wheres the best place to get lead for moulds?

Instead of buying moulds just fill a bucket with sand, pack it down and stick your thumb into it, wiggle it around and you should get between 4-8 ounces depending how big you make it!
My philosophy is it doesn't need to be pretty just needs to sink.

Wouldn't the sand have to be at least damp to keep a hole in it ? Even if not dangerous doesn't this method give a very abrasive finish which can cut through line ?
I am not trying to find fault with your recommendation . Have just started making my own leads and not found it as easy as I had imagined ...... eg : using a gas ring in the open air is only fine so long as there is absolutely no draft (!) . Commercial moulds have to be hot when you pour in the lead or it solidifies before it fills the chamber . Old lead is full of crap which floats on the molten stuff and has to be scooped off before you can pour . I am sure all of my comments will have been made elsewhere . .... I should be reading up on those links instead of typing this !
Good luck

Ya but itd be hard to have dry sand outside in this country coming into winter? it's easy to use Emory cloth to get a finer finish if you prefer but I've never had any trouble with leads like these.
I also assumed there'd be a general understanding with the difficulty of working with molten metal and the safety precautions needed when working with lead..
1. You obviously need some form of breathing mask.
2. Welding apron ang gloves to prevent spatter burns.
3. Safety googles.
4. A full face guard if possible.
5. Blacksmiths ladle.
6. Read as much information as possible about what your attempting BEFORE trying to make your leads.

This must taken seriously because if you mistreat the circumstances you will end up with serums injury!

I tried doing it before.. it is alot of hassle unless you have the right setup of course..
I used the aul camping cooker... and as a previous poster said, you would need no wind.
And after all that the weights were'nt the best.. i dont think the lead was hot enough.

Been there,done that,a lot of hassle,buying them could work out cheaper on u unless u plan on selling a few I'd say,it's not worth the dangers

Been there,done that,a lot of hassle,buying them could work out cheaper on u unless u plan on selling a few I'd say,it's not worth the dangers

For rough ground when I know I'm not going to ge the weight back I'd usually use old spark plugs,as cheap a job as ur going to get

its easily done you just have to be careful welders gloves are essential and dont use any really old tatty lead that may contain water as will spit and bubble,i have made well over 200 at this stage over the years all from 3,4,5,6oz along with 5oz grips but if you have to go out and buy your lead your wasting your time if your getting it free its worth making them,my uncle is a roofer is the only reason i bothered with this and he keeps all the off cuts etc

any roofers will sort you out with scrap or other anglers may have some spare and you can throw them some made weigths wen ther done

Thanks for all the replies. I will give it a go at some stage but it looks like might take bit more planning than i originally thought.

I think even with all the hassle, if its done right, and safe then a yeild of 100 - 200 weights could be well worth it. In the mean time i'll stick to spark plugs and clean sand.

try any scrap yard!!