Jig heads still loose.......

[Swerve-n-Protect]

Ok....I let the lead heat up for along time and cleaned out all that crap out of the pot....I also heat up the mold for a really long too!! I wait about 10-15 seconds before I pop the jig out of the mold....I just did 25 jigs and about half of them have a loose head!! what you all think? Why are the heads still loose on some of them? Do you think when I bake the powder coat on them that they may tighten up?

[21XDC]

The paint should tighten them up, But you need to pull them out of the mold from the sprue, not the hook. Is your mold "smoked"? Try and wiggle them out of the mold and not pry.. Try also putting the nipple of the pot into the pour hole and inject the lead.

[Swerve-n-Protect]

Yep I use needle nose pliers to pull them out by the sprue.....I smoked another size, but I haven't smoked the 1/4oz one....ok, I'll try puttin the nipple in the pour hole too....I just hope the paint will tighten me up!!!! Thanks!!!!

[KY TRITON]

your powder paint will help tighten it up!

[Swerve-n-Protect]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by KY TRITON &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">your powder paint will help tighten it up! </td></tr></table>

[21XDC]

I like the spot remover better.. J/K

[Swerve-n-Protect]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by 21XDC &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">I like the spot remover better.. J/K </td></tr></table>

[21XDC]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by Swerve-n-Protect &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">I just hope the paint will tighten me up!!!! </td></tr></table>

If not.... It might serve as a "rattle"

[Terry Anderson]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by KY TRITON &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">your powder paint will help tighten it up! </td></tr></table>
yepper!

[tailchaser]

what kind of lead are you using?

Alot of times pure lead is too soft (x-ray, plumbing fittings etc)

I normally use tire weights.. alot of guys on here trash talk the tire weights, but, they are about the only (cheap) source i have found that has a Tin and Antimony content sufficient enough to make the lead harder...

oyu have to have the two other additives in your lead to make them harder, and hold the hooks better...

Google "lead hardening" or http://gunrightsradio.com/foru...785.0

there is alot of good info out there in the bullet casting world...

[21XDC]

Having to clean up any of the lead flash etc, I prefer the soft lead anyway. I have used the harder lead and found it harder to clean up for painting.

[tailchaser]

using tire weights takes a little more work.. i never just throw them in the pot.. i first melt them all donw in a bigger pot.. skim off all the crap/brackets/etc.. then re-pour into ingots.. all nice and clean..

[Swerve-n-Protect]

I'm using duck decoy lead.....I did have to skim off the junk on top and I do get a more silver jig head now.

[tailchaser]

the decoy weights are pretty soft.. go to a hardware store and look at the soldering wire.. look at the contents and get a small spool of the one with the most antimony and tin.. you will have to experiment with the lead to wire ratio.. i know it doesnt take much..

In my research i have read where the % increase in hardness goes up rapidly up to @ 5% alloy.. then levels off .. meaning:

with 1% Antimony/tin additive the hardness will increase @ 15%
2% alloy hardness wioll increase 30%
3% alloy 50-60%
4% - 60-70%
5% 70-100%
over 5% does not increase the hardness only the alloy.. so anything over 5% is a waste

[tailchaser]

also, one other question, are the heads loose when you take them out of the mold, or are you noticing it after trimming the sprue etc?

the reason i ask, trimming them while they are even a little warm will also loosen the heads.. alot of times i will pull them out of the mold and let them sit for a few hours to be sure they are completly cool before trimming...

[Swerve-n-Protect]

I do need to get some more lead.....I'm noticing them being loose after I trim the sprue right after I take them out of the mold....I'll try and let me sit for awhile and see that helps too...thx!!!

[Terry Anderson]

Let us know how it works out for you!

[Swerve-n-Protect]

I will..thanks everyone for the input!!

[tailchaser]

did you fix the problem??

[Swerve-n-Protect]

I havent tried it yet.....I need to....I'm just tryin to save making them for the winter time and not get all into now.....I'm not ready for winter!!