Mansfield Ball Sinker Mould 2oz to 6oz

Instructions for Mansfield Do-It-Yourself Sinkers

Most of you will have some scrap lead lying around. Try visiting your local roofer/plumber or scrap dealer. Lead is worth around a $1 or $2 per kilo. Another excellent source is to use discarded wheel weights from your local tyre shop. These weights have a hardener added to them and work superbly as sinker and jig material. Although less durable for jigs, pure lead does work very well for us, so don't be put off using it!

The secret to making sinkers and jigs in volume is to have a large amount of lead in a molten state. To achieve this use a Mansfield Melting Pot which is curved inside to allow a ladle to scoop lead easily. Although not as effective, a cast iron pot will do at a pinch. Use a gas ring or BBQ to melt the lead.

Ensure that you use adequate ventilation when melting lead as the fumes are toxic. A common mistake is not to melt your lead to a "bronze" colour which is substantially hotter than a liquid state. DO NOT under any circumstances allow moisture or water to get in contact with molten lead; it splatters dangerously!

Scrape off any impurities from your lead by simply scooping off the top layer of "rubbish" that forms once your lead has melted. Heat up your mould before pouring the molten lead into the mould. You may be using a hinged mould which can be clamped together using a D clamp.

Use a ladle to pour the molten lead into you mould. Open mould once lead has cooled sufficiently (this only takes a few seconds). Once the sinkers are completely cool, then remove them from the moulds.

Follow these procedures when making sinkers:

• 1. Preheat the moulds
• 2. Tightly clamp the 2 halves
• 3. Carefully pour molten lead into clamped mould
• 4. Unclamp when cool and remove your perfectly formed sinkers