or tu. Then save and continue as norm! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saintly Fish Posted October 23, 2022 Share Posted October 23, 2022 @Andy135the tech nerd will be along soon to supply a link to how to post pics on here! 👍🏻 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy135 Posted October 23, 2022 Share Posted October 23, 2022 13 minutes ago, Saintly Fish said: @Andy135the tech nerd will be along soon to supply a link to how to post pics on here! 👍🏻 Ask, and ye shall receive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy135 Posted October 23, 2022 Share Posted October 23, 2022 @thejollysinker, do you find your first pour in a mould throws a sub-standard lead? I find I need to heat up the moulds with a blowtorch to get them up to temp before pouring otherwise the lead is crap as it cools too quickly around the mouth of the mould and closes up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy135 Posted October 23, 2022 Share Posted October 23, 2022 Also, I use an aluminium pan for melting the lead which isn't great for heat retention. Sometimes I have to heat the sides of the pan with a torch before pouring to stop the lead from cooling too much. Iron is likely better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy135 Posted October 23, 2022 Share Posted October 23, 2022 20 minutes ago, Saintly Fish said: More a pet peev!! When you look at a pic on your phone you can edit it yeah? So cropping means physically reducing the size of the photo by a mm or tu. Then save and continue as norm! Andy the spelling monitor will also be along to correct your spelling of "peeve". #musttryharder Maverick and Geoff 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saintly Fish Posted October 23, 2022 Share Posted October 23, 2022 1 hour ago, Andy135 said: Andy the spelling monitor will also be along to correct your spelling of "peeve". #musttryharder Yeah but no but yeah but no but yeah but whatevvvver Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Odyssey Posted October 23, 2022 Share Posted October 23, 2022 I’ve got a small induction pot… 500W and just keep topping it up and it’s dead easy 🙂 Need to get back in garage and make some more this winter as my stocks are getting low sadly! Quite satisfying looking at nice load of shiny new leads 🙂 thejollysinker 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GPSguru Posted October 23, 2022 Share Posted October 23, 2022 Too much effort........... I just buy them trade in 50's, probably cheaper than making them, and I don't have the danger of climbing the church roof 😊 I only really use cannon balls in 8, 10, and 12, and Aquapedo's in 6. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonC Posted October 24, 2022 Share Posted October 24, 2022 I used to make my own when I was into shore fishing, I could easily lose 10-15 in a session on some marks but now I mainly fish the Thames over clean ground I rarely lose any kit. thejollysinker 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thejollysinker Posted October 24, 2022 Author Share Posted October 24, 2022 14 hours ago, Andy135 said: @thejollysinker, do you find your first pour in a mould throws a sub-standard lead? I find I need to heat up the moulds with a blowtorch to get them up to temp before pouring otherwise the lead is crap as it cools too quickly around the mouth of the mould and closes up. First lesson I learned when I started years ago. I let all the moulds I’m going to use warm up on the edge of the big steel tray overhanging the left side of the burner so the first pour will be as good as any. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thejollysinker Posted October 24, 2022 Author Share Posted October 24, 2022 14 hours ago, Andy135 said: Also, I use an aluminium pan for melting the lead which isn't great for heat retention. Sometimes I have to heat the sides of the pan with a torch before pouring to stop the lead from cooling too much. Iron is likely better. Get a nice deep steel ladle 👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suzook12 Posted October 24, 2022 Share Posted October 24, 2022 We use 10,12 and 16oz uptides, but finding moulds is quite difficult, I have 50kg of lead (flashing offcuts) waiting to go........ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thejollysinker Posted October 24, 2022 Author Share Posted October 24, 2022 12 hours ago, Odyssey said: I’ve got a small induction pot… 500W and just keep topping it up and it’s dead easy 🙂 Need to get back in garage and make some more this winter as my stocks are getting low sadly! Quite satisfying looking at nice load of shiny new leads 🙂 I like the sound of one of them but I can’t have it all 😅 besides, the big burner has dual use as main cooker for family camping trips. I must admit to finding it very satisfying too, looks like treasure 🤣 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thejollysinker Posted October 24, 2022 Author Share Posted October 24, 2022 12 hours ago, GPSguru said: Too much effort........... I just buy them trade in 50's, probably cheaper than making them, and I don't have the danger of climbing the church roof 😊 I only really use cannon balls in 8, 10, and 12, and Aquapedo's in 6. I pay small children to do the climbing 🤣 GPSguru 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thejollysinker Posted October 24, 2022 Author Share Posted October 24, 2022 5 hours ago, JonC said: I used to make my own when I was into shore fishing, I could easily lose 10-15 in a session on some marks but now I mainly fish the Thames over clean ground I rarely lose any kit. Easy to lose a few fishing rock marks. Takes some of the pain away if you make your own 😅 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thejollysinker Posted October 24, 2022 Author Share Posted October 24, 2022 4 minutes ago, suzook12 said: We use 10,12 and 16oz uptides, but finding moulds is quite difficult, I have 50kg of lead (flashing offcuts) waiting to go........ Wow, 16oz… what rods do you use for casting that? I am wanting to get into aluminium casting at some point (something else to cram in 😅) and it wouldn’t be too difficult to make moulds for things like that, but I have no time as usual. you could always make an 8oz piggy back lead with a wire that goes all the way through so you end up with 2 grip leads in-line…. You can use 8oz as your main gripper and any combination of piggy back to suit the tide run. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonC Posted October 24, 2022 Share Posted October 24, 2022 I also made a few small pirks using chrome finish 15mm copper pipe but I’m not a great fan of fishing with pirks, they seem a bit industrial for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thejollysinker Posted October 24, 2022 Author Share Posted October 24, 2022 4 minutes ago, JonC said: I also made a few small pirks using chrome finish 15mm copper pipe but I’m not a great fan of fishing with pirks, they seem a bit industrial for me. I watched a guy haul a 25lb and 18lb cod on a wrecking charter many years ago with a big fat chrome homemade pirk…. Sold it to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suzook12 Posted October 24, 2022 Share Posted October 24, 2022 24 minutes ago, thejollysinker said: Wow, 16oz… what rods do you use for casting that? I am wanting to get into aluminium casting at some point (something else to cram in 😅) and it wouldn’t be too difficult to make moulds for things like that, but I have no time as usual. you could always make an 8oz piggy back lead with a wire that goes all the way through so you end up with 2 grip leads in-line…. You can use 8oz as your main gripper and any combination of piggy back to suit the tide run. Just a standard 10oz uptider thejollysinker 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GPSguru Posted October 24, 2022 Share Posted October 24, 2022 1 hour ago, thejollysinker said: I pay small children to do the climbing 🤣 I didn't think we had that many injuns around here 🤣 thejollysinker 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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