[Mr Badger]

In anticipation of a trip out today, I cast up a handful of 6oz boat leads yesterday, and had to use 1mm diameter galvanised garden wire for the loops.
I would have used stainless steel wire, but had none of an appropriate size hanging about.
The breaking force required for the existing loops is about 70 kg, so for boat fishing, it's ample.
Might use solid copper wire for the next batch, though, if I can't source some 1.5 mm stainless wire.
Cheers,
Davey.

 

[gwynmorlan]

Try a welding consumables supplier they should be able to sort you out with stainless wire (stainless welding filler rods) they sell them in a about 80cm lengths, Wilko sell galvanised garden wire 20m x 1.5mm for 99p.

 

[Mr Badger]

Next time I'm down at BOC I'll see what the thieving sods want for a pack of rods , but I might try our local fabrication firm first off.
Cheers,
Davey.

 

[apollo525]

Why not try some of the big staple's from b and q when they look like they rotting re make them.

 

[David Gould]

In anticipation of a trip out today, I cast up a handful of 6oz boat leads yesterday, and had to use 1mm diameter galvanised garden wire for the loops.
I would have used stainless steel wire, but had none of an appropriate size hanging about.
The breaking force required for the existing loops is about 70 kg, so for boat fishing, it's ample.
Might use solid copper wire for the next batch, though, if I can't source some 1.5 mm stainless wire.
Cheers,
Davey.

That solid copper might wire fail much sooner than you think , it corrodes nicely and age hardens so a decent cast might see lead flying in all directions just like down in OK coral , but for boat lobbing I suppose its OK mist likely you would lose it before it got to danger point..

I used some copper wire to do the same on trial weights for beach casting and that was my result.
Galv wire also corrodes quite quickly so does some types of stainless rod.

The best wire I found for making loops was the hard stainless wire used for break out legs , I've never lost one due to failure of the eye .