Looking for advice on lead pouring

[jl3140]

So I'm currently thinking about getting into the lead pouring side of lures in addition to plastics, however the cost of everything is what is holding me back at this time. I am wondering what equipment do I need to get (cheaper equipment that works well is best for now). I'm also wondering where I can get lead at that is going to be cheaper and how can I tell if the lead is good? Any other advice is welcomed too 

Josh

[MO QWACK]

Softer is  more pure it should bent very easy, no wheel weights!!!!! Hospitals (x ray)or old plumbers should have some.
I bought a old cast iron pot that I melt and add wax to "clean" all my lead before I add it to the lee pot   A heavy weight spoon and a torch is all you need. That's temporary supply but will get you started. Invest in a lee pot trust me its worth !

[smalljaw]

Plumbers lead, x-ray lead, along with a bunch of others, if you don't have a supply you can go to ebay, there is a seller there that you buy 10lbs for 20 bucks with the shipping, you get about 12 lbs total but what makes it good is the lead is clean, when I drop the ingots in my pot I get next to no slag or dross. The slag is the impurities that float to the top of the pot and need to be skimmed off. I buy it off the same seller, once a year as I have a free source but what I use the super clean lead for is to mix with wheel weight lead, because I know this is pure soft lead I can mix with wheel weights to make a harder alloy for my football jigs and other types of jigs that will be pounding rocks, it just makes them a little more durable and it isn't required, it is something to do after you have it down and poured for a few years.

[jl3140]

Okay thanks for the information guys.

Mo, with that old cast iron pot, what do you use to heat that up?

Also what kind of thermometer do you guys recommend?

[CrabbyBass]

When we first started pouring lead, we were using a propane torch and a cast iron pot.  My buddy's father in law is a retired plumber, so he had some lead.  I have since bought a hot pot and use that.  It works great.  We also get our lead from a plumbing supply store.  I think we pay $20 for 15 lbs.  It is pretty much pure lead.  As far as a thermometer, you don't need one.  You pour the lead when it is all melted.  I hope this helps.