I have a considerable amount of lead and am looking to use it for leading plugs. How do people make their own plug leads?

Thanks,
Striperman

I bought a blank do-it mold and drilled holes in it with a drill press - 1/4" , 5/16" and 3/8" and then drilled a smaller hole enough to hold a coathanger wire so when I pour the lead, the wire is centered and gives me a nice tailweight that the stainless wire goes right thru.

Or you can just buy weights from NJtackle.

I was just considering the same thing. Im interested in pouring some 1/4in x 1in tail weights. If someone has pics of how they do it I would really appreciate it. I assume you could make a mold out of bondo and use wood dowels to make the mold but how do you get a hole through the center? I guess I would have to put short lengths of through wire into the mold before pouring? Willl the lead come off the through wire easily or will I have to use some release agent?

Another question...after drilling the 1/4in hole in the plug tail for the lead, which tail grommets are used? The ones I have are 1/4in at the flange. Is a larger tail grommet available or is there a washer that can be used?

Thanks in advance.

check these out. husky showed me this a few months ago:)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v476/Grmstr/MOFO/L1.jpg


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v476/Grmstr/MOFO/L2.jpg


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v476/Grmstr/MOFO/L3.jpg


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v476/Grmstr/MOFO/L4.jpg


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v476/Grmstr/MOFO/L5.jpg

if you pull the wire out right away, you don't need release agent.

for the belly weights i just hold a tire weight over the hole and melt it with a propane torch. the molten lead drips right in the hole. when it cools i give it a tap and it comes right out. then i epoxy the perfect fit weight back in its hole.

fluki, check these out.....
http://www.njtackle.com/store/more_info.asp?fmmore=PBS-NPE-D1934P-100

FF, is that bondo in the pictures?

Pull out the wire right away while the lead is in the mold, it should come out ok as long as it's not bent. You can wet the wire with oil also if you want to.
The blank molds are cheap enough that you don't have to mess around with bondo, I think 20 bucks.

yes bondo.
poured into a tuperware container to make the mold.

:kewl:
Thanks guys

Freak how do you know how muchlead to melt in? I don't use a duplicator.


Bill
'

Why don't you just buy a do-it egg weight mold with the 7 or 8 or so sizes.

You can stack any number of the smaller ones in the tail and you already have the hole.

I have been taking a couple of pieces of old 1X2 scrap wood, clamping them together and the using the drill press to drill holes that right down the middle between both pieces.

When I work on a prototype I drill a bunch of holes of different depths to get different weights to see which works.

Once you know which length you want, drill 5 or 6 holes to that depth and pour away. I was just using some old waste 1X2 pine and it held up thru 4 pourings ok. Once the lead solidifes I unclamp them and pop em out of the mold and start over.

I use the same diameter bit for my weights as I use for my belly grommets so when I'm drilling the plug all the belly holes are the same diameter.

I don't have a duplicator so I make plugs in runs of 12 or less. I keep one Master and the weight that goes with it, and put it a side so I can make more of them later...

Guys be careful to be in a well ventilated area when you are melting and pouring lead. Not good stuff to inhale. Otherwise have fun!

Exactly what I was looking for...Thanks again guys.

You could do what diggin jiggin showed only use aluminum blocks from a scrap yard

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Wood or aluminum blocks work fine if you are only doing a few plugs here and there. The Do It! molds drilled out for the size slugs you use is a better idea if you plan on doing a number of plugs at a time. Quick and easy to use. The photos PNG shows are an exellent example of a blank mold put to good use.

Jigman

Thanks for the photo's PNG. I just may be in the market for a blank mold:D

I made a mold for the tail weights. The picture is not too clear, crappy camera. I make them in halfs and about 3 inches long so you can cut them to desired lenghts. They are .375 3/8 dia. You just drill the hole and insert the two halfs. It has a thru hole that will accept the .062 welding wire. It works great. I have not yet built a plug but made the mold for that reason a few years back. I am willing to let anyone use the mold if they like. Pour a few hundred and your all set for a few years. I have already poured about 200 halfs. I will bring it to the plugmaking party along with a few others. I would like to maybe make a few more sizes and maybe one for belly weights. I am open to any ideas. Like I said anyone can borrow it if they like. P.M.