Man I went all over North Texas today getting material and equipment so I could pour my own jig heads, and I can't get it to act right for the life of me.
I'm using a small cast iron pot and laddle, a coleman gas burner, the lead gets plenty hot, as a matter of fact it might be getting too hot after it sits in there awhile. I have poured lead into the mold prolly a hundred times trying to just get it to warm up, for operating temperture, no Luck. The lead keeps harding up before the mold gets filled up. Does anyone have any tips on a good method of keeping the mold hot, or just getting it hot enough so that it will work?

Thanks for any suggestions, after a hour and a half of trying to make it work I said I've had enough for the night, I'll get up in the morning and give it another try, Maybe get my propane torch and heat the mold with it, I dunno.

Thanks

I keep my mold setting on a burner with a small flame. I did steal an electric grill from my wife and use it to keep the mold hot when she isn't around

Use gloves or you'll get burnt if you miss the wooden handle!

Jerry www.JerryHan****Outdoors.com

It's really hard to tell you without being there to see what you problem is. But I have an electric pot and I usually set the lead temp at +/- 600 degrees (anyway to tell your lead temp??). To get the molds ready (assume that you bought the type of molds that Barlow's sells), I lay the mold on my pot while the lead is melting. Then I test pour (no hooks) to see if the cavity will fill. If it doesn't, I fill the side (logo) cavities on both sides of the mold with lead a couple times. That's generally all it takes. Good luck tomorrow, and BE CAREFUL. This stuff is dangerous.

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Good fishin',
Guy Skinner
'His' Partner

It sounds like you maybe pouring the lead to slow. The mold should be ready after a few dry runs. Fill the laddle then BAM! drop that hot lead into the hole. Pouring slow and being neat won't cut it. Trim the flashing with shears.

Does anyone have any concerns about lead fumes from pouring jig heads? I have just started pouring my own and I set up a box fan next to the pot to blow away the fumes. However, I can still smell it and am a little worried about over exposure. Just curious.

SOUNDS LIKE THE GATES ON YOUR MOLD MAYBE TOO SMALL. I HAD A SIMILAR PROBLEM WITH ONE OF MY MOLDS.

I DRILLED THE GATE (HOLE) SLIGHTLY LARGER AND NEVER HAD THE PROBLEM AGAIN.

TRY IT WITH ONLY ONE HOLE AT FIRST. I MEAN SLIGHTLY LARGER.

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GOOD FISHING.


ERNEST
972-245-9311
www.catchcrappie.com
I LIVE FOR THE THUMP"

[This message has been edited by ERNEST PATY (edited 12-26-2003).]

C F, WillieFindum here,
I agree it does sound like you may be pouring the lead too cold. And the mold should be hot enough after two or three hookless pours. You should be able feel the heat off the mold from and inch or two. I started my pouring days the same as you with a cast iron pot and dipper on a little Coleman single burner. What I noticed was that if my lead was hot enought it would have a golden looking skim on the top. If you are using shot, tire weights, or other source for lead, it has other ingredints, generally antimony(sp) as a hardner which will require a higher temp than pure lead to make it pour correctly . When first melting the lead it may take 30 min to bring it up to temp, pure lead will melt at about 400 degrees, pour temp is about 600-650.

Please remember that you are dealing with a DAMED HOT metal, if you get it on you it will burn deep. Melted lead puts off a toxic fume, which is known to cause neurologic damage, esp in childern and will build up with continued exposure. Can be absorded thru the skin. I always wear long sleeves, long pants, leather work boots, leather work gloves and a respirator (rated for toxic fume not a dust mask) and good ventilation in a clean, well lighted area. If I have scared you, I meant to, so you will pratice SAFETY FRIST AND LAST.
MY .02

I poured weights when I was a kid with out a respirater, this is not a smart thing to do.I have thought about it mean times .These are really good things to point out .Thanks Wille.

[This message has been edited by Mark Priddy (edited 12-26-2003).]

Thanks guys you give me hope, I was also thinking the gate might be a little small, because on the otherside, where it say use to heat mold, I can just about fill that whole slot up, but not that jig head hole. Thanks for the info WillieFindum, I was doing this in the garage with the door open, I couldnt smell the fumes at all at the opening of the garage, but when I went to go back into the house at the back, they were very stout, I Think I will go to home depot and get a resperater or a mask that is rated for toxic fumes like you said.

Thanks guys I was getting really frustrated, fixen to go give it another shot.
Oh yeah whats a good source of pure lead, I'm using number 9 shot right now. I can to skim a powder substance from the top to get to the good lead.

Thanks again guys.

I may be of some help here. My bearing business is a casting business for babitt lined bearings. Babbitt is poured at a temp of 800 degrees +/- 50. Lead needs to be around 700 to pour with out the form of air bubbles. The reason for the high temp is to let the perosity rise to the top of the material. It has the impurities of the material in the "slag" on the top. Keeping you mold hot is very important. It needs to be hot enough were you HAVE to wear gloves to handle. Drilling the holes larger is an excellent idea. You can get a thermomentor(?) at a hardware store or you can use a melting stick used in weld processes. They won't melt until they reach a certain temp. I have made a butt load of weights with babbitt. It is a very shiny silver metal. I would like to put it on the market becasue it is enviromentally safe. I mean we can't use lead in shot shells while duck hunting why should we use lead weights fishin? Give me a shout anytime and I will help anyone with any casting problems or machine work to modify your molds.
Dave

Where do you buy these respirators and how much do they cost? I have been really worried about the fumes from the lead. Also, does this babbit(?) have the same weight as lead, and where do you find this stuff?

I get my babbitt from up north but it is expensive. It was about $3.57 a pound. You don't have to worry to much about those fumes. There isn't enough to bother you. Just get a paper mask like you see in the delivery rooms at the hospitals. If you come buy we'll pour some and I'll trade out the babbitt for a case of Michelobe Light.

Next time I'm out around Cedar Creek I'll try to stop buy.