Bellyweight mold

[Juice780]

Those of you that have made your own mold to pour belly weights post some pictures. I want to make one of my own and want to get some ideas. I think I would rather make one out of wood since it would be easier. 

[Hillbilly voodoo]

When I did this I just used POP and used the end of my drill bit for size. Just pushed it in at slightly different depths. The I figured out molding belly weights was too much work so I just buy coils of lead and cut the length according to the weight I need. Much faster and you don’t need a bunch of molds. Just keep notes on the length you cut 

 

 

[Vodkaman]

I don't have any pics, but it is an easy process with wood.

1 - Two slabs of wood. Harder will produce more pours.
2 - Drill two holes sideways and insert location dowels.
3 - Drill pour holes down the crack between the blocks, the diameter of the ballast.

The pour holes should have about 1/2" of wood between.

Dave

[Big Epp]

You guys figure Oak would work well for this?

[Vodkaman]

Oak will work. I am just saying that a close grained dense wood will allow more pours. Once the pour hole is badly charred, you just drill more holes. When one edge is full, flip the blocks and drill the bottom crack.

Dave

[Hillbilly voodoo]

If you really want to mold your belly weights go for it. But it’s way easier, faster, safer, and less equipment if you have access to coils of lead. A one pound coil like in the pic is what I am talking about 

Each to there own but unless you need something fancy I would not be molding belly weights 

 

[Vodkaman]

@Hillbilly voodoo I agree. If I found coil lead, I would never pour lead again. But here in Bandung, I have only found lead sheet.

Dave

[Hillbilly voodoo]

1 minute ago, Vodkaman said:

@Hillbilly voodoo I agree. If I found coil lead, I would never pour lead again. But here in Bandung, I have only found lead sheet.

Dave

Can fully understand working with what you have available been there many times with other materials 

[Big Epp]

@Hillbilly voodoo Where do you get a coil of lead such as that?

Just googled it...https://www.outdoorproshop.com/Bullet-Weights-1lb-Lead-Coil-p/bullet-weights-lead-coil.htm

Any other ideas?

Edited February 28, 2020 by Big Epp

[Hillbilly voodoo]

Only other options I have for you is design your lure so you don’t need a ballast weight at all. I like doing this when possible 

Or If you are working with resin and micro balloons creat recipes and pour layers so you don’t need lead 

outside of that I am all out of tricks 

[Big Epp]

Makes sense.  Have you had much success making crankbaits that don't need lead?  I'm sort of on a crank bait kick at the moment, and the first one without lead just flipped over and planed on the surface.  

The coil looks like a great way to go though, especially without a lead pot.

[Hillbilly voodoo]

Yup this cedar crankbait has no added weight. None of my resin baits have lead. I have built lots of hardballs that don’t need a ballast.

 

[mark poulson]

I use lead wire for my ballast in my PVC swimbaits, either 1/4" solid for bigger baits, or 3/16" solid for thinner baits.

I use premade belly weights with hook hangers from Lurepartsonline for most of my cranks.  They are so convenient, and work really well.  https://www.lurepartsonline.com/Plug-Belly-Weight-Inserts

[DGagner]

I just pour them in the bait but it brings to mind when I was a kid. We used to make fishing weights by pouring lead into the groove of a tongue and groove boad, then cut them up.

[Hillbilly voodoo]

39 minutes ago, DGagner said:

I just pour them in the bait but it brings to mind when I was a kid. We used to make fishing weights by pouring lead into the groove of a tongue and groove boad, then cut them up.

when I was a kid I would make 15-20 oz weights for sturgeon fishing by making molds in a bin of sand and heavy swivels for a tie point 

tons of options if you want to pour weights. Silicon, POP, sand, wood, bondo, and there is also some putty products that will work. If I was going to make belly weights again I would probably go silicone. I bet if someone posted this in the wire bait forum the guys who work with lead lures probably have a trick or two

 

[Vodkaman]

Bondo works, but it does soften with heat. Not a big deal, but if you are trying to pour a years worth in one session, then several molds would be a good idea.

PoP works, but make sure you have the mold dried out to the maximum. PoP is not a great idea as heat converts the cured PoP back to the original powder, so you will likely only get a few pours.

Dave

[Juice780]

On 2/28/2020 at 10:40 PM, mark poulson said:

I use lead wire for my ballast in my PVC swimbaits, either 1/4" solid for bigger baits, or 3/16" solid for thinner baits.

I use premade belly weights with hook hangers from Lurepartsonline for most of my cranks.  They are so convenient, and work really well.  https://www.lurepartsonline.com/Plug-Belly-Weight-Inserts

I’ve used those but they are too expensive for doing a lot of baits. I think I’m going to buy a do it drop shot mold and modify it then cut the weights to size. 

[mark poulson]

2 hours ago, Juice780 said:

I’ve used those but they are too expensive for doing a lot of baits. I think I’m going to buy a do it drop shot mold and modify it then cut the weights to size. 

I wonder if you can cast a really stout crane swivel with that mold, so you can have a swiveled hook hanger.

[RayburnGuy]

There are quite a few videos on YouTube that show how to make molds for pouring belly weights for lures.They can be made out of hardwood or metal. Years ago I just clamped 2 pieces of angle iron back to back and drilled the hole where the faces of the angle iron fitted together.Easy as pie.

Ben

[barrybait]

I use LPO belly weights in 3, 4, and 5 grams.  But I also use Gremlin barrel sinkers is 1/8 oz and I can twist my wire hook hangers and put it thru the center of the barrel sinker.  It works out to be about 3-1/2 grams.  After that, for additional weight, I borrowed a drop shot mold and poured a bunch of the largest sizes without using the line swivel.  Then I took a hunk of thick steel and drilled  a lind of holes in it with each hole getting deeper.  Holes are slip fit for the drop shot weights.  I slip the drop shot weights in the hole I want and use a wood chisel to cut it to length just sliding the chisel flat with the surface of  the steel and give it a tap.

[Killntime]

this tutorial is on this site. I had to google it  

I made several out of corian scraps I had laying around. Still use them today

[Mr Jaws]

Heres a link at member tutorial to make belly weights. 

[seakarp]

On 2/28/2020 at 2:46 PM, Vodkaman said:

I agree. If I found coil lead, I would never pour lead again. But here in Bandung, I have only found lead sheet.

You could probably, measure, cut it with a snipper and pound it a bit with a hammer if needed.

Maybe roll it. Something along those lines.