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feeder lead moulding/pouring

G

Gwyn Jeffs

No Longer a Member
Hiya guys,
Recently joined this forum as there seems to be a healthy amount of information on here, so hello all :)

As per title, I'm currently trying to cast my own feeder weights. Following advice found elsewhere on the web I simply carved several different depth bodies into wood with shallower foldover wings.
While it works after a fashion, I find the surface tension of the molten lead doesn't allow for an even pour. If I pour into the body first the lead won't run into the wings, and if I start on a wing it usually bubbles up over the edge of the mould or runs into the body but not the opposite wing.
I have had limited success carving the moulds way deeper than they need to be and not filling so much.

I have tried and failed to find a commercially available dead cow mould so am kinda stuck.
Would I be better off carving a mould from 2 pieces of wood and holding them together with a clamp?

Any and all help appreciated. I've just cast 3 perfect ones, but the 23 before that were horrendous.
 
In my efforts I found that i struggled because I didn't get it hot enough. I used a stove and a blow torch go get the extra heat in. More heat equalled better flow.
 
I knocked a couple of feeder moulds together a few months back.I used aluminium bar and plate with an mdf base.The aluminium can be bought cheaply if you search eBay for off cuts.
I preheated the mould with a blow torch which helps the lead to flow,but after a few castings the molten lead from each pour keeps the mould hot(very hot!!)

With these two moulds I can make feeders from 4oz to 9oz which is dependant on how much lead is poured and the mould on the left can be adjusted for different lengths of feeders.
After a little practice I could knock them out quite quickly and best of all cheaply.

Jason
 
I like that little set up Jason..... I just use lead strip cut from flashing,and wrap it around the feeder and bend it and pop it in either end , I tend to fish rocky snaggy rivers and dont mind losing the feeders, as they are cheap as chips and work well..
Yours look the mutts nutts, I would be mortified to lose one !

Dave
 
Clive Shipman said:
In my efforts I found that i struggled because I didn't get it hot enough. I used a stove and a blow torch go get the extra heat in. More heat equalled better flow.
Click to expand...

I read that if the lead gets a purplish sheen it's been overheated?
I did indeed get the purple sheen, still do.

I am a total newbie at playing with molten lead so thank you for all replies.
Those moulds pictured look fantastic, business opportunity ;-)
 
Used to make my own weights with a mixture of Lead and Tin. When they cooled the Tin was like a coating on the outside and they did look the Dogs, until you used them of course:)

Stephen
 
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