Get Me Started Making Jigs

[Matthew2000]

Give me a list of things you recommend for a beginner. Would like to start out with an arky and grass jig head for a mold. Going to hand tie. Melt and pour my own heads, what paint should I use for the heads ?

[Ozark_Basser]

Depends on what you are wanting to get out of it. If you want your jigs to look nicer than the ones you buy at them store, take these tips.

I like boss's paint you get at fishingskirts.com. I cure it at 350 for 15 minutes. Almost impossible to chip while fishing, and they have some cool colors.

Get some Teflon base hole pins. It just makes painting easier.

Make or buy a fluid bed. I made mine. It saves paint and providesma more consistent paint job.

Wire tie your jigs. They look nicer and the skirt flares better. I use 28 gauge copper wire. I try to stay away from the coated wire. It doesn't hold as well as bare copper.

[Jig Man]

What you need depends on how many jigs you will be using.  If it were me I'd contact Siebert Outdoors, Cadman, or smalljaw and buy some poured heads.  I'm sure one of those guys can make you what you want.  Get them without paint if you want and without the weed guard installed.  Then you can buy some skirts and make up some jigs to see how it goes without the initial investment of a couple of hundred bones for the lead pot, molds, hooks and other necessities for pouring.

 

If all goes well then you can start buying all of the stuff needed to pour.

[smalljaw67]

Jig Man is spot on!!!! You are going to need a mold, and then a melting pot along with hooks, skirt material, weed guards and paint. You are looking at $200 to make 50 jigs in maybe 3 different colors, so if you are looking at it as a hobby then it is a good investment, but if you are trying to save money then it will take years to recoup your initial investment. I agree with Jig Man, buy some pre poured heads and skirt material and tie some jigs, you can use wire or thread or you can get a skirt tool and use the skirt bands, but make some jigs like that first, then if you like ting try painting and then if you want to get more involved you can get the melting pot and molds and you'll understand part of it. I've been making tackle for 17 years now and I can tell you that I have several molds that I purchased from guys who went and bought all the stuff only to realize it was more time consuming than they had envisioned and so they sold the stuff at a discount just to get some of their investment back. Go to Tackle Underground and ask the guys in the wire baits section, you'll get a lot of help there.

[cadman]

Like mentioned above. if you want to make your own colors then go for it. The start-up is not cheap if you are not going to be committed to this venture. Also there is a big learning curve, and above all you have to have a lot of patience and most of all you have to practice a lot to get good and proficient at it. if you are looking for tutorials on how to paint, make a fluid bed and some other tutorials I have. Pm me with your e-mail and I will get them out to you.

[Jig Man]

OK Matt. Now you have heard from 3 guys who have been doing this for half a century combined. Take what you have learned and head out in the direction you choose. Good luck to you which ever way you go.

[Matthew2000]

Going with the pre made heads to start. What's the differnce in the wiring you use?

[cadman]

You can use floral wire, or copper wire. I use red copper wire, (.024 dia.) The wire has to be flexible, so you can make your wraps and then twist tie it tight. You can also use motor wire, if you can find an old motor and strip off some copper wire. Just check the size. Some guys use zip ties, but I think that looks tacky, and you can't tighten it like you can regular wire.

[Bluebasser86]

I use floral wire and bead wire (usually in the jewelry making section in arts and crafts stores). I believe it's either 22 or 24 gauge and I use either copper or colored, coated wire in white, brown, or black if it matches the skirt color I'm tying.

 

I agree with the idea to try tying your own with premade heads first to see if you like it or not, then consider buying all the pouring supplies if you really feel you need to. 

[Jig Man]

I've been using wire from a burned out table saw for over 10 years. When I run out of it I have another motor just waiting to take over.

[Canyon explorer]

You have received some really good advice and options for gettin more  involved in creating jigs. I started about twenty years ago with a lead pot and three molds. I first learned how to make good consistent quality jig heads That I sold to help me get started. Pouring jig heads is not hard but there is a knack do doing it with little or no rejects. I also joined local bass clubs tied to BASS and FLW which provided the basis for a good network to market some jigs as I develpoed my skills. I was also able to secure reliable source for lead at little or no cost, which helps a bunch.

 

Good Luck,

 

CE