Storms Vs Pyramids

[surfchunker]

getting ready to buy some molds and pour my own sinkers

what are the pros and cons of each .....

which cast better and hold better .........

Thanks

edit and how about frog tongue

[Sea2aeS]

IMO frog tongues hold the best, then pyramids, then storms.

[Rockfish1]

frog tongues are my favorite, then storms, 3 sided pyramids and then the 4 sided pyramids...

[Jesse Lockowitz]

i like 4 side pyramids, frog on occasion(if i dont have any more pyramids..


i just have always had the 4 side pyramids fly awesome, hold good too.

not a big fan of the storms. frogs do hold good too.



Jesse

[ffemtreed]

I like frog tongues as well. They seem to hold good and when you are reeling in they seem to slide right back in rather than digging in again.

They also cast pretty well!

My next choice is storm sinkers because they hold a bit better than the pyramids and you can use a tad bit less weight.

97% of the time when surf fishing I will be using frogs, 6oz and greater. When I am on a pier 2 3 or 4 oz storms will be on my line.

[saltandsand]

Haven't used the frog tongue, IMO they appear very similar to pyramids. Speaking of surf fishing only, I use huricanne weights almost all the time and have held bottom in some very nasty weather. For other fishing I'll use different weights.

BTW: You can save some money by making your own molds. Use a box with sand, dampen the sand, push your weight into the sand and remove, alas you have a depresssion to make your own weight. Sure, they aren't as smooth and shiney as when from a mold but they work just as good and at very little cost. There are other ways to make molds.

[ffemtreed]

I have used a gob on Bondo (autobody stuff) to make pyramids molds.

With storm sinker you gotta be careful you can pull the lead back out because of the ball on the bottom or grooves in the side. You almost always need a 2 part mold for those.

I broke down and bought a Shawn Collins for my Frog Tounges and spent 30 bucks on a mold to make the storms.

[saltandsand]

Bend your copper wire into a circle or Z and sit it inside the cavity before filling, the bends hold it inside the lead and ensure that it doesn't slip out when casting. Over fill the cavity and use a rasp to shave off lead to make the ball on the end of the storm sinker. I like this over pouring twice, I tried pouring twice and had problem with getting the lead to seat up where the two pours meet. I suppose either way works.... whatever is easiest for you.

[ffemtreed]

you don't pour twice with a 2 part mold. Its only one pour. The difference is the mold comes apart down the middle so you can take the sinker out. Almost ALL store bought molds are 2 part molds on a hinge.

[jcreamer]

frog tongues are my favorite, then storms, 3 sided pyramids and then the 4 sided pyramids...

Me too. I have molds for all four and just as soon as it gets a little warmer I will be pouring.
Neighbor gave me three sheets 4 feet by 7 feet of lead sheeting and it is 1/8 inch thick. plan to see how it will work out.

JC

[surfchunker]

bought a used palmer hot pot today ...... so now to find a mold ....... found a place in Va that sells one for Pyramid in 2-3-4-5-6-8-10-12 oz. all in one mold .... and the same in storm too .. they have one in Frog tongue in 4-5-6-8 oz's ...... haven't heard back for a price yet ....

jcreamer ...... sounds like you have a lifetime supply of lead ... still have to find me some ... are you going to the fling ?

Thanks for your replies

[saltandsand]

you don't pour twice with a 2 part mold. Its only one pour. The difference is the mold comes apart down the middle so you can take the sinker out. Almost ALL store bought molds are 2 part molds on a hinge.


When using the box of sand this is not needed, let it cool and dig it out. A mold would be nice, I guess one day when i get around to getting one...until then, sand and an existing weight is all I need.

[ffemtreed]

When using the box of sand this is not needed, let it cool and dig it out. A mold would be nice, I guess one day when i get around to getting one...until then, sand and an existing weight is all I need.

Yeah but you need to reform that sand for every pour. You only get 1 shot doing it that way.

Which isn't that bad if you have a big box and can pour like 10 or 20 sinkers at a time.

[surfchunker]

you also have to play around with the eyes that way too ..........

Potato's suspose to work also ....

I'll stick with a mold .......

[ffemtreed]

you also have to play around with the eyes that way too ..........

Potato's suspose to work also ....

I'll stick with a mold .......

Yep, me too! I will gladly spend that $30 dollars for a mold not to have to deal with all that stuff.

Plus the sinkers come out nice and smooth, which will increase casting distance.

[surfchunker]

do you preheat your mold ? and do you also blacken/smoke the mold before pouring ... I read on do it molds web site and it said to take a candle and blacken the mold with smoke so you get a clean release and to preheat it too ?

[ffemtreed]

I preheat my molds on the stove, my frog tounges won't pour right unless the mold is SUPER hot.

I don't do anything with candles or wax.

[Lightload]

Preheating will get you casting good sinkers sooner. If you don't preheat, the first sinkers you cast from a cold mold will be deformed. I usually preheat mine by putting the mold on top of the pot for a while. With an aluminum mold, you can dip a corner of the mold right into the mix to get it warmed up. Don't do that with a cast iron mold though or you may warp it.

And yes, the mold cavaties should be smoked to get a good release.

[surfchunker]

yeah it said to lay it on the pot ........ and When I do it it will be outside ...... with a fan probably blowing ......

[clinder]

river sinkers. looks like a five sided teardrop. Made for current so it holds like an anchore. very streamlined to so it cast great without alot of resistance.

[rgking03]

I use a torch to heat my molds and then pour a small amount of motor oil 40w to lube with and then melt the lead in a 10" pot on a propane burner.. I can get about 40lbs a pot and run three molds at a time with a 5in ladle.