DIY Mini Leads.

[JOHN1]

Carrying on from my DIY lead head posts i put the thinking hat on to make some mini leads to suit the smaller rods including the UL Rockfish rod
So with all this bad weather i got myself hidden in the shed for a while and made a nice little mould for making lighter leads roughly weighing about 1.5oz to about .5 of an oz at a guess. Im very happy with the results i can cast 4 leads before i reset the mould i had 60 mini leads made in a very short space of time I have been trying them out over the last week from the Boat beleive it or not and the shore and they are working a treat i had been using other various other types and ball leads that were getting stuck too easy these ones seem to pull out of the snags much easier

[lucky13]

nice looking batch there john,is that copper your using for the eyes?
they look sweet !

[JOHN1]

yes copper wire it's easier to work with compared to stainless or galvo

[MAC]

Looks good john, What did you use for the mould?

[JOHN1]

Looks good john, What did you use for the mould?

its made of 100% metal Kev

[lucky13]

yes copper wire it's easier to work with compared to stainless or galvo

i am fan of the stainless welding rods and galvanise meself,i have thought about copper tho i always thought it would perish in salt water fairly quick-ish so i never tried,i could just picture the bronze colour going green and i was sold to stainless and galvanise.will give it a go for my grippers the next batch of grip-weights i make,t'would give way much easier on rough ground for sure...i use the adjusti-mould for 'em,the type that the grips dont fold away so t'would be defo one to try!!

[JOHN1]

The copper is soft and it does oxidise/tarnish over time its grand for making lead loops but dont think it would do for any sort of long grip wires ok for short stubby ones. the other problem with the loops is when reeling in over shingle they get a fair bit of a hammering dented and squashed at times i will only use it for small leads and boat leads and not for any beach leads over 3oz or so

[lucky13]

The copper is soft and it does oxidise/tarnish over time its grand for making lead loops but dont think it would do for any sort of long grip wires ok for short stubby ones. the other problem with the loops is when reeling in over shingle they get a fair bit of a hammering dented and squashed at times i will only use it for small leads and boat leads and not for any beach leads over 3oz or so

i hear ya barking lad,the grippers would only be around 2 inches long and the softer the better for the rougher ground fishing,tis what i was thinking meself john...nice bunch of weights tho lad...i'd say if they were heavier and you were casting them the snap swivel would nearly cut through the copper lead loop...perfect for the boat...