modifying molds

[crappie josh]

I have an older mold that I'm looking at modifying and my question is how do yall modify yalls molds any tips before I attempt to modify a mold? I was just going to add some barbs to this old mold

[Redman]

Josh Plan ahead, work slowly, and use sharp tools..I lay out my mods on the molds I am working on with black sharpie. Then scribe where I want to take out the metal. Then start to take out the metal untill I feel like I am close and cast a few to see how close I am. Go back and finish the metal removal and polish the mold. I have a vertical mill and and flex shaft tool to help me remove the metal. Sounds like you should be able to do a barb with a dremel tool.I have seen that done with a very small drill but I have found that a dental drill works best for me check with your dentist for one that he is going to throw away. Dental drills that are not sharp enough for teeth are still plenty sharp to work aluminium. I also use a lub on the dental drill beewax will work or oil of wintergreen. Like I said work slowly you can always take off more metal but it is a pain where pills can't reach to add it back on. Polish out what have removed so it will come out smooth and take any burrs off the face of the mold so it will fit together flush. now your about done just run a fine piece of sandpaper over the face of the mold 400 grit or finer will be fine and you should be home free. I run a fine pice of sandpaper over my molds every 100 or so any way and it helps for some reason. Think the hooks sometimes will mare the surface and cause burrs. Hope this helps.

Redman

[crappie josh]

any one ever use JB weld or something similar to make older molds work better and by that I'm taking about the flashing that you get on some of the older molds that way I can get a better product out of my older molds

[Redman]

Josh In My opinion JB weld would not work. Please try to reface your molds with a fine sandpaper. That is the reason I do mine every 100 hooks or so. My Do-it molds are 30 years or better My custom made molds are 30years old and all put out a great prouduct. I have a old mold that was given to me by the man who made the molds for the Shannon company and that would have been made back in the early 1950's still give me a great jig. No flash, I have modified it to take the new sickle hooks this mold is like right at 60 years old. My suggestion is to have the mold refaced which is something that you can do yourself. This is not rocket science, with a little paticence you can do it and have a still great mold. Start with a flat and I mean flat piece of wood, Cut a 400 grit sandpaper to wrap around it. Then carefully draw it acrossed the face of the mold. Josh thats about all there is to it. When all the sanding lines are in the same direction and no old metal is showing on the face of the mold your done.

One fellow I know uses a painters sanding block the one that is a sponge on the inside and he does good with it but uses very little pressure when he sands. Give it a try I know that you will be suprised. And yes I use the heck out of my molds. right at 2000 hooks run thur them in the last three months alone. I casted 300 hooks this morning on my 30 year old Do-it 1/8 oz. ball head jig mold. Clean up was about a hour or a little longer so very little flash.

Good Luck with your project

Redman

P.S.Draw the sandpaper the long way across the mold not the short or vetically way. Don't feel I made that clear.

[Bronson]

Good question, GREAT INFO! Keeping Redman's reply on file. Thanks!