Nigel, like many other farriers, had spent numerous hours making jigs and moulds for pouring lead into to make plates to go under tooling blocks. Following an article in Today's Pro Farrier demonstrating the making of a lead plate using paper, Nigel revised the technique to come up with a solution that is so simple you will not believe it!!

Simply take masking tape of a good width and wrap around the block bottom at least four times. The width of the tape should allow for half of the tape to be stuck to the block whilst the remaining half be sufficient for the depth of the lead plate required.

'Gaffa' or any type of plastic tape MUST NOT be used as this will melt and will not work.

Using an old (!) household saucepan, position in the fire and push the coke around the edge to stop flames rising around the saucepan.

Lead strips can be cut from sheet lead or recycle old lead plates.

Pour the molten lead into the 'tape' moulds....

..and allow to cool.

One perfectly fitting lead plate which can be tapped off and the procedure repeated!