North Australian FISH FINDER TM forums

Fishos,

That time of year where I need to replenish the lead sinker bucket. This year I plan to make my own and need to source some cheap lead. Does anyone know where I can I can get some and know of anyone that wants to sell some old sinker moulds? I'm guessing that the dump shop and the scrap metal joint may be places to start looking. Any tips on making sinkers and which are the best for our conditions in the NT?

Thinking that making sinkers is a good excuse to get mates over, have a couple, and talk about all the fish we are potentially going to catch.

Cheers,
OB

Before my sinker moulds were "lost" I uset to get my lead from a plumber mate, he was removing it when doing roof repairs. He always had tons for me.

Try any wreckers or tyre services. I work at a spare parts shop and we have buckets of wheel weights.

Before you dive in head first, google the dangers of lead poisoning. It can kill you unless done right.
Not worth the risk, just buy them from the sinkerman

As long as you have heaps of ventilation and wear a respirator you will be right

The scrap metel yard next to shady glen van park sold lead at $2.20 kg the last time i got some, last year.
Most of it is old flashing lead with paint and silastic on it so definatly melt it away from the house with plenty of ventilation.
Moulds are reasonably cheap from BCF.
I use a variety of moulds 8 and 12 oz snapper, large ball and bean sinker and a combo snapper sinker mould from 1 to 3 oz.
That covers all the sizes I use.
The only downside is new shiny sinkers tend to get biten of a lot more frequently on the reefs so i am trying storing them in a container of sea water to dull them quicker.
And you definatly make more with a beer in hand

Just go to the sinker man in Winnellie hes very cheap I dont worry about making them anymore take him your lead and he will knock the price right down, he has a stall at the Sunday rapid creek markets.

Sims metal near showgrounds like john d said we got 10kg for 20 odd bucks mate

Thanks for the tips fellas. Speaking of the tip, does the shoal bay dump shop sell lead?

Not that I know of.

Tip, if using wheel weights, or any lead for that matter, smelt them all in a big pot then pour the lead into a muffin tray to create ingots which are more manageable. It's a hassle having the steel weight clips in the pot when trying to pour. I use one of those large spoons with holes in it to scoop out the clips. Also burns any rubbish off like rubber,oils,grease/stickers etc etc.

Also not all weights are lead.... you can sit there all day and watch some weights but they wont melt... You get to learn which ones are which.

Becareful having water around.... molten metal and water don't mix...

Another tip, but you will work this out yourself pretty quickly. Heat up the mold as you are melting the lead. Lead wont pour very well into a cold mold.

Heating the mould is a great idea. Thanks Fogazi.

http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/wagaman/ ... 1048832688

350kg of lead. Just over a $ a kilo without haggling..

i found the best as to leave the moulds on the bbq hot plate and have a beer. lets the mould heat right up and the lead in the pot gets super hot. use welding gloves and handle the moulds and G clamp them together. hold over a bucket of water when you pour it too. pour it reasonably quick or it can dry and give you headaches. if it keeps drying during the pour and stuffing up let the moulds get hotter. once you've poured it you can drop the mould into the water to cool quicker. then u can grab any lead that spilt. as said above dont put the wet lead into the hot pot. it spits cr.p everywhere!!!! found out the hard way haha
the water gets hot after a few pours so keep changing it out too. good excuse to sink beers with a mate.

Jeez, with 350kgs of lead I'd be able to supply all of FFF. I'd need a bl..dy great big pot to smelt that load!! I'll stick with a few kgs. Thanks anyway.

Once Bitten wrote:Jeez, with 350kgs of lead I'd be able to supply all of FFF. I'd need a bl..dy great big pot to smelt that load!! I'll stick with a few kgs. Thanks anyway.

make em and sell em haha. Or buy it and resell for $2 a kg haha