Thunderbird Posted September 27, 2012 Author Report Share Posted September 27, 2012 I'll bung in my order for the antler in now then... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Llanshooter Posted October 1, 2012 Report Share Posted October 1, 2012 I use antler fitted to a shaft of hazel. I filled the head with flashing lead rolled up and stuffed in. Capped the end with Buffalo horn, polished up nicely. Drilled the other end of the shaft and put a leather thong through. Quite straight forward, helps if you've got a mat that shoots deer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hedd-wyn Posted October 1, 2012 Report Share Posted October 1, 2012 Have been trying to make one out of oak after reading this thread. To say that I failed miserably would be an understatement. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gamekeeper1960 Posted October 2, 2012 Report Share Posted October 2, 2012 Have been trying to make one out of oak after reading this thread. To say that I failed miserably would be an understatement. Why what the heck did you do ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hedd-wyn Posted October 2, 2012 Report Share Posted October 2, 2012 Why what the heck did you do ? I tried to hollow it out with a drill and got the angle wrong nice piece of wood as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gamekeeper1960 Posted October 2, 2012 Report Share Posted October 2, 2012 Better to use a flat wood bit or use a smaller pilot drill first but most of all set it up in a vise so you can look down both planes at the same ie (vert & horizontal ) Dave. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hedd-wyn Posted October 2, 2012 Report Share Posted October 2, 2012 I think you're right Dave. I used a piece of seasoned firewood that 'seemed' too nice for the log burner. I probably shouldnt've plained the edges first. I dont give up easy, so will crack on again as soon as I get time. Cheers Dave Ps anyone know if its fairly easy to melt lead shot? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilR Posted October 2, 2012 Report Share Posted October 2, 2012 (edited) I think you're right Dave. I used a piece of seasoned firewood that 'seemed' too nice for the log burner. I probably shouldnt've plained the edges first. I dont give up easy, so will crack on again as soon as I get time. Cheers Dave Ps anyone know if its fairly easy to melt lead shot? Yes, it's a doddle as it has a low melting point, I heated it up with a camping gaz gas torch. You need to think the process through first though, in what are you going to heat it up and how are you going to transfer it into the hole in the wood. When I weighted my maple priest I heated the lead in an old tobacco tin sat on the top of my steel worktop on a fire blanket. I scooped the hot lead out of the tin with a metal tea table spoon that I'd squeezed in the vice to make it more like a spout and used that to carefully pour the lead into the hole in the top of the priest. By using the metal tea tablespoon I was able to give it a bit more heat to prevent it cooling down from the initial heating and pouring. I think it worked quite well as I only needed to go to A&E once to have a skin graft on my hands, and the insurance covered the rebuilding of the garage. Edited October 2, 2012 by PhilR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hedd-wyn Posted October 2, 2012 Report Share Posted October 2, 2012 I was thinking of doing it outside using a half cut tin of beans (empty) clamped into a steel vice and heated with a blow torch. Would this work? Or am I deemed to fail once more? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilR Posted October 2, 2012 Report Share Posted October 2, 2012 I was thinking of doing it outside using a half cut tin of beans (empty) clamped into a steel vice and heated with a blow torch. Would this work? Or am I deemed to fail once more? The container is OK, how about squeeze the top of the tin together once the shot is in it to form a sort of spout, is it necessary to put the tin in the vice if you're outside why not on the earth?. Put the priest in the vice with the hole upwards then using gloves pick the hot tin up and pour the molten lead carefully into the hole. What surprised me was how little molten lead the shot makes. Before I started the heating process I test poured the lead shot into the hole in the priest and filled it up. The same amount of lead shot now molten didn't get anywhere near filling the hole. So I had to rapidly hack open another couple of cartridges to extract more shot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
activeviii Posted October 2, 2012 Report Share Posted October 2, 2012 wood glue and shot is safer. mix some shot into the glue and then pour into hole in wood. tap down to tighten it all together then glue a plug in the end, once dry you sand to finish then oil. molten lead is dangerous. pour lead into wood that has water in it and you will get burnt. pick up the tin with gloves, you will get burnt. i use welding gloves and these get very hot. i have been making my own fishing leads for 20+ years and you very very quickly learn to respect the stuff. if your not sure then ask and adult. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hedd-wyn Posted October 3, 2012 Report Share Posted October 3, 2012 wood glue and shot is safer. mix some shot into the glue and then pour into hole in wood. tap down to tighten it all together then glue a plug in the end, once dry you sand to finish then oil. molten lead is dangerous. pour lead into wood that has water in it and you will get burnt. pick up the tin with gloves, you will get burnt. i use welding gloves and these get very hot. i have been making my own fishing leads for 20+ years and you very very quickly learn to respect the stuff. if your not sure then ask and adult. I am 32... but I'l give my dad a ring just to be safe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilR Posted October 3, 2012 Report Share Posted October 3, 2012 I am 32... but I'l give my dad a ring just to be safe I'm 61 and I'm not your dad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thunderbird Posted October 3, 2012 Author Report Share Posted October 3, 2012 I'm going to go down the shot mixed with glue route. I can't be melting lead in the garage at my time of life. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pigeon pete Posted October 3, 2012 Report Share Posted October 3, 2012 i was talking to my shooting m8 about how PW members was on about finishing off pigeons ,he said he was thinking of getting a priest his self ,so ive just made him one ,took about 1 hour ,about 1 foot of a hardwood shovel shaft ,hollowed out the end about 3" and filled with molten lead ,sanded and applied wood dye, epoxied a shell base in the end and gave it 4 coats of clear spray lacquer, using the hair dryer between coats,then applied skate board tape for the handle for none slip ps dont do what i did and hit your knuckle to try it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hedd-wyn Posted October 4, 2012 Report Share Posted October 4, 2012 i was talking to my shooting m8 about how PW members was on about finishing off pigeons ,he said he was thinking of getting a priest his self ,so ive just made him one ,took about 1 hour ,about 1 foot of a hardwood shovel shaft ,hollowed out the end about 3" and filled with molten lead ,sanded and applied wood dye, epoxied a shell base in the end and gave it 4 coats of clear spray lacquer, using the hair dryer between coats,then applied skate board tape for the handle for none slip ps dont do what i did and hit your knuckle to try it Well done Pete, very impressive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrispti Posted October 4, 2012 Report Share Posted October 4, 2012 (edited) For pigeons ...... Might as well use your rolling pin ....... Make sure you wear your pinny too, don't want to get any yucky blood on you... Edited October 4, 2012 by chrispti Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mudpatten Posted October 4, 2012 Report Share Posted October 4, 2012 Why not just bite their heads like I do? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D_No Posted October 4, 2012 Report Share Posted October 4, 2012 I'm going to have a go the weekend with a length of seasoned holly, it's about 4 ft long so if I fluff up the first one I can try, try again! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pigeon pete Posted October 4, 2012 Report Share Posted October 4, 2012 Why not just bite their heads like I do? iam ok its my mate ,he wants one , Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wildfowl jon Posted October 4, 2012 Report Share Posted October 4, 2012 i wanna say jusy use another cartridge, but I have an antler priest with a lead insert, does the job fine and easy to make with a dril bit and some araldite. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gimlet Posted October 9, 2012 Report Share Posted October 9, 2012 When I was a youngster I was always making priests because I was addicted to whittling. I tried all sorts of woods out of curiosity, including gorse for some reason. (Too light but makes a very attractive spotty walking stick if you can find a piece long enough. Hard wearing too). The best priest I ever made was of yew. Heavy, hard, doesn't shrink or split and looks fantastic sanded and oiled. Its so heavy, if you can produce a bulbed end in the manner of a waggler fishing float it doesn't need weighting and being one of the best turning woods, if you've got a wood-turning lathe you could really go to town with finger grips and all sorts. It does go glassy smooth so as I didn't have a lathe I inset a section of string whipping for grip. The only thing with yew is don't breath the dust. Its not good. My priest disappeared years ago or I'd post a picture, but now I've got t thinking about it I may make another.... Watch this space. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VikingRebel Posted October 9, 2012 Report Share Posted October 9, 2012 I have not tried it myself, but hornbeam might be a good option. It has the hardest wood of all our native trees. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pigeon pete Posted October 15, 2012 Report Share Posted October 15, 2012 well my m8 loved his new priest ,but i think i will stick to my way ,we both used it and when i got home the wife said whats all that blood over you ,my m8 and i looked like we just came from the film "the godfather " ,and if you dont hit them right you make a mess and you have to hit them again ,so the quick and clean way for me ;-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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