DIY Sinker Molds: Easy Guide To Make Your Own

Making DIY sinker molds lets you create custom fishing weights at home. You can use materials like silicone to shape lead or other metals into sinkers.

Key Takeaways

Ultimate Customization: Making your own molds allows you to cast custom sinker shapes and sizes that are hard to find in stores.
RTV Silicone Advantage: RTV high-temp liquid silicone is a safer, easier alternative to iron molds, offering detailed, flexible molds.
Lead Safety: Melting lead requires extreme care, including wearing heavy welding gloves, safety glasses, and working outdoors.
Brass Wire Loops: Inserting brass wire eyes into the mold before pouring lead creates secure attachment points.

DIY Lead Sinker Casting Workflow Infographic: Silicone mold pouring, high-heat lead melting, and safety precautions for casting weights — DIY Lead Sinker Casting: Curing silicone molds, melting lead, and casting weights safely.

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

Want to save money on fishing gear? Making your own DIY sinker molds is a great idea. It helps you get the exact weights you need for your fishing trips. This is a fun project for many anglers in Canada.

What You Need for DIY Sinker Molds

To make DIY sinker molds, you need a few key things.

Silicone for Molds: This is a popular choice. You can buy RTV (room temperature vulcanizing) silicone from craft stores like Hobby Lobby or online. This silicone often comes with an activator. You mix them together to make the mold.
Lead or Metal: You need lead or another heavy metal for the sinkers. You will melt this metal and pour it into your molds.
Wood or Metal Shapes: To make sinkers in certain shapes, use wooden dowels or metal pieces. Make sure they are very smooth. If wood is not smooth, the grain might show on your sinkers.
Glue: Use glue to hold your shapes or any swivels in place inside the mold box before you pour the silicone.

Quick checklist for your DIY sinker mold project.

How to Make Your DIY Sinker Molds

There are a couple of main ways to create DIY sinker molds.

Using Silicone Molds

Silicone is flexible and good for detailed shapes.

Mix Silicone: Carefully mix the silicone and its activator. Follow the instructions that come with it.
Prepare Shape: Get your wooden dowel or other shape ready. Place it in a small box.
Pour Silicone: Pour the mixed silicone over your shape. Make sure it covers the shape completely.
Let it Cure: Wait for the silicone to dry and harden. This can take several hours.
Ready to Use: Once cured, take out your shape. The silicone mold is now ready for pouring melted lead. You can see how this is done in YouTube tutorials.

Using Wood or Metal Molds

These are simpler but might not last as long as silicone.

Make Mold Shape: Cut your sinker shape into a piece of wood or soft metal.
Smooth It: Sand the inside of the mold so it is very smooth.
Pour Lead: Carefully pour melted lead into the mold.
Cool Down: Let the lead cool and get solid.
Remove Sinker: Take the finished sinker out of the mold.

How to Cast Custom Lead Sinkers

A step-by-step approach to making silicone molds and casting weights.

1. Create the Master
Find or shape a master sinker out of wood, clay, or a store-bought lead weight to use as the template for your mold.
2. Pour the Silicone Mold
Mix high-temperature RTV liquid silicone at a 1:1 ratio. Place the master sinker in a small mold box and pour the silicone slowly over it. Let cure for 24 hours.
3. Slice the Seam and Insert Loops
Cut open the silicone mold box, slice a neat seam to remove the master, and place brass sinker wire eyes into the slots before closing the mold halves.
4. Pour the Molten Lead
Put on heavy welding gloves and safety glasses. Melt clean lead in a pot outdoors, clamp the silicone mold halves tightly, and carefully pour lead into the funnel gate.

Types of Sinker Molds You Can Buy

If you do not want to make your own, you can buy ready-made molds. Stores and online shops sell many kinds.

Bell Sinker Molds
Cannon Ball Sinker Molds
Pyramid Sinker Molds
Split Shot Sinker Molds
Trolling Sinker Molds

These come in many shapes and sizes for different fishing styles. You can see examples of different sinkers in this video.

Mold Material Option	Pros (For Custom Sinkers)	Cons / Details
RTV Silicone Mold	Detailed, flexible, very easy demolding, durable for many pours.	Requires 24 hours to cure before use.
Plaster of Paris Mold	Extremely cheap, fast setting, good for single/few prototypes.	Trapped moisture can cause lead explosions if not fully dry.
Aluminum Mold	Industrial grade, lasts forever, perfectly clean sinker finish.	Expensive to buy, requires CNC or machining to customize.
Wood Sinker Mold	Easy to carve, quick one-off pours.	Burns away after 1-2 pours, less safe.

Where to Find Help for DIY Sinker Molds

If you want to learn more, there are great places to find help.

YouTube Videos: Websites like YouTube have many videos. They show step-by-step how to make DIY sinker molds. You can find helpful tutorials like this one or see live demonstrations.
Lure Making Sites: Companies like Lure Making sell many jig and sinker molds. They are a good place to get ideas or buy molds if you do not want to DIY. They offer over 400 different molds. This shows many anglers want custom gear.
Do-it Molds: Another great resource is Do-it Molds. They have a big catalog. They also offer tips for making your own molds.

My Experience with DIY Sinker Molds

Many fishers find making their own DIY sinker molds very rewarding. It is a good feeling to catch a fish with gear you made yourself. Plus, you can try out different shapes and sizes. Stores might not sell these custom shapes. It takes a bit of practice. But soon, you can make sinkers just right for your fishing spots and save money.