Questions about making jigs

[dollarbill300]

Ok, I am a new to making my own jigs and have some questions. When I melt the lead, I have noticed a multi color, thick sludge on the top. I read somewhere that that is normal for soft lead. Should I leave it, or scoop that part out? Even when the hot pot was still plugged in and very hot, this sludge dried up and became very hard, covering the bottom of the pot. How do I get this off? I have read on here that some people use copper wire to tie on their skirts. I changed some light fixtures in my house and ripped out all the copper wire that was in those fixtures. I stripped them down to just the wire and noticed they are several individual threads braided together. Do I separate these wires, or just use the braided wires? Thanks.

[Siebert Outdoors]

Leave the sludge unless it floats to the top.  It smokes alot and stinks.  Along with making it hard to pour.

Use  approx 20 ga wire for tying.  Home wire is 12-14 usually and way too thick.

[dollarbill300]

Thanks for the response. Yeah, it does stink. So, I shouldn't try and scrape it off the bottom. What if that stuff starts to build up over time?

I made a new batch of jigs this morning and put them into an oven to make the powder paint more durable. I bought a cheapo toaster oven. The bake setting has a temperature of anywhere from 400-425 degrees, which I cannot control. The jars of pro-tec say to cure at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. Since the setting for temps was at 400-425, I shortened the time to 15 minutes. The only way I can set a temp of 350 was to put it on toast. Not long after they were in the oven, the paint started to bubble up on most of them. Some of them were very small runs just below the eyelet, barely noticeable. But one of them had a large run that left a big bubble of paint hanging down. Did I do something wrong? Even with these small bumps, will that be ok to use them to fish.

[cadman]

Thanks for the response. Yeah, it does stink. So, I shouldn't try and scrape it off the bottom. What if that stuff starts to build up over time?

I made a new batch of jigs this morning and put them into an oven to make the powder paint more durable. I bought a cheapo toaster oven. The bake setting has a temperature of anywhere from 400-425 degrees, which I cannot control. The jars of pro-tec say to cure at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. Since the setting for temps was at 400-425, I shortened the time to 15 minutes. The only way I can set a temp of 350 was to put it on toast. Not long after they were in the oven, the paint started to bubble up on most of them. Some of them were very small runs just below the eyelet, barely noticeable. But one of them had a large run that left a big bubble of paint hanging down. Did I do something wrong? Even with these small bumps, will that be ok to use them to fish.

First of all I would put an accurate oven thermometer in your oven. Just because the dial says 400 degrees doesn't mean it's 400 degrees. It could actually be baking at 450 or 350. That's step #1.

Step #2. If you have too much paint on the jig and you bake it, paint will run down forming tear drops or nipples.

Step #3. If you are getting bubbling paint in your toaster oven, it is way too hot. You will have to turn it down, put it on toast, or get another oven. Check your temp at all these setting with a thermometer.

Finally yes you can use these jigs. They may be unsightly but the fish don't care. If you are going to sell them or give them to a friend and you are ashamed of them. Strip them down and re-paint them and bake again. We all have to learn somewhere. Keep trying you will get it down and in no time you will be pro at it. Practice makes perfect. Just my 2 cents worth.

[FuzzyGrub]

I have read on here that some people use copper wire to tie on their skirts. I changed some light fixtures in my house and ripped out all the copper wire that was in those fixtures. I stripped them down to just the wire and noticed they are several individual threads braided together. Do I separate these wires, or just use the braided wires? Thanks.

You don't want braided wire.   It is too flexible and does not retain a bend.  You want solid core enameled magnet wire.  20ga as mentioned above or something close.  If you are trying to recycle, a medium size electric motor may have the right gauge size.   I opened a broken washing machine motor and a microwave blower motor.  The latter had too small a diameter, and the former a little too large.

[Jig Man]

I have been recycling a table saw motor for over 10 years and it looks like I have another 10 years of wire left in the thing.

No matter where you get your lead you will find some imputities which will float or sink.  Once in a while I dip the stuff off the top and a couple of times a year I empty the pot and give it a good cleaning.  The rest of the time I flux.

[SWMIBASSER]

save your self the trouble. When I tie jigs I don't use wire. I hand tie them with braid. Flares the skirt nicely, is easy work with, lasts virtually forever, and is usually a green color which blends in with about every color.

I usually give the "thread" a thin coat of clear nail polish.