Grapnel Sinkers How I make them

Finaly got my moulds from the UK this week and managed to make a few today.

Started by making a jig to make the loops, i used old bike spokes as i could not find the right wire today.

This was a bit tricky at first, but im sure the more i make the better they will look.

Next i made another jig to hold the moulds in place while i poured the lead

I also sprayed a bit of cooking oil inside them to help the sinkers come out of the mould

I set up my work bench and started to melt the lead. (making sure the area was well venilated )

First set that came out were a bit layered as the moulds were too cold, but they were ok not the best looking tho.

I cut of the excess lead and started putting the break away wires in place.

The finished sinker.

After an hour i had 12 sinkers ready for the tackle box and a trip down south.

I didn't bend the wires out so they will fit in a tackle tray. I just bend them when i need them.

Another pic of the gear i used to make them

The moulds weren't cheap but after one session i paid of 1/3 the cost.

The only real problem i had was not being able to pour the lead fast enough. So i didn't get real clean looking sinkers, i'm going to change the melting pot a bit to solve this . ( also i didn't drink enough beer so was a bit shakky doing the pour, i will also rectify this prob next time lol.)

Cheers Grant...

 

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Leemo's picture

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how much did the moulds cost?

Thu, 2011-04-21 17:40

how much did the moulds cost? very handy once you get the balance right

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STEVE231's picture

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 Pretty impressive sinker

Thu, 2011-04-21 18:25

 Pretty impressive sinker making get-up you got going on there Grant, I'm impressed!!

grantarctic1's picture

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Sinker mould cost

Thu, 2011-04-21 21:04

Cheers guys, the moulds come from UK-HOOKS.com  There not cheep. 55pounds each. With the ozzy dollar standing well it was a good time to get some.

All up i got.  3 oz, 4oz, 6oz, 8oz, moulds in the beach bomb style.

                  100 small break away wires, 100 large break away wires

                  500 assorted tubes for the wire (assorted, colours)

                  2 x set of handles

                  Total cost inc del = $420.00 AU

I used the spokes of a bike wheel for the loops. At $8 to $12 bucks a pop at tackle shops , If i make 40 sinkers i recover my cost's.

 

spanishmackeral's picture

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 great idea, if it was me it

Thu, 2011-04-21 21:35

 great idea, if it was me it wouldnt take too long to recover the cost, im always loosing tackle

where do you get lead from? is it cheap? i was thinking of making some snapper sinkers

grantarctic1's picture

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Snapper sinkers

Thu, 2011-04-21 21:56

Yeah spanishmackeral, Ive got heaps of snapper moulds from 1oz to 16oz. Also in the tear drop style with a swivell.

Also star and spoon sinker moulds. I hate buying sinkers ha ha. My mates usualy collect lead for me and we all get togeather for a sinker(piss drinking)day.

At the end of the day we divide the sinkers and every one is set for the rest of the year.

Going to organize a few fishwrecked crew and meet up for a day this winter. PM me if your keen.

Cheers Grant..

 

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great work

Thu, 2011-04-21 21:56

those moulds are quality.

I make my grapnels in a rougher way but I am happy with the final product.

I just make my own snapper leads, hit them on each side with a hammer and cold chisel to make the grooves then drill 2 holes through the bottom or ppointy end straight through of the sinker and poke my wires (borrowed TIG wire) through and bend them into shape.

they work well for me, but not as sexy as yours.

SPANISHMACK there have been people selling it on here recently or you can get it from the scrap man.  I get mine from work.

just be careful when using molten lead its dangerous stuff, eyewear, long sleeves/pants/shoes and gloves are a must.  I dont usually have to many beers when i do mine

grantarctic1's picture

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I agree Rig

Thu, 2011-04-21 22:01

Working with molten lead is not good on you health. You must take precautions and not too many beers .

I work in an open area with an extraction fan that removes the fumes.

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Date Joined: 24/01/11

Grapnel wire

Tue, 2015-02-03 21:23

hey rig, thinking of making the same style, any pics of how you make the wires? Already putting heaps of snapper leads out... 

Blue Whaler's picture

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Sweet Grant! Looks good.

Fri, 2011-04-22 07:55

Sweet Grant! Looks good.

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roberta's picture

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Excellent set up

Fri, 2011-04-22 11:57

Old fart has to make some 2lb & 4lb moulds for friends in Leeman, so that will be on the cards pretty soon, he's got heaps of car weights and sheet lead, so he mixs the two, I usually go out shopping when he starts melting the lead, plus he gets a fan going under the carport and all safety gear on.  Certainly stinks.

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You should have a look at the

Fri, 2011-04-22 16:27

You should have a look at the Lee lead furnaces. I got one just before xmas and it makes life much easier and safer when making sinkers and jigs.

grantarctic1's picture

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Will do

Fri, 2011-04-22 18:32

I will look into the furnace thanks adamkk ..

cuthbad's picture

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they look great. good work

Sun, 2011-04-24 13:38

they look great. good work man, very impressive!

cuthbad's picture

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they look great. good work

Sun, 2011-04-24 13:38

they look great. good work man, very impressive!

DieHard's picture

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Nice work mate! im pretty

Sun, 2011-04-24 19:20

Nice work mate!

 

im pretty sure a few of us would be keen on a few if you ever made a lot, how much do they come in each?

 

Cheers!

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grantarctic1's picture

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Help to make them

Mon, 2011-04-25 19:21

Cheers guy's, DieHard i didnt realy think about selling any, but i am going to organize a few members to help make a heap, then we can just share them out.

I will let you know when i set it up. Bit busy at the moment, maby next month. Will need a heap of lead tho,

JIM1's picture

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grantarctic1

Sun, 2011-05-22 13:22

wheel weights are lead. why not go down to your local tyre mob and work up a sneeky carton of beer for bucket of old wheel alighning weights trade.

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grantarctic1's picture

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Sinker lead

Sun, 2011-05-22 15:12

Yeah Jim, I have sourced some wheel lead's from my nephew, he has a few buckets of them for me. They are ok but i have to remove the metal from inside them first.

I have made some more sinkers and thanks to adamkk for the advice on Lee lead Furnace's, i now have one and boy does it make it a bit easier. I had to cut the bottom plate to fit some of my larger moulds.

Also i found the valve too small to pour larger sinkers , so i made one with a larger hole and pin on the lathe. This worked well. I have definately made my mony back on all the gear i bought now .

Again thanks adamkk for making me aware of the Lee Lead Furnace.

JIM1's picture

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least youll have lots of

Sun, 2011-05-22 20:11

least youll have lots of things to threw at the neighbours cat when it comes over the fence!

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 I haven't made sinkers

Fri, 2011-11-18 14:09

 I haven't made sinkers before, but I have casted my share of bullets.  The reason you are not getting a cleaner looking sinker is that the mould is to cool.  Try resting the mold on the edge of the pot to heat it up.  It takes some practice but you will get the hang of knowing when the is hot enough.  You will get a nicer looking sinker, but I don;t think the fish will care. 

grantarctic1's picture

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Thanks

Fri, 2011-11-18 15:00

Thanks mate but its all sorted now, i pre heat them with the oxy or i just pour a couple and re melt them, that gets them nice and hot.

I still find with realy large sinkers over 10oz the lead kiln cant pour fast enough, so i just use a home made laddle .

Cheers Grant ..

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Great

Fri, 2011-11-18 19:31

 set up Grant.you look like a pro.

Willy's picture

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Great Looking Sinkers

Tue, 2015-02-03 21:50

 That looks like a very professional industrial looking process you have there. I also looked at the background stuff and I was impressed. My only suggestion is some sort of air extraction or a fan. I do my sinkers at a mates welding bench with fume extraction and heat bricks and the company pays for the Oxy, Happy days.

All my lead I find from diving

Cheers and Well Done

Willy

Jarrahland

grantarctic1's picture

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Thanks

Tue, 2015-02-03 23:10

 Thanks Willy, I have changed a few ways i make them that includes fume extraction. I only run the molds a couple times a year with a few mates, it usually keeps us in stock for a while. 

Cheers Grant .  

 

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 Grant. If you ever make more

Tue, 2015-03-17 16:42

 Grant. If you ever make more and think of selling some or need help, let me know!