How to Make Lead Fishing Weights

Fishing, like many other sports and recreational activities, can get to be expensive. Travel and equipment costs add up quickly. Many fishermen realize savings by making some of their own gear. Fishing weights are one piece of equipment that are easily made with just a few materials. Try making your own lead weights. You can save some money and fish with custom-made weights at the same time.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

Welding gloves
Safety goggles
Heavy long-sleeve shirt, leather apron
Lead (available at most scrap metal dealers)
Small cast iron pot with pouring spout on side
Metal ladle (optional)
Vise grips
Metal bucket
Fishing sinker molds (see Resources section)
Propane camp stove or barbeque grill with a side burner
Large metal spoon
Edge trimming tool

Step 1

Add lead to the pot until it is half-full. Do this so that you will not have to handle a dangerously full pot of molten lead. Secure the vise grips to the pot on the side that is opposite the handle.

Step 2

Check to see that your stove's grate can handle the weight of the pot and lead before you heat it up. You may need to add another sturdy grate over the top of the stove's grate.

Step 3

Heat the lead until it melts. You will see impurities from the lead floating to the surface and forming a layer on top. Use the metal spoon to skim these off, and dispose of them in the metal bucket.

Step 4

Grasp the pot handle and the vise grips, and carefully remove the pot from the stove. Slowly pour the lead out the spout on the side of the pot and into the molds for the weights. You may also use a ladle if you have one, and thus avoid having to lift the pot.

Step 5

Let the lead in the molds sit until it is completely cooled. Turn over the molds and tap the mold with the edge of the metal spoon to get the weights to come out. Trim off the rough edges of the weights using the edge trimming tool to complete your lead fishing weights.

Tips & Warnings

Wear all the safety gear and take all precautions when dealing with molten lead.

Resources

Lead Molds and Supplies

Article Written By Anthony Smith

Anthony Smith began writing for Demand Studios in May of 2009 and has since written over 1400 articles for them. He also writes for "The College Baseball Newsletter." He attended the University of New Mexico, and has more than 25 years of experience in the business world.

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