Getting Started

[Zeeso]

I am going to start pouring my own jigs. So I am compiling a list of everything I need to get started.

http://do-itmolds.com/shop/index.php?route=product/category&path=4_188_2056 Lead Melting Pot

http://do-itmolds.com/shop/index.php?route=product/category&path=1_8_23 The first mold, by choice. With 1/2oz, 3/4oz and 1oz cavities. Does anyone have any other advice on a first time mold?

4/0 hooks mustad wide gap jig hood, going to focus on 3/4 oz size to start.

Black fiberguard weed guards.

Paint

Eyes

Skirts (Natural Colors)

Is there anything I am missing? I am pumped to get started, it might take me a few months to accumulate all the materials, but I cannot wait.

[cadman]

Everyone that gets into this always has high expectations. My first piece of advice is to take it slow and be safe. Pouring lead is not for everyone. Also there will be a big learning curve in pouring jigs, followed by a bigger learning curve in painting them. This will all take a lot of time, patience, practice and persistance. So don't rush it and ask questions. Finally you will need at least a couple of hundred dollars just to start up. That would be a melting pot, lead, mold or two, hooks, powder paint etc. Have fun and stay safe.

[smalljaw67]

I'm going to echo Cadman, one thing you need to know is there is sometimes a lot more to pouring lead than just dumping it into a mold and a lot of people give up when they encounter problems from the get go. Some molds you will find pour better if you tilt them a certain way, other molds may need to be poured with a ladle but more importantly if you have a problem do not give up, there is help available. Go to Tackle Underground, you will get a lot of help over there when you encounter a problem, it makes the learning curve so much smaller. You picked a good mold to start with, the bigger cavities are easier to pour and that is a great jig, you lose very few fish that get hooked on it. Good luck and remember Tackle Underground if you get stuck and need help.

[RyneB]

i agree with the above posts. If you really want to pour, by all means go ahead and do that. When i decided to start tying jigs i was ready to buy all the pouring material. That was before i ever even tied a skirt on a jig. I decided to buy a few strands of skirts and used some old heads i had from jigs that the skirts fell off. It took me about 15-20 jigs for me to be happy with the outcome. After I got comfortable with that. I bought some powder paint, a small oven ($20), and bought about $60 worth of heads from Cadman. The first few heads i tried to paint came out terrible. I got some advice on here and went to work, and now I am happy with the outcome. I figured by the time i bought a pot, all the lead and hooks, i was better off buying 100 or so heads from Cadman and painting, tying on skirt, and installing weedgaurd. I have more jigs than i will ever need and started selling some to my local bait shop and some friends. By all means do what you want to do, but if you have never tied skirts,painted or installed weedgaurds. I suggest starting with those steps. Then if you want to pour your own lead, you will be ready. Good luck and have fun, jig tying and buying skirts is a very very addicting hobby.