Instructions

• 1). Choose and set up an appropriate work area. You need a well-ventilated area such as a garage with an open door, because the fumes produced by melting lead are toxic. Keep other people and pets out of the area while you are working. Also keep the area free of clutter (you don't want to trip over something with a ladle of hot lead in your hand).
  
  
• 2). Put on safety equipment (gloves, mask, goggles).
  
  
• 3). Place lead in the melting pot and turn heat up to high (lead melts at 612 degrees). Once the lead has melted, turn the heat down slightly. The lead should be hot enough to stay free-flowing, but it should not be bubbling.
  
  
• 4). Use the cooking spoon to remove any impurities. Lead is heavy, so any impurities will float to the surface. Carefully remove these and put them in the empty can to cool off.
  
  
• 5). Position the mold near the melting pot, and place the ladle in the pot to let it heat up a bit before pouring. Use the ladle to carefully pour lead into the mold. Fill each cavity until the lead is slightly overflowing. Try to keep the lead temperature and pour rate as constant as possible to prevent rolls or cracks in the sinkers.
  
  
• 6). Allow the lead to cool inside the mold for 5 to 10 minutes. Then open the mold and remove the sinkers. They will be solid but still very hot. Once they are cool enough to handle, use the wire cutters to remove the excess "bulge" created from the overflow. These pieces, along with any sinkers that did not come out right, can be melted down again.