Interesting! I have never ever cast lead and never plan on it. Funny story though, when I was growing up many people on the block were bass fisherman, including my pops. The family 5 houses down made their own jig heads. They were BEYOND generous and gave everyone some jig heads growing up. We thought they were awesome neighbors. It came out years later, the parents were sending the kids out on their bikes and stealing the lead counter weights off tires to make jig heads. I died laughing when I finally found out, but many on the block were very upset. I thought it was kind of ingenious but naturally a tire is much mor expensive than lead.This is 2 dozen for $73 with free shipping! That is a very good deal. Less than $3 each. If you can do it cheaper, I would be surprised. I am always scrounging lead and have a stockpile, but it takes hours to mold and propane to burn to make that many weights. There is a sweet spot on the lead temp and the mold temp. Go to fast and you have weak anchors, go too slow and they don't pour smooth, and you need to recast it.
Reclaiming lead can be laborious, but getting a system and sequence down is relatively easy. Most of my "mixed lead" goes into decoy weights and some fishing sinkers. Most of my "pure lead" goes into jigs and other fishing lures. Some of the bullets I cast, are mixed led and some are pure lead, depending on if the bullet will be used for target shooting or used for hunting.There is a sweet spot on the lead temp and the mold temp. Go to fast and you have weak anchors, go too slow and they don't pour smooth, and you need to recast it.
How much you sell your blade baits for??? I need me some of them for fall white bass. They MUNCH blade baits here.Reclaiming lead can be laborious, but getting a system and sequence down is relatively easy. Most of my "mixed lead" goes into decoy weights and some fishing sinkers. Most of my "pure lead" goes into jigs and other fishing lures. Some of the bullets I cast, are mixed led and some are pure lead, depending on if the bullet will be used for target shooting or used for hunting.
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Some of the older weights were getting beat up so I made some new ones.
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I drew up a print, then remembered I already had a mold. Yes, a CNC machined aluminum mold can be made, but a mold cut as shown in my drawing, can be done on a manual machine as well.
Want more weight or a larger ring, just adjust dimensions. If you have the desired shape and size just duplicate it. Many back yard molds have been machined into a hardwood block, using a hand held wood router and template. Very easy and cheap to do.
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I use an electric heated bottom pour pot, to cast everything except the decoy anchors. The decoy anchors require more "pour volume" than the nozzle on my electric pot will provide. The nice advantage to the electric melting pot is the precisely controlled heat.View attachment 60253
I make them for my own use. If you wanted to provide the nickel or brass bare blades in the size and the quantity you desire, I could be persuaded to add the lead. The only cost to you is actual return shipping plus you need to supply me with an equal amount of blade blanks for me to keep for myself. At this time, I only want/need size ZB-S in NICKEL. You can supply whatever combination you desire and the weights you want them cast.How much you sell your blade baits for??? I need me some of them for fall white bass. They MUNCH blade baits here.
How much would you sell the anchors for if i were to drive up to you?Had the mold decades ago - lent and never returned, I believe. I do have dozens of the anchors - but would hardly pay to ship to the Central Flyway. (I may bring them to the SSWA Duckboat Show on Long Island this weekend.)
I switched from ring anchors to mushrooms for most of my rig long ago. One reason was that the lip on these dug into the breasts of our Herter's Model 72 Durlon foam.
Best of luck!
SJS
Thats pretty damn good price for a CAD and a CNC run. When I looked into doing this for custom baits for bass fishing, the lowest quote I could find was ~$350. That was years ago though.I have looked at a few different sites that will use a CNC cutter to make you a mold. I wanted to get a custom decoy anchore done and one shop I believe quoted me $150 for it. They do the CAD drawing and use the CNC to cut it out. Probably a good way to go.