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Mahoney86

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
I got my hands on some herters "h" decoy anchor molds and have poured quite a few of them. The process I have been following is warm the mold up on top of the Lee metal melter as I am melting the lead. I then fill the mold 3-4 times to continue getting it hot. I then pour the lead moving the mold around so that the lead gets into each corner etc... I then tap out the anchor and into a bucket of water to cool. I have been melting down old fishing sinkers, some mushroom weights, etc... Days later the anchors are still very soft and bendable. Am I going about pouring these incorrectly?
 
Discussion starter · #3 ·
I don't make them but could you get a metal bucket filled with water and drop them in to cool them off quicker?
Not sure how much quicker I could put them in water. I tap out the weight on my work bench and right into the bucket of water it goes. The only think I can think I am having issues with is size it is a 12oz weight, its a lot of lead to pour and parts of the lead start to harden very quickly as I am moving the lead around the mold
 
Discussion starter · #6 ·
I will try pouring some without putting them in water to cool and see if that helps. Any tips to get a more even pour of the lead? Ive been trying to do almost like a welding technique and keeping the "puddle" moving but it seems to harden up super quick
 
is this not a 2 piece mold where you just pour it in. sounds like you are pouring it too slow. if parts harden before the rest you will have weak spots. also is your lead dirty. skim the bad stuff off the top in melting pot because that will give you weak led.
 
w/o knowing what the mold looks like I'd say there's nothing you can do differently. there's no hardening process for lead. lead is soft so if it's the lead is soft in the shape the mold is making then that's just what you're going to get using lead. days later it's definitely hardened up. maybe you can use lead wheel weights that have some tin in them - i think that's a harder composition but still low enough melting point you can work with it.
 
Its the lead you are using. add some antimony to fill out better.
 
pour them using tire weights melted down.
flux it good so the tin mixes in well . they will be rock hard.
pure lead on a mod like that will be very bendable.

I would use a turkey fryer with a cast iron dutch oven, and a 2 pound ladle to pour

keep water FAR away from any melting lead, it only takes one drop into the lead to cause a very bad accident.

water and lead DONT mix
 
I use a coleman stove and a small cast iron pot to melt my lead. Not sure if the melter you are using can get the temp up as high as the stove for larger pours. I know i can get the grill under the pot cherry red.. I can bend and twist my light H weights but when i pour them heavier they dont bend as easily.
 
If a drop of water gets near your lead you'll have a nice little explosion you'll regret. Lead is soft in nature. I know the decoy weights I've always used have been soft to bend to keep
them attached to the decoy. You might be right on.
 
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