Use the special diamond drill bits designed to drill stones or jewellery then glue a swivel inside the hole with araldite.
In reply to Post #14
Did you not watch the video I'm my post 1?
Full step by step guide to make them on under 5mins using a drill and swivels 👍
Did you not watch the video I'm my post 1?
Full step by step guide to make them on under 5mins using a drill and swivels 👍
In reply to Post #17
He makes it look very simple. Good luck.
He makes it look very simple. Good luck.
In reply to Post #17
The stone he used must have been very soft if he was able to drill it with an ordinary masonry drill.
I don't know for certain but I would imagine that type of stone is lighter than others?
Anyway, I understand the satisfaction of creating your own stuff so good luck with this
The stone he used must have been very soft if he was able to drill it with an ordinary masonry drill.
I don't know for certain but I would imagine that type of stone is lighter than others?
Anyway, I understand the satisfaction of creating your own stuff so good luck with this
I've been lead free for over a year now & it was really easy to make the transition.
Lead is a fvcking terrible substance & coated or not, the chance of leaving them in the lake doesn't sit well with me any more. There is a recent paper that details how it it detrimental to carp & how it poisons them. Fishing any system that allows / encourages a lead to fall off is lead littering.
Using lead for fishing is relatively new in history & we spent thousands of years using stones before Walker et al created the arsely bomb. It is only used for convenience - nothing else.
I've used Stonez, home made stones & the elastic band method suggested below - they all work. I've had no issues, no drop off in catch rates & no problems.
Feeling for a drop is slightly different but you get used to it.
Making your own is easy but a little noisy. A decent depth hole & using an epoxy resin to glue the swivel is all you need. I have a friend makes mine for me & he says it's a breeze - I make his pop ups & he does my weights. I haven't drilled them myself but seem to remember him saying he uses a diamond tip which is good for about 50 or so - someone saying not to use hammer drills as the stones tend to shatter.
I have another friend who has 3d printed moulds & creates them from cement & calls them Mortar bombs (he has some YouTube vids on them). They are bigger than stones but are slightly porous & he soaks them in particle juice / glug for added attraction.
Lead is a fvcking terrible substance & coated or not, the chance of leaving them in the lake doesn't sit well with me any more. There is a recent paper that details how it it detrimental to carp & how it poisons them. Fishing any system that allows / encourages a lead to fall off is lead littering.
Using lead for fishing is relatively new in history & we spent thousands of years using stones before Walker et al created the arsely bomb. It is only used for convenience - nothing else.
I've used Stonez, home made stones & the elastic band method suggested below - they all work. I've had no issues, no drop off in catch rates & no problems.
Feeling for a drop is slightly different but you get used to it.
Making your own is easy but a little noisy. A decent depth hole & using an epoxy resin to glue the swivel is all you need. I have a friend makes mine for me & he says it's a breeze - I make his pop ups & he does my weights. I haven't drilled them myself but seem to remember him saying he uses a diamond tip which is good for about 50 or so - someone saying not to use hammer drills as the stones tend to shatter.
I have another friend who has 3d printed moulds & creates them from cement & calls them Mortar bombs (he has some YouTube vids on them). They are bigger than stones but are slightly porous & he soaks them in particle juice / glug for added attraction.
In reply to Post #15
This works exactly as you've said. A couple of thick black military bands doubled up around a rock or stone from the margins works really well & drops off when it gets snagged. PVA bag swivels work as they have a bigger eye to get the bands through. I just loop them & pull them down tight. Too tight & the rubber can split. I cast normally with them but can see issues with really big chucks.
I found that I actually lost less tackle as it was the lead that got snagged under rocks & boulders which would result in the line breaking. With bands, they break first. The other benefit is that you can choose the best size for the distance your fishing.
If casting you need to make sure the bands are tight as the stone will pop out. With a bit of practice (they're free so you can try all sorts) you'll soon get used to it - using 2 band means you can wrap the stone at 90 degrees - one securing front to back & one left to right (think of ribbon on a parcel).
This works exactly as you've said. A couple of thick black military bands doubled up around a rock or stone from the margins works really well & drops off when it gets snagged. PVA bag swivels work as they have a bigger eye to get the bands through. I just loop them & pull them down tight. Too tight & the rubber can split. I cast normally with them but can see issues with really big chucks.
I found that I actually lost less tackle as it was the lead that got snagged under rocks & boulders which would result in the line breaking. With bands, they break first. The other benefit is that you can choose the best size for the distance your fishing.
If casting you need to make sure the bands are tight as the stone will pop out. With a bit of practice (they're free so you can try all sorts) you'll soon get used to it - using 2 band means you can wrap the stone at 90 degrees - one securing front to back & one left to right (think of ribbon on a parcel).
In reply to Post #21
Cheers Jamie!
I like the idea of them being porous and soaking in attractants 😁
Did you glue the swivel directly into the stone? Or loop it on some metal like shown in the video?
TIA 😁
Cheers Jamie!
I like the idea of them being porous and soaking in attractants 😁
Did you glue the swivel directly into the stone? Or loop it on some metal like shown in the video?
TIA 😁
In reply to Post #20
You might like these - https://www.econcretes.eu/product-info/
Nutrabaits / Vortex baits sell them - 2.6 to 6.7oz sizes . . .
You might like these - https://www.econcretes.eu/product-info/
Nutrabaits / Vortex baits sell them - 2.6 to 6.7oz sizes . . .
In reply to Post #23
Nutrabaits are doing a 20% off this weekend, we'll timed
Nutrabaits are doing a 20% off this weekend, we'll timed
In reply to Post #22
for the stone weights he just glues the swivel straight in - he uses the cheapest he can find.
I think the mortar bombs use loops.
for the stone weights he just glues the swivel straight in - he uses the cheapest he can find.
I think the mortar bombs use loops.
In reply to Post #23
I like the look of those 👍
I like the look of those 👍
In reply to Post #26
I can't see them being very heavy for their size.
Should be easy to make yourself though
I can't see them being very heavy for their size.
Should be easy to make yourself though
In reply to Post #27
Econcretes are lead-free, but still have a minimum density of 4.4 g/cm3.
The density of lead is 11.34 grams per cubic centimeter (g/cm3)
Econcretes are lead-free, but still have a minimum density of 4.4 g/cm3.
The density of lead is 11.34 grams per cubic centimeter (g/cm3)
Decathlon do lead free inlines - I have added loops to them so they work as swivel leads.
Evolve Tackle are doing lead free bombs too. Look like reasonable prices & the sizes seem to be similar to lead weights.
They are both metal though but obviously not as toxic as lead.
Evolve Tackle are doing lead free bombs too. Look like reasonable prices & the sizes seem to be similar to lead weights.
They are both metal though but obviously not as toxic as lead.
In reply to Post #29
Is it that bad?
Of all the things that end up in our water supplies the water pipe feeding my home and probably millions of others are made of lead and we still drink the water.
In reply to Post #28
Those lead free alternatives must be enormous!
Is it that bad?
Of all the things that end up in our water supplies the water pipe feeding my home and probably millions of others are made of lead and we still drink the water.
In reply to Post #28
Those lead free alternatives must be enormous!