do-it shakey head problem

[JF1]

got a Lead melting pot and a few molds for christmas from the wife. This is my first go around at this whole jig making thing. Tried to make my first jigs today and didn't turn out the best. The hook seems to be loose in the casting. The screw in lock is good and tight, but not the hook.

They are the correct hooks, the ones recommended on the mold. I pre-heated the casting on top of the pot before pouring. I made 7 pours and each of them are loose around the hook. Any ideas why? Tips? Advice? Anything I may be missing?

[Munkin]

Let me guess it is the 1/16oz ones? I have that happen to me too. I just powdercoat them and they stay still.

Allen

[JF1]

Yeah, it was the 1/16 and 1/8 oz ones.

Also happened to my standup jigs. Not sure what I'm doing wrong. On some of the stand up jigs, you can twist the hook inside the lead mold...

[paulpus]

Did you remove the jig by the hook while the lead was still very hot?
Paul

[JF1]

No, I removed all pours by the excess lead that came out of the top of mold. I didn't shear the excess lead off until after molds cooled...

[gambler4]

where did you get the lead ? if i use too much junk lead ?(tire weights) it does that i try to keep the junk mixed with a big roll of old soft plumbing lead and some old lead pipe and it works better

[JF1]

Was soft lead from Gander mountain......

[paulpus]

I have the screw lock football mold and have not had any troubles with mine having loose hooks in them.
Just a thought but maybe your lead is to soft?
I get my lead from the local scrap yards and melt it down into ignots for use later.
I wont buy the hard stuff, should be able to scratch it with you thumb nail and laeve a mark.
Paul

[gambler4]

have you tried warming the mold with the hooks and all in it and the n pouring?

[Chris20X2]

Munkin is right on the money. There will be some play from time to time if your heat isn't set hot enough or it's too hot and they don't cool before you remove your sprue. It's a simple fix if you are powdercoating, the paint will secure the head to the hook once it is painted. If you are dipping them with vinyl I would try warming the lead a little more when pouring.

[JF1]

FYI...I heated the mold with the hooks and screws in and problem solved. Now I just preheat mold, place hooks and screws in. Place on top of melting pot w/ hooks in it for a few min. Pour away and good shape!

[Fishndan]

I'm not sure that preheating your hooks is a good idea - this is probably going to change the "temper" of the hooks and is going to make them either soft or brittle.

I would guess that letting the heads cool a few more seconds in the mold before pulling them out may be the answer to the loose hooks.

Good luck.

Dan

[Munkin]

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Chris20X2 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Munkin is right on the money. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Sometimes I do get things right?

Allen

[Chris20X2]

Another way to preheat your mold is to pre pour a jig or two without any hook. If I'm using a mold with a weedguard I put the base hole pin in and no hook. The lead won't seep out through the hook groove and it warms the inside of the mold. I'll do this a couple of times and on the last I'll leave it in the mold while I get all my hooks and stuff together. Once I'm ready to pour I just pull out the jig head and drop it back in the pot and I'm ready to go. Never had an issue with a partial pour since I started this.

[mesmerizejigs]

I always set my mold on top of my pot while the lead is melting. This warms the mold and I have never had any problems.

[db_db]

I just put loc-tite super glue in the loose portion before vinyl dip painting them. That takes care of it.


Modified by db_db at 8:40 PM 2/1/2010

[jclark408]

keep pourin' and fishin'........won't be a problem at all although softer more pure lead will sometimes help

[paulpus]

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by mesmerizejigs &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I always set my mold on top of my pot while the lead is melting. This warms the mold and I have never had any problems.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Thats what I do!!!!! Never have had a problem.
Paul