I'm gonna try my hand at making my own jigs. Where are you guys buying your lead?
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I'm gonna try my hand at making my own jigs. Where are you guys buying your lead?
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I do not pour so can't really help, but can tell you it's more than just lead to make a good jigs head! I do know guys get their lead so many different ways, but stay away from dirty lead like wheel weights! Good luck!
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Yes I've noticed. I think I've got the hooks I want to use figured out and the mold. Just slowing gathering everything up to start pouring
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I got my lead from Amazon. 99.9% pure. I use molds from do-it, spray them with a good coating of mold release. I also bought all of my supplies from Amazon. Guys that make there own bullets use the same stuff. I have turned out a lot of jig heads. I also pour outside.
I also plan on using do it molds, eagle claw LiL nasty sickle hooks, and might even get a little crazy and try some of the powder paints
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Here is what I’m getting now:
https://www.rotometals.com/antimonia...antimony-lead/
Use to get pure lead but was too soft for my use. I don’t smoke or use any release agent on my molds. Believe this is a bunch of hooplah.
Scrap yard
.75 lb
Have used everything from roofing lead to x-ray room lead.
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These are all good ideas and people I know that pour say the same thing! However pay attention to DrNip's post as you do jig to want to use pure lead!
Skip
Ask your buddies if they want to trade lead for jigs - let them hunt it down for you...
Craig's list - fleabay - scrap yard is probably best bet.
We always use the cleanest - purest lead. Buff your cavities and/or use a mold release.
Too soft or pure lead has a lower melting point than lead with alloys. You have to adjust your pot heat to ensure you don't scald the top layer. Especially if you are laddle pouring as it will clog your laddle spout.
When I owned my company, we used a mixture of pure and wheel weight or alloys. 3lbs wheel weight to 15lbs of pure resulted in a nice pour, a little harder head, and one that doesn't tarnish if you don't get around to paint it quick enough. Plus, I didn't need to adjust my pot heat as we removed lead.
I purchased all mold from Zeiner's as they seemed to have everything, shipping prices were great, and their overall prices were the best I could find.
For hooks, I used Captain hooks. Eyes and other materials from Jann's, and all paint supplies from TJ's tackle.
Before I sold my business, I was pouring 1000lbs of lead jigs between January and March alone.
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Pure lead doesn't fill the cavities sometimes. I mix 9 lbs of lead to 1 lb alloy wheel weights.
A lot of useful information. Thanks guys
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I found that pure lead allowed my herring wire inserts to wiggle loose. Also had some wire keepers wiggle loose too. Hopefully the link to the lead I posted earlier will prevent this. Just started using it a week ago and haven't got to test it on the water yet.
I don’t ever have cavities not fill completely but on every mold I use I insert the nozzle of my pot inside each cavity gate when pouring. I no longer just pour lead across the top of the mold. When I use to do it this way I would have incomplete heads at times, mainly heads with wire inserts, weed guards, etc. and Jacobs barbed molds.
My biggest worry is if sickle hooks will fit in my mold......I've got some catching up to do as far as making "good" jigs
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I use nothing but sickle hooks, bought mine from Crazyanglertackle
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Drip as I used to work in a foundry mold release, flux, degas was a must. I have worked with some fellows that make there own bullets and they swear by it. I only sprayed my mold once, have used them at least fifty times if not more. Since I live on the coast I have made jigs for my saltwater buddies.
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Tahoe did you have to modify your mold to make the sickle hooks work?
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Both sickle hooks (Matzuo & Lil Nasty) work with no modifications in Do-it molds.
Do-it molds don't need a release agent as much as custom molds do. The more intricate
molds are aided immensely with the mold release. Tried smoking - too messy....