What happened to my unpainted jigs?

Last year I bought some unpainted ball head jigs. I painted and tied quite a few of them last year but had some left over, now that hunting has slowed down for me i'm getting geared up for spring crappie fishing agian. Now I find the lead on my jig heads to have almost a type of corrosion on them??? Makes for a really rough paint finish unless I get a good thick coating of powder before I bake them.

What is it and how can I clean them up? If you'd like to see pictures i'll try to take some... Can I toss them into my brass shaker/cleaner?

Thanks,

Al

It happens to lead, oxidizing and I would probably use a dremel tool and buff to clean it off, but there may be a easier way and not a way that will fill the air with that stuff like what I said I would do.

I hope someone here can tell you a good way and there probably is. There has to be a better way that want I said.

BTW that is why when someone orders unpainted heads on jigs from me I still clear coat them with Sally Henson's Hard as Nails.

Skip

If it is a corrosion, dip it in diet coke (plain, no mixture) or baking soda and water (I like diet coke better, because it doesnt get things all sticky). If it is that, the junk should come off.

Oxidation!.. they can be cleaned up with an old toothbrush or the other fixes mentioned above.

Paint your jig heads while they're still nice and shiny!!!... you can tie them later!

Thanks a ton Guys!!!! I did take a dremel tool with a brush, but man that takes a long time for a few jigs and tends to loosen the lead on the hook...

I'll have to try the diet coke method and see how it works,

Thanks again,

Al

The easiest way to clean the dirty heads is to swish them in white vinegar, rub any real oxidized parts and then rinse in cold water. Use a hair dryer to dry em off or paper towell.

Works great for me

Fatman

Quote:

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Originally Posted by alhersch

Thanks a ton Guys!!!! I did take a dremel tool with a brush, but man that takes a long time for a few jigs and tends to loosen the lead on the hook...

I'll have to try the diet coke method and see how it works,

Thanks again,

Al

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Some of these sound bett6er than mine, but I just wanted to add I have a variable speed Dremel and can set it at the minimum for the buffs at 15,000 RPMS and it still take a bit because they are hard to hold. Not so bad to just take off the little ridge on the head when they are there, but I can see where the entire head may be harder to do.

I do use it a lot on just cleaning up jig heads a little and it's not a fast thing even then, but the other way I had done that was to use a hand file and that kind of stinks as a way, but I will still do it at time, LOL!

Bought this Dremel to replace my really old one that only had high or low just for this stuff and still I can't help but think there has to be an easier way to clean a new jig head.

Skip

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Fatman

The easiest way to clean the dirty heads is to swish them in white vinegar, rub any real oxidized parts and then rinse in cold water. Use a hair dryer to dry em off or paper towell.

Works great for me

Fatman

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This...

Check out this link;

lead melting safety and techniques - Tackleunderground.com

The second post has some bad advice (#3 do not use an extinguisher on melted lead! #4 if you don’t have the correct type respirator and the correct fit – its useless #5 no extension cords).

The fifth post is the one you want to pay attention to.

Add just a little bit of hard lead (ie wheel weights) to the soft lead and they will stay shiney.