Lead For Pouring Jigs

[Wildbillb]

I have a chance at some 1 pound lead bars used for making bullets.  They are brand new bars.  Will these work for pouring my own jig heads?  I want to start pouring this winter.  At a buck a bar I figured it wasn't. Shipping is null because its the neighbor.

 

Thanks

[Kevin22]

That is called "hard lead" and can be difficult for some molds. For most bass jig molds it will work fine. 

 

I would not pay more than $1/lb for it... and that is only if you cannot find a source for softer lead for the same price. Make sure the bars are 1lb and not 8oz. 

[mc6524]

The challenge is how pure it is. You can purchase lead fairly cheap at Rotometals.

[cadman]

I pour all kind of lead . Anything I can get free or pay as cheap as possible for it. You can pour straight hard or pure soft. I prefer my jigs on the harder side. 30% soft 70% hard. However all lead will pour if you know what you are doing. Some lead will pour easier than others. Get your lead in your pot hot along with your molds, and get some mold release and you will be pouring with very little problems. Also  a $1 per pound is a fair price. Roto- Metals charges around $2/lb however you can pick the lead mix you want. When you get it from someone you don't know what you are getting.

[Downeaster2010]

I use nothing but free lead, and have never purchased any.  Friends offer me lead, but i cannot use any more.  I have about 200 lbs of lead

broken down into about 1 lbs pieces.  Sources for lead are varied.  All plumbers use lead.  Roofers use it for flashing, and old wooden

fishing boats use it in the hull for ballast.  Its everywhere, look around.

[Kevin22]

Are you guys still finding cheap (free) lead with the ammo shortage? IMPOSSIBLE to find lead for less than $2/lb here locally, the bullet casters are buying it all up to reload since they cannot buy ammo. Even cheap lead on ebay went from $1.25/lb to $1.75+/lb+. 

 

I respectfully disagree with the post about any lead will do, it very well may do for most bass molds but there are several that simply will not work with hard lead. The buzzbait mold is one that really sticks out. You have to ladle pour soft lead or you will get voids every time. Several of my  walleye molds require softer lead to get 90%+ perfect jig pours. 

[Wildbillb]

Well I have 125 pounds of chilled #7 lead shot in the closet that I got free 10 years ago.  I don't shoot skeet so its useless to me.  Would that work instead?

[Kevin22]

Well I have 125 pounds of chilled #7 lead shot in the closet that I got free 10 years ago.  I don't shoot skeet so its useless to me.  Would that work instead?

 

 

DO NOT MELT THAT. Sell it to a reloader! You will get $40 a bag for sure. Lead shot is EXPENSIVE. 

[moguy1973]

Most do it your self jig makers I've read about go to tire shops and get their discarded wheel weights.  Usually give them away for free so they don't have to pay to get rid of them.

[Jig Man]

Your chilled shot should contain antimony and will not be soft lead.  Like stated, sell it to a shotgun reloader.

 

Like cadman stated, I use all kinds of lead.  I have plummers lead, lead from radioactive medicine containers, lead from X-ray rooms, printer's lead and wheel weights.  I have had a few molds that were a bit finicky about pouring but on cadman's advice I bought some Frankfort Arsenal drop out mold release spray and cured their problem.

 

I'd latch onto that $1/pound lead before the guy changes his mind.