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homemade 'cannonball' mold

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Now it doesn't have to be in the shape of a cannonball since they tend to occilate. I would like a thinner shape. I have 2 fish shape weights to use off the riggers, but would like to make some spares. Molds are priced out of this world. I have the lead and a hotpot. Just need some ideas for a thinner shape. Wood has burned for me in the past, just making thin weights with a screw eye in the top. I would like to make two, with fins off the back. I would like them to be around 9 lbs. Would a coffee can stand up to the heat??? Pack sand around it. I would like to have a pancake shape, thinner to cut thru the water easier. Any ideas would be appreciated. Thanks. da Finn

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Thanks. Hadn't thought of that one. I have a Lee's hotpot with a spigot (?) so the mold has to be shallow. Not much room to put a mold under there. Pie pans would have to lay on the side. Hole would have to be drilled for the lead to go thru. Somewhere else a man said he poured one 8 inches across. Coffee cans, at least the one i have, is 6 inches. I have melted all the extra lead I have. Almost filled the hotpot up. Dont know how many pounds that equals. Will try tonight. Thanks again!

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Have seen several sites have the number, but they all vary somewhat, but the melting point of "pure" lead is between 600-630 degrees. I have my RCBS pot set at 800-850. Don't know if thats what the lead really is, but that's where it's set lol.

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My thoughts are to cook the plaster mold in the oven for 20 mins before use, to eliminate any moisture. Keeping the mold in an airing cupboard or on a radiator when not in use would probably do the trick. This subject has been through my mind a lot recently, as I plan to mold the lead onto the hangar wire, for consistancy of manufacture.

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I will try to form the plaster around a fish shape cannonball I own now. I dont remember when I tried this before with a lure. If I fill a container with plaster, and put the weight half way in, I would have to support the weight somehow. Otherwise it would settle. Do I coat the weight with something, a release agent?? Also. I have an old plaster mold that I am not going to use anymore. Can I break it up and use it so I wont have to mix up as much of the new plaster?? Should I bury the mold in sand when I am ready to pour the hot lead??? Thanks again, da Finn.

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A method that I have been playing with recently, is to cut the shape out of a balsa sheet (type of wood not important). I then jam the pattern into the hole half way. The cutout does not need to be a perfect fit, just tight in two or three places.

This then forms the bottom of the mold box. When the POP is poured, with a little agitation, the bubbles rise away from the pattern, leaving a perfect mold, no bubble craters and a flat surface. There is a little flash where the pattern did not fit the balsa perfectly, but once the mold has been fully dried, this sands off very easily, leaving good edges to the mold.

Is anyone else doing similar? If not, I think it is worth an experiment. Another advantage is that you can control precicely, how much of the pattern is molded.

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build the Master in wood build mold around it pour POP around it up to ½ of the downrigger weight your eyelets should mark center.I´d suggest you to build master similar to an splittingaxe &add a sheet of SS in the tail 3x5" atleast . With this you´ll get cutting edge & a fin for stability

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