Making lead fishing weights in wooden moulds

[@aprilshowers2277]

I used these with the Team Catfish weight slides to make a kzbin.infoUgkxdmsDj7fQXe77DC0l7P7ua8B3PiESUubM Carolina rig and they were perfect for the ponds I fish. I have also used them to make 3 way rigs and these work perfectly. Haven't had any issues with them snagging in rocks or in weeds yet.

[@pa_maj.MARTINI-van-MAN]

I Definitely agree with the safety tips! I had lead shoot out of a musket ball mould when a teenager making shot for my slingshot. I'd dunked the previous one in water to free it quickly and never dried the mould off. The lead stuck my eyelid closed and I had to peel it off. I was able to close my eyes before the lead hit, I was so happy my instinctual reflexes were working Good that day. The burn healed and wasn't noticeable after a fortnight but the main thing was that I wasn't left blind in one eye. There was a lesson learnt that day, don't dunk a mould in water, yes I've been silly since and still didn't use safety glasses as I had none and they were harder to find back then, now I have at least three of them and use them of course 👍

[@indianatone218]

Brilliant idea who needs expense of metal molds ,thanks for showing ,its great melting lead used to do it as a kid after collecting scrap lead and copper from tips n stuff to weigh it in made it into thick blocks id put a brick inside for extra weight ! i know it was naughty but hey you gotta boost your meagre pocket money somehow lol . Thanks for showing Ant from Wales .

[@TrevorF03]

Yes Paul! This is exactly what i was looking for. I was struggling making my own ballast weights for my musky crank baits, and this is a great solution. I didn't want to pour the lead directly into the lure like i did with the last two lures because it adds steps for me.

[@PaulAdamsTheHandmadeFisherman]

thanks

[@PaulAdamsTheHandmadeFisherman]

Thanks for sharing that method, it sounds like a more simple but just as effective way of making weights, I might give this try.

[@PaulAdamsTheHandmadeFisherman]

How I should of titled this video was, ‘How to make lead weights in wooden fishing molds if you live on a remote Scottish island with limited tools and materials and you have no weights and want to go fishing the next day’ this I think would explain a lot. Behind this shed on the pier was at least half a ton of scrap lead, normally this would have been sold but it would have cost more to ship it off than its value. Thanks Paul Adams

[@amrozh755]

Use pebbles as weights. Drill small holes to sink a twisted wire. Or just make a hole...

[@colsoncustoms8994]

I made one of these a few days ago. There are 2 things i ran across that are worth mention. 1, if using a paddle bit (flat), harder wood might not be a bad idea, since the soft pine tended to tear a lil bit. 2, sand down any rough spots and fill in (JB wield maybe?) any nicks. Mine worked, but all the small pits and tears made releasing the weights a huge pain and the finished product was not very streamline. I'm in the process of making a more refined mold at the moment, which should do the trick. thanks for the great idea

[@PaulAdamsTheHandmadeFisherman]

Latley i have used MDF which gives a very good finish, also i found it takes a few casts for the moisture content of the wood to reduce which helps make a smoother finish, but i only ever used these for boat fishing so no distance casting was required. Thanks

[@colsoncustoms8994]

***** Right on. Thanks for they reply

[@dkat1108]

This is the same way I have been doing it for years. I use carter keys from Harbor Freight for the clip ring. Good video thanks!

[@TheRealGrandadNo1]

Great video, easy to follow and a brilliant idea. Thank you for posting!

[@dramey03]

GENIUS! love your channel! such simple ideas yet brilliant, thanks so much for sharing them

[@stephencarlsbad]

I made some weights out of cement and it wasn't too bad. It did have more drag than a lead weight but it worked well in average surf.

[@snappersniper]

i have used a doorknob installation bit, which makes 1-1/4" diameter hole for my deepwater fishing. Thanks for the great tips.

[@terrydharris5731]

Good job,I would put hinges on it with a small hook latch to hold it together,make it a little more faster when making a lot of molds.

[@PaulAdamsTheHandmadeFisherman]

Nice idea, thanks

[@dirtsmiles8098]

Your videos have come so far. It’s amazing you stuck with it given all the trolls

[@PaulAdamsTheHandmadeFisherman]

The biggest cost is the lead itself, when i made these weights i had access to a lot of free lead. At the moment my father has just taken apart a broken piano and ever key has a lump of lead inside it so i have a new source of free lead. Spider weight moulds can be bought cheaply, less the twenty pounds and will probably last you a lifetime. For me the fun is comes from seeing if i can do it myself and that is not always cheaper.

[@1586ian]

Cheap and easy, doesn't have to look pretty. Just had to get the bait to the bottom

[@Giannioutdoor]

My great grand father used to take a bucket of tightly packed sand then take a small spoon and scoop out a little bit of sand pour hot led in the hole and quickly stick some bent Metal in (for the eye) ended up with sand stuck to it but they worked great

[@PaulAdamsTheHandmadeFisherman]

I always forget that people have been casting metals in sand mixtures for thousands of years and even today it is still used in heavy and light industry, one day I may have to get my own bucket and give it a go. Thanks for sharing the memory.

[@gailbannon2706]

GianniVelotta t

[@maineoutdoorsman677]

GianniVelotta now that's a smart man there great idea thanks

[@xi-Jinping-1st]

I poke holes in the dirt in my garden. It does tend to spit a little bit but it does the job

[@eperry824]

U have so many good ideas!!!😀😄😚😚

[@dinahplacido5786]

Quality products are well worth the money !

[@PaulAdamsTheHandmadeFisherman]

i used in this video some pine, i think it was old slats from a bed. Cheers

[@CheeseSteakKiller]

Gramps had the hookup on buckets of Free old lead wheel weights from a friend that worked at a tire shop. He took a old piece of 2x4, drilled lots of holes in it with a drill press. The holes were maybe 3/8" in diameter, but he would just vary the depth of the hole to adjust the final weight he was looking for. With holes drilled, I put a paperclip into the holes, then Gramps poured the molten lead. Once cooled, I took a hatchet and split the 2x4 lengthwise a couple times and they all fell out!

[@hectorrojas4366]

I been watching a lot of videos,this is the easiest way and faster grasias!!!

[@amrozh755]

For small lead weight, make a one from thick glossy magazine paper and used sand as base in a plastic tray. Put a twisted non corroded wire first. More simpler and faster

[@TheMeishi]

i am surprised that the wood didnt burn. thanks for sharing

[@PaulAdamsTheHandmadeFisherman]

You are right lead is poisonous and so are the fumes when melting. If you are aware of that and use the correct safety equipment there is no reason why lead weights cannot be made safely. Lead was used as an additive in fuel for long time, in water piping and one point in solder used in the production of tin cans of food, luckily these practices have been outlawed and maybe it is time to look for alternatives for larger fishing weights as well. Cheers Paul

[@rohzpopper4922]

I made lead sinkers with cone shape paper moulds with a bucket of sand. Just tape a paper cone, put non corrosive wire and pour the lead. It's that simple. I use the thicker glossy paper on old magazine. Not to thick or thin . Just right. From a car battery ,my sinkers last more than three years because you can make it quite a lot. Do it on open area only

[@davidmckittymckitty7665]

very much interested I never see it done I do a lot of bottom fishing by seen it done save me lot of time thank u

[@jsmythib]

I never even thought of making a mold of wood...Thankyou very much for the idea :)

[@PaulAdamsTheHandmadeFisherman]

I am not An American, but i don't like discrimination based purely on nationality or race so please don't leave these types of comments on my channel. And yes you are right lead is toxic and in this country the U.K. you are not allowed to use fishing weights below 1oz. Thanks Paul Adams

[@jasonross3183]

The Handmade Fisherman Wow we use a lot of light weight tackle for pan fish all the way up to big game fish. Its neat to hear of different regulations in other parts of the world. Cheers

[@jimmymcjimmyvich9052]

WTF? Why the out of the blue outburst?

[@iwantosavemoney]

I really like this method in some ways I built the same mold but we used 2x4s with a 2 inch hole and about 3 inches deep and a few other sizes we use paper clips for an I let but here is the kicker we used concrete not lead making dirt cheap sinkers for are jugs are bank lines are sneaky pett throw line that keep bait off bottom so turtles dont bother them. Thank you my friend

[@PaulAdamsTheHandmadeFisherman]

depends on the wood i used this mold about thirty times and it still seamed ok, this was pine

[@PaulAdamsTheHandmadeFisherman]

thanks for your input, i m not sure i can answer your question. Paul Adams

[@Самоделкидлярыбалки]

Здравствуйте, очень приятно смотреть ваше видео. Очень интересно вы работаете. Большое спасибо за отличное видео.

[@janbaillargeon2763]

I made one of those when I was 10 years old and I am 61 years now .

[@jamesspears5127]

I have made sinkers this way for many years the only thing that I do different is I use one piece of true measure lumber and just split it when the lead cools

[@PaulAdamsTheHandmadeFisherman]

maybe i will have a go when i get a chance but it could be a long while. Thanks

[@rohzpopper4922]

Just make it with a paper cone on sand based. Much more faster and easier.Just tape the paper together.. The hot lead Will burn the paper. Depend on sinker size, I've made 60 ++ sinkers from a car battery. It lasted me more than 3 years !

[@OnDayFiveFishing]

Thanks for sharing. Knowledge is power. Happy fishing!!! OD5...

[@fishhubbd]

It is indeed a Good content !!!! I love it !!!

[@scurpenin]

wood's much easier to work than metal, thanks for posting

[@RichardOhKaNoi]

yes you are correct. i found that the best wood to use is the hardest wood you can find. if you can find it. (and it is very hard to find ) it is called iron wood once drilled and sanded with a small drum sander using gradually from about 200 grit to 500 grit to shine the drill holes. once it is done it will last for ever something you can pass on to your son or grand son.

[@keatonmcintyre7462]

Never wear gloves in the shop. they can get caught in machinery and rip fingers off or cut deep into your had or worse. They may also pull your hand into the machine.

[@andrewsavage1872]

Should say, use caution when wearing gloves in the shop, you are mostly correct, but I'm not welding large projects without gloves.

[@winnie1421]

i was making also same like that, but i use the other drill the one you show to us. then i put a nail upside down .the nail head and i put the lead,then after i slite hammered the pointed nail and turn back the woods remove it in the head of nail, and after few second, i heat the woods in the hard floor that will drop the molded weight...

[@davek7630]

@Paul Adams, great video, I've been thinking of making my own for add on swimfeeder weights for barbel fishing, how long would an average wooden mould last you on average? I might go down the route of trying to cast an aluminium mould but this is so much easier!

[@PaulAdamsTheHandmadeFisherman]

+Dave K hardwood would last for years

[@davidmckittymckitty7665]

my home is in jamaica never maid sinker before all ways have to go on buy now I no thank u

[@theentertainmentchannel5347]

Which lumber is considered as hardwood?

[@kycatfishguy671]

The Entertainment Channel oak, hickory, walnut. just a few types of hardwood but there are others

[@theentertainmentchannel5347]

Thanks alot. And have a happy New year!

[@fishingmagconz]

Looks good Paul.

[@sergeyminin1406]

отлично .Просто ,и экономно.

[@nickcoudounellis9668]

Very clever in making the mould. I will try and make one myself

[@beththarpe6662]

Is that pure lead? Some alloys will depress the melting point. It never occurred to me to try such a thing. Sheet rock or gypsum board would be more tolerant to the heat, but if it works...it works. You would have to take the paper off of the two mating or facing sides of gyp board. Plaster of Paris would be more durable but drill out the Plaster of Paris before it fully hardens. Cost wise, this is a good solution.

[@PaulAdamsTheHandmadeFisherman]

as far as i aware it was pure lead from an old roof gutter

[@PaulAdamsTheHandmadeFisherman]

At the time of filming I lived in a lighthouse keepers station on a small remote Scottish island. The lead was what remained of the original gutters of the houses. There was probably over a ton which would of been worth some money in scrap value but the cost of transporting it off the island made unviable. Eventually it went as ballast for restored boat who's owner lived on a neighbouring island.

[@arfurfoxhaike]

Excellent tutorial, Thank you for sharing.

[@GRDray]

A decent idea. Thanks for showing.

[@61diemai]

I've done similar before , ......for disc weights suitable for river currents I'd use the aluminium casings of tea warmer candles , ...first drill a matching hole into the side of the casing accurately accomodating the center part of a larger barrel swivel , ......after extract the wax part from the casing , ....insert the swivel a bit more than half way deep and fill up with molten lead , you can use the entire height of the casing or just half of it(place hole lower then) , cheers , 61diemai

[@RussellHoughton]

i do it the same way. do you use hardwood or softwook? how maney poors do you get from a mold

[@nathanholland8988]

Have you got a more recent video on this where it would be a different metal?

[@kadaluzhavan4150]

Awesome friend 👍

[@tiredfingers99]

What type of wood is reccomended? Should the grain be dense?

[@PaulAdamsTheHandmadeFisherman]

tiredfingers99 I was using pine in this video i have also used mdf whihc worked well and denser woods

[@mauzim]

Very interesting. Is possible to make personalized lead weights, exact how your necessities.

[@SignedSign]

A more environmental friendly alternative is to make the sinkers slightly larger to compensate the weight loss and use concrete instead, it works just as well, but instead of poisoning the water you put chalk into it that helps regulate the PH value in the water, specially when you loose the sinkers and they lie dormant on the bottom, the concrete then disintegrates and becomes chalk and sand, while a lead sinker would lie there for hundreds of years poisoning the water. Or you can use a piece of rebar or a steel bolt and drill a hole in it, it will just rust away and leave iron residue that you find normally in the environment.

[@barlow2976]

The lead oxidises in the water, then ceases to react with the water, so is no environmental hazard. The danger is from small pieces of lead that can be ingested by wildlife, and this was banned in the uk years ago. You've not grasped the fact that lead is many more times dense than concrete- fishing weights made of concrete would be huge in comparison. Anglers do use odd bits of scrap metal for weights when fishing on rough ground where losses are to be expected.

[@lixv2432]

Sir, l also wanted to make my own lead sinker for my cast net but the problem l found is the lead which l bought from the market is soft and can be bent but once its been melted its hard and cut it again since l wanted the lead to be like a pipe, so what should l add up to make it soft or can be made bendable again even after being melted?

[@PaulAdamsTheHandmadeFisherman]

they were not all for me, some went to neighbours and other fishermen and some i still have over a year later.

[@Zullger-v8i]

Вот именно токим методом я и лью, только вместо сосны у меня дубовые и буковые планки, пользуюсь уже 4год, не горит☺

[@darrenbowen1983]

what size bit are you using in this video

[@justwyld]

I did this before but I hinged my mould for ease of lining up.

[@PaulAdamsTheHandmadeFisherman]

that is a good idea, thanks

[@justwyld]

Anytime, I found hinging it before I drilled help keep it all lined up!

[@christopherort2889]

2 suggestions. Either one may help align the 2 sides faster. 1. between the 3 sinker holes you drilled, on the big flat side, drill 2 holes through the mold for a dowel rod. Insert a dowel rod and cut flush. You can glue it if needed. This will help align the 2 sides faster. Just slide it on. 2. Put a stop block piece of wood on the end of each side. This will help align the 2 pieces faster.

[@PaulAdamsTheHandmadeFisherman]

3 oz but i have made other sizes Thanks Paul Adams

[@waynesimpson2074]

Your all right with rubber gloves and a pillar drill...but not canvas re-enforced gloves, they won't tear easily as required.

[@grigoryshamov9692]

Wayne Simpson for every diy video there be a dozen morons commenting about safety. Low iq is not ok matey.

[@brianreay4104]

You could use the small CO2 / NO cylinders as outer cases. Either pour in the lead and quickly insert wire or drill the round end for wire, pour lead in from other end supporting cylinder in drilled block of wood.

[@PaulAdamsTheHandmadeFisherman]

yes i have done a video on using no cylinders kzbin.info/www/bejne/d2WvpHR9oN2HjJo

[@brianreay4104]

That is a better way than I had in mind!@@PaulAdamsTheHandmadeFisherman

[@milldabeast519]

those some big ass fishing weights!

[@PaulAdamsTheHandmadeFisherman]

milldabeast519 I use to use these for boat fishing in areas with strong tidal currents

[@milldabeast519]

***** yea i live central to the great lakes so ive never fished the ocean. never even seen a person use a weight that big.do you cast that?

[@PaulAdamsTheHandmadeFisherman]

straight down, normally although i do cast up to 6oz weights when shore fishing these have spikes to grip the bottom, we have up to 8 knot tides

[@abdrahimagadir8931]

l

[@grantodamax]

I hope you dont mind but im gonna use this to make buckshot and weights. Maybe even at the same time

[@fatmanfromtheholler7467]

Good video and it gave me an idea useing my melting pot and dyes. use a pan for wheel weights to get rid all the trash,film because they will mess up a melting pot.plus all the metal brands.... I spent $80 on it and $40 on a dye. Bad part is the junk collected popped I got burned. bass pro has lead that is clean and makes making them pointless the way there items are priced.

[@PaulAdamsTheHandmadeFisherman]

+jamie sapp if you read the comments you will see i was living as far a away from a tackle shop as you could get in the uk

[@PaulAdamsTheHandmadeFisherman]

+Paul Adams (The Handmade Fisherman) and these cost me nothing

[@fatmanfromtheholler7467]

I understand, i thought it was a great job. being away from the world is good and creating things without spending money even better. you gave me a few ideas. i always wondered if wood would work. i am odd if i see something it gives me ideas. i bet it is peaceful being away from the hustle n bustle

[@PaulAdamsTheHandmadeFisherman]

sometimes i would like to be back there

[@fatmanfromtheholler7467]

serenity is important time to time

[@stephenhamill4946]

Hi Paul, which wood is best for making these moulda, i used iroko but when i poured lead in parts of the wood grainstuck n the lead, perhaps it was damp through the wood im not sure but need to try again, what do you recommend? Cheers been watching alot of your lure videos, great work! Picking up some great tips and giving my ideas, cheers again! Steve

[@PaulAdamsTheHandmadeFisherman]

+Stephen Hamill I have used, pine, mahogany and mdf

[@PaulAdamsTheHandmadeFisherman]

Yes not really clever that, thanks for reminding me I put up a little warning note. Cheers

[@ShaunDobbie]

I never knew you could make a mold out of wood. How long do the molds last? If they are any good, I would use them for casting plates for deep cycle lead acid batteries.

[@PaulAdamsTheHandmadeFisherman]

it is hard to know how long they last i have never worn one out yet, Although recently i have stopped using lead as i don't get to do much sea fishing and moved over to pewter for smaller freshwater fishing weights. Mdf works very well as a mold also if you are looking for something flat.

[@ShaunDobbie]

I have plenty wood around. I just need to somehow make a lead melter that can work on 12v. I have an enormous deep cycle battery and a load of solar panels that could power it.

[@PaulAdamsTheHandmadeFisherman]

fire always melts lead but it lacks control. This lead came from a big pile that hand been guttering that was stuck on a island, we eventually gave it a way to guy from Iona who needed ballast for a big wooden boat he was restoring. He made big fire on the beach and melted it in an old drum and poured it into ingot molds he made in the sand.

[@TheLeadbonanza]

Looks like the most expensive fishing weights in the world. There are rocks you can tie a string to and always nuts botls and even nails. You are going to loose them anyway and the fish don't care what they look like. Save your lead, for something worthwhile.

[@PRACERZ]

Great video Paul. Question for you though. Have you ever calculated bore and length size of your molds to acheive a certain weight ? Where I fish, in Tidal flow rivers the current really changes along the rivers route and the oz. rating for weights in certain areas always gets mentioned that you need a minimum of oz. to fish this area.

[@PaulAdamsTheHandmadeFisherman]

I never did calculate, I guess it is easily done buy calculating the volume and looking up the density of lead. I guessed just buy looking at the size of the weights i was already using, another way is to sand cast weights which means you should be able to copy and weights you have bought, maybe I should do a video on this

[@Thalarctos.]

Excellent , bravo champion !! ;-)

[@EnriqueSantiagofly]

Hi Paul. I love your videos. A same idea may be useful for making heads of jigs, but I would like you explain me it how? I'm a southamerican indian. Bye and thanks.

[@IMKINDOFABIGDEAL13]

shop safety tip. large loose gloves are very dangerous around a drill press or mill. have seen someone get their wrist broken with my own two eyes.

[@zacharycline8433]

You can go to a tire shop near you and grab them lead weights they put on cars to balance them most of the time they will just give you them...

[@spydergs07]

How many times do you think roughly you can use this mold before it is no longer safe?

[@RichardOhKaNoi]

you over did things by a large margin i would have put the two boards in mobile vice and used a pencil to mark 3 lines and got a drill that you would have used last and drilled it out saving a lot of useless steps. do i know what i am talking about yes because i have been making weights like this for years.

[@chestnutforge4395]

Hi Paul, great idea. I need to make 4oz weights. What size drill hole would give me this weight and what hole depth? Thank you and well done on a great video.

[@rolandchua1298]

Thank you sor sharing....very interesting!

[@Francois_Dupont]

you can chop the sprue with a knife when the lead is just about to set.

[@willo777u]

Very cool well done!

[@lesdunn736]

2021 insightful thanks buddy.

[@beatsByZlaja]

Good day sir. How do you determine and control the weight of the sinker?

[@PaulAdamsTheHandmadeFisherman]

beatsByZlaya change the hole size, you could work it out using the density of lead and calculating the volume

[@rexczi6299]

Paul Adams what is the density of lead per cm3?

[@rexczi6299]

***** 11,34g per cm3. Ye tnx

[@rexczi6299]

***** 11,34g per cm3. Ye tnx

[@boashna]

lead used to be radio active million years ago that is why is so nasty . you will inhale lead vapor while working with it and get the idea that you are the best fisherman in your family. you should wash your hand in the river or any water available to avoid digesting it .

[@acytoh]

how do you make the lead won't stick to the wood? Your sinkers fell out quite easily ....

[@PaulAdamsTheHandmadeFisherman]

it does not stick to the wood

[@bigbearfuzzums7027]

Use hard was or was seal to coat you wood and on your cut edges you can cheat and use door hinge to hold the half's!

[@frasacosa]

bravo, mi dici che legno usi? e con uno stampo quante colate ci fai? grazie Francesco

[@mdwan7250]

Make is easy so wats the weight of each sinker? 125oz?

[@garya.seidletz8625]

I'd of drilled a 2x4 and ripped it on bandsaw, but for expense he incurred running that torch and such,cheaper to buy

[@pancingminiawas5454]

Mantap🤝👍👏👏👏👏

[@billab0ng83]

Great vid mate. is there a specific type of wood?

[@jaredbradley4095]

What's up with the big gloves while using the drill press? Is it not grounded lol

[@PaulAdamsTheHandmadeFisherman]

i couldn't be bothered taking them off, but thanks for asking

[@jaredbradley4095]

@@PaulAdamsTheHandmadeFisherman love your videos. I've watched them all I think..

[@PaulAdamsTheHandmadeFisherman]

if only there were medals for it, good on you , I made this video in shed on pier, on tiny island in the north Atlantic, i think i was wearing all the clothes i owned and i am guessing there was another pair of gloves under those gloves

[@jaredbradley4095]

@@PaulAdamsTheHandmadeFisherman too funny. Is it bad that I only buy paint brushes now if they look like good lures???

[@johnechterhoff4791]

You're a good...whatayacallit... guy. Great vids.

[@ПетроСмидюк]

Подпишитесь на Александра Милькина там у него идей вагон просто гениальний мужик а грузики на отводнойделает супер незацепляемие....

[@antoniomanuelgertrudes3532]

Gostei muito obrigado pelo seu vídeo

[@PaulAdamsTheHandmadeFisherman]

sometimes i find myself so perplexed by a comment i don't know if there are words in any language that i could paste together to make a sensible reply. Thanks

[@stylesfurbert1219]

Mate !! Live in Bermuda and we make them tings 1lb each in an eight ft length of 2 by four drilled out ! lol don't feel bad it's a worldwide thing because of your video and others simular