Head insert Lead Substitue

[kammieland]

I am making resin trolling heads, and I am looking for a lead substitute.

Somthing that is moldable, heavy, doesnt need to be melted over high heat and non toxic.

I thought of using concrete but someone on another forum said that it would become lighter underwater.

any thoughts or suggestions? Or do I absolutely have to use lead.

Thanks

Alden

[clt_capt]

While brass doesn't have the specific gravity of lead, it is certainly less hazardous than lead. It has worked well for me.

You can purchase brass rod - either round bar or flat bar and simply drill it for your tube.

Brass is more expensive than lead, but works well and is easy to machine with the same lathe that you would turn heads on...

[El Capo]

While brass doesn't have the specific gravity of lead, it is certainly less hazardous than lead. It has worked well for me.

You can purchase brass rod - either round bar or flat bar and simply drill it for your tube.

Brass is more expensive than lead, but works well and is easy to machine with the same lathe that you would turn heads on...

Same here.I've tried plated metal as well but did not like the results.(electrolysis).Brass is a great substitute for lead.

[Jason @ Melton Tackle]

I'm seeing some companies use tungsten for weights, but don't think I've seen them use for trolling lure inserts.

[Patudo]

One way to get around messing with molten lead is to make a mould of an insert, like the resin "biscuit" in Joe Yee heads, and fill it wholly or partially with shotgun shot.

[HOLWACHAGOT]

One way to get around messing with molten lead is to make a mould of an insert, like the resin "biscuit" in Joe Yee heads, and fill it wholly or partially with shotgun shot.

Great solution Patudo. Perhaps a way to get some interesting sound from a lure head as well. Very interesting.
Holwachagot

[Fishing Hawaii]

Patudo's suggestion is illustrated on page 67 of Fishing Hawaii Style Volume I (copyright 1983) as part of the lure-making section. The books have been difficult to get but I still have about a dozen in stock. Check with FishingHawaiiOffshore.com for more information.

Jim Rizzuto

[clt_capt]

Patudo's suggestion is illustrated on page 67 of Fishing Hawaii Style Volume I (copyright 1983) as part of the lure-making section. The books have been difficult to get but I still have about a dozen in stock. Check with FishingHawaiiOffshore.com for more information.

Jim Rizzuto

Jim,
I was able to order copies of all 3 (FH Vol 1 - 3) last year on Amazon...

I have really enjoyed reading them.

Fred

[Fishing Hawaii]

Fred:

I'm glad you found the books and are enjoying them. As of today, Amazon lists Volume I and Volume III as out of print. They have several used copies in a variety of conditions. Volume III has just been reprinted and is making its way slowly back through the food chain. I have a small stock of I and II and am expecting to have Volume III on hand soon.

Jim Rizzuto

[Patudo]

The insert described in FHS #1 (great book by the way, well worth the trouble to acquire) is fish-head shaped. What I had in mind was something along the lines of the rectangular cross-sectioned "biscuit" that you see in Joe Yee and some other commercial lures (Big T, Williamson), that the shotgun shot could be laid along the bottom edge of the insert to create a keel. You'd probably need to mould a Tic Tac box or something similar.

There are a few other ways to achieve a weighted insert but that is not a bad way to go, as you can measure the weight of lead precisely. Plus, you also end up with an insert mould, which is useful in itself.