Melting Lead into shape - lazy person approach

[Seadog]

I use two lengths of aluminium angle as vice jaws. They fly off onto the floor every single time I use the vice, at least twice, so I get lots of bending and stretching exercise. Win/win, right…….

View attachment 471773

That's what I've used for years. Annoying, isn't it? I did set some neodymium magnets in when I made them. They soon broke.

 

[Morrisman]

That's what I've used for years. Annoying, isn't it? I did set some neodymium magnets in when I made them. They soon broke.

I did originally leave the ends longer, and tried to curve them round to act as clips, but they snapped off while bending.

 

[optima21]

I use soft jaws with magnets in them. Ive also machined the rubber part off and they are flat aluminium.

Pardon our interruption...

 

[Gritineye]

Ally angle for me, get some with no internal radius, plenty of it in window fitters skips.

 

[Seadog]

I did originally leave the ends longer, and tried to curve them round to act as clips, but they snapped off while bending.

Annealing would have prevented that from happening.

 

[DAPPH]

Make a pair of wooden casting boxed dampen them , pop a hole in a bean tin add the lead and apply flame to the lead so it runs out the hole into the moulds / do it outside in the open air with your back to the breeze lead poisoning is an evil thing to get especially u=in young kiddies . At our Men's Shed they have used 6 mm angle aluminium the width of the jaws , riveted & glued some fibre faces for the u=jaws and slipped three small Neodymium magnets under the fibre to hold the liners to the vice
I have done the same as Morrisman but allowed more length to cut some metal away and make ears to hold the liners at the ends across / around the vice jaws Had to anneal the alu to dark brown after rubbing hand soap over it then cold water quenched it to get it soft enough for a quality set of bent ears .

 

[Ian X]

I use two lengths of aluminium angle as vice jaws. They fly off onto the floor every single time I use the vice, at least twice, so I get lots of bending and stretching exercise. Win/win, right…….

View attachment 471773

I eventually made alu jaws for a big record vice but before that I too used alu angle. I cut them overlength by 25mm and hacksawed the top flush with the jaw ends then bent and hammered the sides onto the cheeks of the jaws, they mostly stayed on.
Edit for missing the post about the "ears" shearing off when trying to bend them, yes as Seadog stated, anneal them.

 

[cocker]

Don't pour molten lead into anything " a bit damp " - it might get a bit spicy !

 

[Mart63]

I poured molten lead into the top of a damp house brick when I was a kid, I won't be doing that again.

 

[Haz87]

Cheers all. Won't be down the shed till the weekend but a few ideas to ponder

And duly noted on the dampness risk, I won't be pouring it into my coffee

 

[gaz1]

quick lead molds reusable

better making one piece and cut into 2