Tail Weights with Center Hole

[Pete F.]

I use a finish nail for the hole.
Maple for jig
drill hole the size and depth of weight
drill hole in bottom for finish nail, you can even cut the head off and use a nail for a drill. The nails are nice and stiff, have a head to grab.
Maybe it takes 5 minutes to make a jig, if you are selling lures I would'nt waste my time screwing around with it.
It's a hobby is'nt it?

[VTBasser]

I also use hardwood to make molds. I have started to make long versions of them - 3" to 6" depending on the length of my drill bits I have for the diameter I want to make. Then I have been using a copper pipe cutter (the little one you would use to cut 1/2" or 3/4" pipe) to cut my lead to size. I put the coat hanger back in the hole before I cut so the hole won't crush. For the different diameters of the slugs I make I figure out how many millimeters make a gram so I can cut them and get pretty close to the weight I am looking for. Of course once you commit the pipe cutter to lead you won't want to use it on drinking water copper.