In reply to Post #15
I think the original lead finish was some matt black spray paint.
Some companies then introduced the concept of rig and lead camouflage, match the bottom., sand, gravel, weed and silt. Leads, tubing, clips, tail rubbers all nicely colour coded.
All to boost sales and ensure anglers needed many duplicates to fool these wary fish... possibly
I'm OK with the natural look.
I think the original lead finish was some matt black spray paint.
Some companies then introduced the concept of rig and lead camouflage, match the bottom., sand, gravel, weed and silt. Leads, tubing, clips, tail rubbers all nicely colour coded.
All to boost sales and ensure anglers needed many duplicates to fool these wary fish... possibly
I'm OK with the natural look.
The only black painted leads I ever saw was the 'Zipp' leads, never bought them, only ever found them when I would drag someone's lost rig in. That would have been in the 80's.
In reply to Post #17
Zipps, tri-lobes, richworth attracta leads, and probably lots of others too.
Zipps, tri-lobes, richworth attracta leads, and probably lots of others too.
What finish is on Korda leads ? It looks like paint
In reply to Post #16
I like the look of that.
Most of my waters are silty anyhow, sure I am sure the lead won't even be visible.
Tell me about your vinegar solution please...just vinegar? or diluted? or other bits added?
I bought a shed loads of moulds a couple years back, all the shapes and all the sizes and I've been collecting lead ready to have a good crack at it. Maybe a task for this winter.
I need to buy the leather apron and ladle ... I want to do it properly, I have nightmares thinking about a lead spill
I like the look of that.
Most of my waters are silty anyhow, sure I am sure the lead won't even be visible.
Tell me about your vinegar solution please...just vinegar? or diluted? or other bits added?
I bought a shed loads of moulds a couple years back, all the shapes and all the sizes and I've been collecting lead ready to have a good crack at it. Maybe a task for this winter.
I need to buy the leather apron and ladle ... I want to do it properly, I have nightmares thinking about a lead spill
In reply to Post #20
Safety goggles as well karlos!
Safety goggles as well karlos!
In reply to Post #21
Gauntlets too
Gauntlets too
Not to forget, don't do it anywhere there's a possibility of water getting to the molten lead!
In reply to Post #21
@Jaspertinto: I usually go with the Colin Furze approach and just use my 'safety squints'. I will try to act more grown up and do as you say though. I do have safety specs amongst my tools, and a welders face shield!
@PaulBishop: Gauntlets are a great shout. I'll see if I can retrieve them from the Mrs 'toy drawer' when she's out later
@Goldfish: Yeah, this was why I wanted the apron really. I saw a FB post once of some guy who had been making leads in his shed and moisture had caused an explosion, they was silver lead stuck all around the inside of the shed. Looked terrifying.
Having accidentally poured boiling water from the kettle over my leg once (I was sat in the bivvy holding the cup between my legs) I have felt first hand how much more painful the heat is when it sticks.
In my case, my joggers soaked up the boiling water and by the time I realised what the hot feeling was (sub-1 second but seemed longer!) the joggers had held the boiling water against my leg long enough for a blister ... which came up quick quick after I'd run out the bivvy so that I could stand up to get joggers pulled down!
Another scar to add to my growing collection...this one is just a red mark about 1-2inch on the inside of my leg.
Sure lead would hurt more...and if it explodes it'll be up in the air and over anything/everything
@Jaspertinto: I usually go with the Colin Furze approach and just use my 'safety squints'. I will try to act more grown up and do as you say though. I do have safety specs amongst my tools, and a welders face shield!
@PaulBishop: Gauntlets are a great shout. I'll see if I can retrieve them from the Mrs 'toy drawer' when she's out later
@Goldfish: Yeah, this was why I wanted the apron really. I saw a FB post once of some guy who had been making leads in his shed and moisture had caused an explosion, they was silver lead stuck all around the inside of the shed. Looked terrifying.
Having accidentally poured boiling water from the kettle over my leg once (I was sat in the bivvy holding the cup between my legs) I have felt first hand how much more painful the heat is when it sticks.
In my case, my joggers soaked up the boiling water and by the time I realised what the hot feeling was (sub-1 second but seemed longer!) the joggers had held the boiling water against my leg long enough for a blister ... which came up quick quick after I'd run out the bivvy so that I could stand up to get joggers pulled down!
Another scar to add to my growing collection...this one is just a red mark about 1-2inch on the inside of my leg.
Sure lead would hurt more...and if it explodes it'll be up in the air and over anything/everything
In reply to Post #20
Maybe 25% normal vinegar in water, leave for a couple of days (out of the rain) and leads will go light grey.
Then drain and keep the solution for next time, and now leave the leads out doors in rain water for a few more days.
Now leave them outdoors but allow them to dry off and they will soon go a nice dark grey.
Lead making tips...
Make sure everything is bone dry, pre-heat the moulds to remove and condensation and get up to temperature. Use a ply board as base to work on, a cheapo metal ladle that's shaped to a pouring lip works great to ladle molten lead from the pan.
Never lift the pan with molten lead in it...
Maybe 25% normal vinegar in water, leave for a couple of days (out of the rain) and leads will go light grey.
Then drain and keep the solution for next time, and now leave the leads out doors in rain water for a few more days.
Now leave them outdoors but allow them to dry off and they will soon go a nice dark grey.
Lead making tips...
Make sure everything is bone dry, pre-heat the moulds to remove and condensation and get up to temperature. Use a ply board as base to work on, a cheapo metal ladle that's shaped to a pouring lip works great to ladle molten lead from the pan.
Never lift the pan with molten lead in it...
In reply to Post #25
Lovely, thanks
Lovely, thanks
In reply to Post #24
Stop pretending you want the apron for this type of lead work
Stop pretending you want the apron for this type of lead work
In reply to Post #24
Don't forget signage to warn others of the danger
Don't forget signage to warn others of the danger
I used to make and sell leads a lot of the reason for the coating splitting is the coating not being double applied.
I found the best application is to heat the lead with a blow lamp for a couple of seconds flashing the lamp on all sides once this step has been done spoon the powder over the lead until fully covered if the lead ain't hot enough it will not stick. Flash the lamp over until the powder now shines and is molten spoon the second layer on then repeat. I found the best finish is to hang the coated leads in cold water changing the water after 30 leads. A little trick if you want to take the shine off coated leads put them in the cold water for a couple of seconds once the plastic is hard but still warm wipe the lead in tea towel this will dull the coating off.
Good point below and I was also told this during my time making leads that the hardest ones to find whilst diving was uncoated.
For colouring off leads try old tea bags in a pot of water with the leads in to speed up the process.
Pellet shack was the lead company I used to run
I found the best application is to heat the lead with a blow lamp for a couple of seconds flashing the lamp on all sides once this step has been done spoon the powder over the lead until fully covered if the lead ain't hot enough it will not stick. Flash the lamp over until the powder now shines and is molten spoon the second layer on then repeat. I found the best finish is to hang the coated leads in cold water changing the water after 30 leads. A little trick if you want to take the shine off coated leads put them in the cold water for a couple of seconds once the plastic is hard but still warm wipe the lead in tea towel this will dull the coating off.
Good point below and I was also told this during my time making leads that the hardest ones to find whilst diving was uncoated.
For colouring off leads try old tea bags in a pot of water with the leads in to speed up the process.
Pellet shack was the lead company I used to run