lead types

[MCBC Bassin]

I dont know if there is a problem with using any old lead you can find at a salvage yard for jig making but if you know of any please let me know I am newin the jig making world buts its eventually gotta be cheaper and more satisfing making them.

[MFBAB]

I'm about to get started myself.  A good tip I found in an article is scuba diving weights.  I think the lead is fairly clean and can be found for around $2.50 a pound. 

[Jigfishn10]

A lot of times, I get lead from a friend who has an automotive service station and he gives me wheel weights. They are made of lead, but they are an alloy. You really have to heat them up and make sure you spoon out the scum off the top. It's can be a pain, but he gives them to me for free and the extra work for free material works for me. Sometimes you'll hear that type of lead as being hard lead where as a pure lead would be termed as soft lead.

I've also had good luck with lead flashing material you can get at like a Home Depot in the roofing section.

If you have any old lead bullet weights or egg sinkers, you may as well use them up. The price of lead has gotten a little ridicules, so I've been resorting to these, especially when you go through a boatload of jigs like I tend to.

JMHO

[Jig Man]

I dont know if there is a problem with using any old lead you can find at a salvage yard for jig making but if you know of any please let me know I am newin the jig making world buts its eventually gotta be cheaper and more satisfing making them.

I have used a lot of lead sources in the years of making jigs (wheel weights, printer's lead, plumbers lead, radio active medicine containers, X-ray room lead coated walls, etc.)  The softer the lead the lower the melting point.  One of the most important things you can do is learn how to flux your lead.  If that is a new term, do a google search and find out about it.

[Siebert Outdoors]

I'm about to get started myself. A good tip I found in an article is scuba diving weights. I think the lead is fairly clean and can be found for around $2.50 a pound.

Thats pretty expensive.  I'd do more searching.  Jigman has some good pointers.

[Skeeterman225]

I've seen some on ebay before for around 1.50lb plus shipping. Think they were shipping 50lbs in a 10 dollar flat rate box.

[Jig Man]

I have never paid even 1penny for lead and I must have at least 300 # of it in the barn.  Check around there are lots of free and or cheap sources.

[Jigfishn10]

Jig Man, have you used bismuth? This is our last year with lead jigs up here and I need an alternative.

[MFBAB]

Jig Man, after you mentioned Fluxing I did a quick google search and found a great thread on TackleUnderground about it, thanks for the suggestion.  Hope it's OK to post this link to another forum here, this is very informative, especially for a beginner like me.

http://www.tackleunderground.com/community/topic/13369-best-lead-melt-flux/

[Siebert Outdoors]

Jig Man, have you used bismuth? This is our last year with lead jigs up here and I need an alternative.

I have.  Its more difficult to work with then lead but the melting point is alot lower.  It works great in non detailed molds.  I tried it in a poisen mold and it was almost impossible to get out.

[Jigfishn10]

Thanks GMAN. Much appreciative.

I was looking up the properties on it and it seems to be lighter as well. It seems like you need to cast a 1/2 oz mold to yeild a 3/8 oz jig, you think that's about right?

[Siebert Outdoors]

Thanks GMAN. Much appreciative.

I was looking up the properties on it and it seems to be lighter as well. It seems like you need to cast a 1/2 oz mold to yeild a 3/8 oz jig, you think that's about right?

That is really close.  I did some weight measurements and my 3/4 poisen was almost exactly 1/2 oz.

It makes really nice lighter bulky baits.  I just hate how expensive it is.

[Jig Man]

Jig Man, have you used bismuth? This is our last year with lead jigs up here and I need an alternative.

No I haven't.  I had done quite a bit of babbett.  It is good but you can't do it in a Lee pot because it melts at over 1000° so it has to be heated really hot and ladeled.

[Jigfishn10]

Jig Man, have you used bismuth? This is our last year with lead jigs up here and I need an alternative.

No I haven't. I had done quite a bit of babbett. It is good but you can't do it in a Lee pot because it melts at over 1000° so it has to be heated really hot and ladeled.

That's new one on me. How is that as far as price? Not trying to be a pain in the butt, but I have 1 more year of jig fishing which is like goin thru DT's.