Thread: Molding Lead Sinkers

Originally Posted by NCArcher

Hi hotspur,
the lead being dirty wont matter although you should give it a bit of a clean to get rid of visible dirt. The scum will rise to the top of the molten lead and you can scoop it off.
The sinkers come out not properly formed if they cool too quickly. Meaning the moulds are not pre heated or you are pouring too slow. I usually do a couple of pours, that I drop back into the pot, just to pre heat the moulds. If the pouring channels are very small you can clamp the mould together and drill them out to let you get the lead in faster.
I usually spray a bit of WD40 or similar onto the rod that goes through the middle of the sinkers to allow them to slide off a bit easier.

An engineer gave me a surprising tip many years back. Instead of using a metal rod for running sinkers use a cotton string or shoelace MUST be cotton. Surprisingly this doesn't burn ,as there is no oxygen in the lead once it's poured in. The cotton lace is pliable and can easily be pulled out, unlike steel or wood, and as you say "Heating the mold sufficiently is a must"