mj1angier
Four Pointer
Well,I needed a cheap anchor to use in creeks. I did not want anything too big and I felt that the grapple or plow types would get hung up a lot. So, I decided to use skills I picked up in another hobby ( bullet casting) and use it to make my own. I could not find a ton of info but enough to get me head down the right path.
I wanted a flat sided anchor. I was shooting for something like a pyramid fishing weight, just larger. I thought I found the perfect mold at the Dollar Store- a metal plant holder. Only on closer look it was not water tight. So I settled for this:
Full size look:
The sides are kind of thin to hold the full weight with out bowing out, so I brace them with some lumber pushed up to them.
Lets get cooking!!
My melting set up is an old turkey fryer burner and a cheap Chinese dutch oven. NEVER use this pot to cook in after using it to melt lead. I am not going to get into all the safety stuff about lead and casting. There are a ton of sights that can help with that.
This is hot stuff- 700 degree or so. It is a mix of wheel weight that have been cleaned ( zink and metal will float to the top and get skimmed off) and pewter to give it a bit more hardness.
This is a heavy pot- about 15 lbs and it is hot!! Pour into the mold slowly so there is no splater. Wear heavy gloves, long sleeve and pour behind a splatter shield if you can. After pouring, before the lead starts to set, put a SS eye bolt in the middle.
You need to hold it in place till the lead cools enough to stay in place. If you don't the bolt will float to the top.
When the lead is cool enough to hold the bolt, I drop the whole thing in a pan of water- BE CAREFUL- it will steam and can burn you bad!! But the cold bath will harden the lead some.
When it is cool, just pull off the mold.
The finale step will be to give it a coat of Plast- Dip
I wanted a flat sided anchor. I was shooting for something like a pyramid fishing weight, just larger. I thought I found the perfect mold at the Dollar Store- a metal plant holder. Only on closer look it was not water tight. So I settled for this:
Full size look:
The sides are kind of thin to hold the full weight with out bowing out, so I brace them with some lumber pushed up to them.
Lets get cooking!!
My melting set up is an old turkey fryer burner and a cheap Chinese dutch oven. NEVER use this pot to cook in after using it to melt lead. I am not going to get into all the safety stuff about lead and casting. There are a ton of sights that can help with that.
This is hot stuff- 700 degree or so. It is a mix of wheel weight that have been cleaned ( zink and metal will float to the top and get skimmed off) and pewter to give it a bit more hardness.
This is a heavy pot- about 15 lbs and it is hot!! Pour into the mold slowly so there is no splater. Wear heavy gloves, long sleeve and pour behind a splatter shield if you can. After pouring, before the lead starts to set, put a SS eye bolt in the middle.
You need to hold it in place till the lead cools enough to stay in place. If you don't the bolt will float to the top.
When the lead is cool enough to hold the bolt, I drop the whole thing in a pan of water- BE CAREFUL- it will steam and can burn you bad!! But the cold bath will harden the lead some.
When it is cool, just pull off the mold.
The finale step will be to give it a coat of Plast- Dip