With the explosion of popularity that fishing (both amateur and professional) has enjoyed, it's become a priority to keep costs down and the fun level up. Making your own fishing rods and lead weights, or other gear like lure and jigs, allows you to keep money in your pocket. Another fishing aid, the cleaning table, can be made in a way that's cost-effective and targeted to your own specific needs. more »

Hydroxycut is the brand name for a weight-loss product that has been consumed by millions of people in the United States and abroad. As of May 2009, more than 9 million bottles of Hydroxycut had been sold, and the product continues to be the leading weight-loss supplement in the U.S. market. Hydroxcut contains several ingredients that speed up the metabolism, reduce the appetite and block carbohydrate absorption. more »

Anglers who pursue many kinds of game fish species may turn to a tube jig to get the job done. The tube itself is simply a hollowed-out rounded plastic bait that has one end open. On the open end, there are typically "tentacles" of plastic. The jig is a leaded weight with a hook attached to it that goes inside the tube. Only the eye portion of the hook remains exposed to the outside of the tube, where the angler ties on the lure. There are different methods to fish with a tube jig. more »

Sinkers---lead weights used by fishermen to draw their fishing line toward deeper waters---make bait more visible to fish that swim well beneath the ocean surface. Experienced craftspeople familiar with melting lead can create a variety of sinker molds for fishing. A cost-effective alternative to store-bought sinkers, creating your own sinkers can become a challenging but rewarding hobby. more »

Weight Watchers is one of the leading weight loss programs. It is based on assigning a points value to food. The points value of the food is determined by its calorie, fat and fiber content. Based on your current weight, height, gender and other factors, you are given a set amount of points to eat each day in order to help you lose weight or maintain your weight. While the Weight Watchers program does not require you to buy its food, the company does sell a variety of frozen products to help you stay on target. more »

Depending on the year and model of your Ford, the engine might be internally or externally balanced. Sometimes, especially with externally balanced engines, the harmonic balancer can get out of whack and cause the engine to vibrate. Very rarely are they able to be repaired. The purchase of a new harmonic balancer will likely be necessary if yours is bad. While they tend to be pretty pricey, they do not wear out very often. The purpose of the harmonic balancer is the same as the lead weights found on wheels. It offsets the spinning of the crank so that the result is a smooth, vibration-free operation. more »

Cast-nets are an effective alternative to fishing with hook, line and bait. These nets are also called spreader nets, bait nets, brill nets or mullet nets and vary from 4 feet in diameter up to 12 feet. The nets consist of netting designed to open up when cast into the water. Lead weights or steel chain at the bottom edge of the net cause it to sink rapidly. A rope tied to the center of the net allows the net to close upon any covered sea life such as fish or shrimp and then the whole rig is retrieved. more »

Weights are required for scuba diving to enable divers to descend underwater. While necessary, weights can be expensive to purchase. Industrious divers can construct their own soft pouches containing lead weight. Shot lead is easier to obtain from gun ranges or suppliers and is easier to prepare than scrap lead, which needs to be melted and poured into a mold. Porous but sturdy fabric such as nylon flag fabric is available at many craft and hobby stores, along with the basic supplies. Lead pouches can be customized to fit a diver's weight system or diving style. more »

The kokanee is a land-locked sockeye salmon that thrives in deep, cold mountain lakes and their tributaries. They are sporting to catch and delicious to eat. Although they have been caught by other methods, such as spin-fishing, the majority of kokanee are caught by trolling in lakes. Some fishermen use a downrigger to take the bait deep into the lake without the interference of heavy lead weights on the line. This setup is one of the most successful; however, if you can't afford a downrigger you can still troll and catch kokanee. more »