How to use a mold with no handles?

[Shoemoo]

I picked up a Penn Sport no-roll sinker mold on eBay. I've had my eye out for this mold for awhile, and I just happened to stumble across it misidentified as a jig mold. It's the kind with the molded ring on the end, which I prefer over the through design Do-It uses. It has all the common sizes I use for catfishing (1/2, 1, 1 1/2, 2 1/2) and the sinkers usually run anywhere from $0.25 to $0.75 each, when I can even find this style. For $11 shipped it was a steal!



Only problem is the design doesn't appear to have handles. It's not that they're missing, it just doesn't appear to have handles to begin with:



I can see it getting really, really hot when casting. So what's the best method for handling a mold like this? Even if I have to mod it a bit, it's worth the trouble because this thing is going to save me a bunch of money.

 

[Edgecrusher]

Vicegrips?

 

[Kdog]

Channel Locks or welders gloves, I had one of those molds years ago and just used gloves but I was young and stoooopid back then.

 

[toadfrog]

Think I got a door stop like that . LOL It's not to bad with gloves . Over the course of time you can get use to the heat . Plus you learn to have the reflexes of a cat .

 

[Hawnjigs]

Over the years I've tried different brand production molds and nothing comes close to the utility of Do-its. It simply is not the worth the aggravation of dealing with second rate molds, which pretty much includes all the rest except Hilts aren't bad, but Do-it designs are generally better. Save a few bucks? What is your time worth?

If you get the excellent Do-it version of the No Snag 1, 1-1/2, & 2 oz look for the newer black handle ones - the smaller sprue makes a much cleaner break.

 

[Shoemoo]

I agree Do-It makes great molds, but I'm just making sinkers for my own use. Plus I only have a production pot IV so I couldn't do a bunch at once anyway. I'm sure this mold will suffice.

Now that I think about it, one of my fishing buddies is a retired metalworker. I'll see if I can get him to weld some handles onto it

 

[plateboater]

I have one similiar. I went to weld store and purchased "torch gloves" Heavy leather with insulation. Work out pretty nice. I still only pour for about 30mins and let cool. Do not know how those boys back n the day did it! Yikes that thing gets hot in a hurry

 

[redear]

I use little one and two cavity molds all the time without handles using channel locks to hold them, I'm sure you could hold it some kind of way just be careful and take it slow.

 

[Kdog]

Actually with that type of mold and the locks on the side, I would probably use as is to preserve that lil part of history. The leather welders gloves are very good and being this is an aluminum mold with lots of surface area it will cool quickly.

Channel locks or gloves would be my choice.

 

[LedHed]

"Channel locks or gloves would be my choice." X 2