Problems making football head jigs

LSLURES · 02-07-11, 07:10 PM

So Ive been making jigs a while and for some dumb reason when i pour my lead into the mold it doesnt completely make the shape of my football head jig......it makes around half of the barb keeper and exposes the hook underneath the football head jig.........so frustrating. Any one know any tricks or tips on what to do to fix this? or does someone know my problem????? its frustrating as heck and im excited to put out my new line of football heads but just cant get it right. Thanks guys

Ryan

carolina-rig-01 · 02-07-11, 08:28 PM

My first guess is that your mold isn't hot enough. Does it get better after you pour several heads? If so then it's your mold being to cold and cooling the lead off too fast. To fix this you can pour lead in the cavities with no hooks in them and let the lead set in the mold for a while as well as sitting the mold on top of your melting pot, this will make sure your mold gets good and hot.

If it doesn't get better as your pour more heads then I would bet your temp setting on the melting pot is too low and your lead is cooling off too fast.

If neither of the above are the reason then make sure you are getting a fast steady stream of lead out of the melting pot, if it's partially clogged and your not getting a full stream then the lead will set up in the bottom of the cavity before the pour is complete and that can have results like you are having.

CamG · 02-07-11, 08:34 PM

I agree with C-Rig. Most likely your mold is too cold. Used to have this trouble when I poured 1 - 1.5 oz. spinnerbaits. It took too long for the lead to get completely filled in the cavity and it got too cold. Pour some "blanks" and you should be good to go.

HarveysMinnow · 02-07-11, 10:31 PM

I don't mean to change the direction of this thread, but you guys who are working with molten lead need to be careful. Wear a protective mask while you are pouring, so you don't intake the lead vapors. And when you're done for a while, wash your hands thoroughly. Lead is one of those heavy metals (like mercury, cadmium, and others) that can accumulate in your body over the years.

Please check out this site also:

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/lea...CTION=symptoms

BigBassin144 · 02-08-11, 09:07 AM

I always heat my molds up before I pour. A small propane torch works fine or set it on top of your melting pot for a bit. Also, if it's a brand new mold, it may need lubing. light a candle and use it coat the inside of the mold cavities with black soot. I have to do this occasionally. As the mold gets used a lot and worn in, it won't need it.

BB

everettvet · 02-08-11, 05:25 PM

Lslures,
There are a lot of good video clips on the net about pouring jigs. Check out wired2fish.com, they have some good videos about the jig making process. Post some pictures of what your jigs are looking like and that may get you some more ideas of how to help with this problem.

Mac2 · 02-10-11, 09:49 AM

If the mold is "new" it may take a number of pourings before behaving properly. I got this info from a friend who pours for a living. www.leadfreejigheads.com is his site. He does excellent work, and says pouring "partials" may occur until the mold is used enough.

mrmuskie5 · 02-10-11, 10:07 AM

Another thing to take in to consideration is what type of lead are you using? is it specific lure making lead (real soft usually in ingot form) or are you using wheel weights, found pieces of lead? some leads are actually alloys and contain other metals. When you start melting this stuff it takes way higher temps to pour correctly. Ive had this problem in the past. one good thing is if you can pour this alloy lead correctly your jigs will be much harder. good luck with the jigs.

Bender · 02-10-11, 10:17 AM

I had this happen the a few weeks ago and it had been a while since I poured lead so I forgot to soot the molds. I just used a lighter and held the flame close to make a black coat in the mold. Voila, perfect pours just as BB said.

LSLURES · 02-12-11, 05:28 PM

Awesome guys thanks a lot for all the information. Its a brand new mold, and i have read about sooting the inside with a candle but i tried it and it works. My lead is pure soft lead and very clean, so i know its not the lead, i just believe that its cooling to quickly and not properly making the football shape. Thanks again everybody.

Ryan

BigBassin144 · 02-12-11, 05:39 PM

New molds can require a surprisingly large amount of soot. When I got my last mold, I coated the inside of the cavities until they were completely black, not just a little sooty. It may be a combination of that and the mold being too cold.

BB

02-07-11, 07:10 PM	#1
LSLURES BassFishin.Com Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Leesburg, Ohio Posts: 32	Problems making football head jigs So Ive been making jigs a while and for some dumb reason when i pour my lead into the mold it doesnt completely make the shape of my football head jig......it makes around half of the barb keeper and exposes the hook underneath the football head jig.........so frustrating. Any one know any tricks or tips on what to do to fix this? or does someone know my problem????? its frustrating as heck and im excited to put out my new line of football heads but just cant get it right. Thanks guys Ryan

02-07-11, 08:28 PM	#2
carolina-rig-01 BassFishin.Com Premier Elite Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Webb City, MO Posts: 6,387	My first guess is that your mold isn't hot enough. Does it get better after you pour several heads? If so then it's your mold being to cold and cooling the lead off too fast. To fix this you can pour lead in the cavities with no hooks in them and let the lead set in the mold for a while as well as sitting the mold on top of your melting pot, this will make sure your mold gets good and hot. If it doesn't get better as your pour more heads then I would bet your temp setting on the melting pot is too low and your lead is cooling off too fast. If neither of the above are the reason then make sure you are getting a fast steady stream of lead out of the melting pot, if it's partially clogged and your not getting a full stream then the lead will set up in the bottom of the cavity before the pour is complete and that can have results like you are having. __________________ You only live once. But if you do it right, once is enough.

02-07-11, 10:31 PM	#4
HarveysMinnow BassFishin.Com Active Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Central NC Posts: 224	Safety issues I don't mean to change the direction of this thread, but you guys who are working with molten lead need to be careful. Wear a protective mask while you are pouring, so you don't intake the lead vapors. And when you're done for a while, wash your hands thoroughly. Lead is one of those heavy metals (like mercury, cadmium, and others) that can accumulate in your body over the years. Please check out this site also: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/lea...CTION=symptoms

02-08-11, 09:07 AM	#5
BigBassin144 BassFishin.Com Premier Elite Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Toledo, Ohio Posts: 9,463	I always heat my molds up before I pour. A small propane torch works fine or set it on top of your melting pot for a bit. Also, if it's a brand new mold, it may need lubing. light a candle and use it coat the inside of the mold cavities with black soot. I have to do this occasionally. As the mold gets used a lot and worn in, it won't need it. BB __________________ As of June 14, 2014 the members of the BF.com forum have moved to basschat.yuku.com!

02-12-11, 05:39 PM	#11
BigBassin144 BassFishin.Com Premier Elite Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Toledo, Ohio Posts: 9,463	New molds can require a surprisingly large amount of soot. When I got my last mold, I coated the inside of the cavities until they were completely black, not just a little sooty. It may be a combination of that and the mold being too cold. BB __________________ As of June 14, 2014 the members of the BF.com forum have moved to basschat.yuku.com!

02-07-11, 08:34 PM	#3
CamG BassFishin.Com Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Superior, NE Posts: 974	I agree with C-Rig. Most likely your mold is too cold. Used to have this trouble when I poured 1 - 1.5 oz. spinnerbaits. It took too long for the lead to get completely filled in the cavity and it got too cold. Pour some "blanks" and you should be good to go.

02-08-11, 05:25 PM	#6
everettvet BassFishin.Com Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Paducah, KY Posts: 730	Lslures, There are a lot of good video clips on the net about pouring jigs. Check out wired2fish.com, they have some good videos about the jig making process. Post some pictures of what your jigs are looking like and that may get you some more ideas of how to help with this problem.

02-10-11, 09:49 AM	#7
Mac2 BassFishin.Com Active Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: East Tennessee Posts: 389	If the mold is "new" it may take a number of pourings before behaving properly. I got this info from a friend who pours for a living. www.leadfreejigheads.com is his site. He does excellent work, and says pouring "partials" may occur until the mold is used enough.

02-10-11, 10:07 AM	#8
mrmuskie5 BassFishin.Com Active Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Rock Island, IL Posts: 132	Another thing to take in to consideration is what type of lead are you using? is it specific lure making lead (real soft usually in ingot form) or are you using wheel weights, found pieces of lead? some leads are actually alloys and contain other metals. When you start melting this stuff it takes way higher temps to pour correctly. Ive had this problem in the past. one good thing is if you can pour this alloy lead correctly your jigs will be much harder. good luck with the jigs.

02-10-11, 10:17 AM	#9
Bender BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Brighton, MI Posts: 2,414	I had this happen the a few weeks ago and it had been a while since I poured lead so I forgot to soot the molds. I just used a lighter and held the flame close to make a black coat in the mold. Voila, perfect pours just as BB said.

02-12-11, 05:28 PM	#10
LSLURES BassFishin.Com Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Leesburg, Ohio Posts: 32	Awesome guys thanks a lot for all the information. Its a brand new mold, and i have read about sooting the inside with a candle but i tried it and it works. My lead is pure soft lead and very clean, so i know its not the lead, i just believe that its cooling to quickly and not properly making the football shape. Thanks again everybody. Ryan

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