cost of sinkers?

[smile0784]

I use to help make them with my grandfather. But my hands use to shake too much when pouring them so stuffed more up then came out good lol

[cheaterparts]

You might find someone is willing to organise a sinker making day where all the gear is provided and you need to buy is lead and some beers or whatever. I know vyak had one last year and will hopefully do one again this winter.

Just a quick report on the Sinker cook up , a small band of Vyakkers assembled at Cheaters house today for a Sinker cook up
Widsa got hold of some nice clean lead pellets and the production line fired up

I think every one had a go at poring , trimming and setting up molds -- My guess somewhere around 50 kg of lead turned into sinkers and jigheads of various sizes and weights

I also think every one had a good day --- just a few snaps of the production lines




Will on his small lead cooker - with the other guys set up molds or trimming leads







Shane putting swivels into a mold -




Jig Head prep --




the end result lots of shinny new sinkers

as Ian said we did a sinker cook up day back in Sep last year no doubt another one will happen in the future this one was a fairly good day
I make my own sinkers anyway , many on the day had not done it before

[Lightningx]

The 42 4 oz sinkers for $42 sounds pretty good to me

[4liters]

You might find someone is willing to organise a sinker making day where all the gear is provided and you need to buy is lead and some beers or whatever. I know vyak had one last year and will hopefully do one again this winter.

Just a quick report on the Sinker cook up , a small band of Vyakkers assembled at Cheaters house today for a Sinker cook up
Widsa got hold of some nice clean lead pellets and the production line fired up

I think every one had a go at poring , trimming and setting up molds -- My guess somewhere around 50 kg of lead turned into sinkers and jigheads of various sizes and weights

I also think every one had a good day --- just a few snaps of the production lines




Will on his small lead cooker - with the other guys set up molds or trimming leads







Shane putting swivels into a mold -




Jig Head prep --




the end result lots of shinny new sinkers

as Ian said we did a sinker cook up day back in Sep last year no doubt another one will happen in the future this one was a fairly good day
I make my own sinkers anyway , many on the day had not done it before

That's the one I was thinking of, I'll definitely be keeping an ear to the ground for when the next one comes around.

[hornet]

So on that...wheres a place to get lead?

I saw rolls of the stuff at bunnings in the plumbing section last night, I didn't check out the price though..

[Tackleberry]

So on that...wheres a place to get lead?

I saw rolls of the stuff at bunnings in the plumbing section last night, I didn't check out the price though..

and when you do make sure these a mattress on the floor when you see the price for lead flashing

[chris srsc]

This may be drunk talk...but cement sinkers might be worth a try...would have to be safer than lead...

[ducky]

Hey Ricki...
I have made sinkers for a living and I gotta say, Its dangerous sh*t, be careful.
Would not waste time with a lee smelter IMO, If your just after a couple of sinkers just use an old pot and bend a lip on it.. or Get yourself a RCBS pro melt (look it up), I used 4x them and had no trouble in 5 years of production. Then you can sell them to your mates.
I make sinkers to 10kg.
Keep stirring and use one of those s/steel strainers (like flywire) and just keep stirring and scooping. I used to use candle wax but gave that away years ago.
Your biggest concern, if you want nice looking sinkers is to dross dross dross.
Dont try to heat your moulds up, just be prepared to put the first 4 straight back in the pot.
I have just about given it away now and only do big deep drop for a couple of charters.
This advice is only my opinion and just try'n to help. I say again, lead is very dangerous, do not take it lightly.

Cheers.....Thomas

Sounds like you're definitely the man that's in the know.

What mask filters are the best to get. I've got a couple of full blown silicon masks but was waiting on a trip to the safety shop to work out what filters I need for lead.

You wouldn't waste your time with a lee pot? Even for rec use every 18 months or so? I thought they'd be perfect.

As for the old pot way. I have considered it. But didn't know if my cheap butane burner would do the trick and figured if I have to buy a special burner that can take the weight Id be better off just getting a Lee pot that auto pours.

How do you dross?

[Fish-cador]

You wouldn't waste your time with a lee pot? Even for rec use every 18 months or so? I thought they'd be perfect.

As for the old pot way. I have considered it. But didn't know if my cheap butane burner would do the trick and figured if I have to buy a special burner that can take the weight Id be better off just getting a Lee pot that auto pours.

buy the Lee Production Ducky. It's worth every gold coins. Very safe to use. I have the 500 watts unit, holds 4 kilos of lead. I wouldn't go back to the old pot, scoop and pour technique when making sinkers using the lee production is like getting beer from the tap. The one in the photo was purchased 3 years ago from eBay US for AU$130 delivered. I have made at least 600 sinkers using this one so I already recovered my money.

I made 200 x 4 oz sinkers in 3 hours 2 weeks ago. I still have 50 kg lead in the garage. Enough to last me years of fishing.

Cost of making a 4 oz sinker = about 45 cents each depending on where you get the lead from.

[ducky]

Cheers mate.

My main fishing mate is a chippy that specialises in reno's. He is collecting old lead flashing for me. In return I'll be supplying the sinkers for his and my boat. Just need to get the pot to get going.