One of the easiest ways to save a little money and feel productive during long winters is to make your own sinkers. Several companies offer molds in various styles and for different kinds of sinkers, lures, and jigs.
On my little table I have a Lee production pot for melting and pouring lead. You can use a pot and hotplate or gas burner to melt your lead. Then you would need a ladle to dip lead from the pot and pour in molds.
I also have 2 egg sinker molds (green wooden handles), side cut pliers, several pull pins (these create holes for fishing line), soldering flux to bring out impurities in molten lead, and an old spoon to remove impurities from the pot.
Before casting lead I usually melt my scrap lead and skim it to remove impurities. Then I pour it into small ingots which will fit easily in my pot. Any impurities will cause voids in castings and with my production pot can clog the spout. Softer lead casts better so if you use lead from wheel weights it must be hotter or it will get voids and wrinkles in castings. If you use a ladle your lead starts cooling as soon as it leaves the melting pot.
The side cut pliers are to cut off sprues. Sprues are excess lead created in the channel where lead flows into your mold.
I remove the castings and let them cool, then cut off sprues with the cutters. After I cut off the sprues I return them to the melting pot.If several people are working together dropping the castings in a large tub of water would cool them quicker.
It doesn't take long to turn out a good supply of sinkers.
Once you learn to cast lead you may find it not only saves money but also gives you more satisfaction when you catch a fish.
