Pouring lead Jig heads

[Bsud]

Im wanting to start making my own jigs. I've ordered a pot and one mold, but after researching more, I'm kinda getting scared of melting and pouring. I'm wondering if I would be better off just buying bulk unpainted and custom making the rest? I'm eventually wanting to make and sell different varieties. So the question is should I pour or should I buy?

[Bluebasser86]

What about melting and pouring is scaring you? If you're wanting to make them to sell, pouring your own is going to be cheaper than buying someone else's. 

[smalljaw67]

If you have an area with good ventilation you'll be fine. The way most people get lead poisoning is through ingestion so don't eat, drink, or smoke while working with lead and make sure to wash your hands. The melting pots used will get your lead to about 900 degrees when turned up full but 5 or 6 is usually what is need and that will get the lead to around 725. This temp is important, the reason is that a lot fear of breathing in lead, it isn't going to happen because lead has to reach well over 1200 degrees to vaporize and become airborne, so if you use safety glasses, hot mill gloves, and have a good ventilated area to work in you should be fine. I also recommend cotton pants and long sleeve shirt, cotton won't melt if you accidently splash hot lead on your clothes, cotton blends with synthetics can, and will melt and stick to your skin.

[cadman]

The biggest thing I always tell anyone who wants to pour is this. Make sure you are organized and focused. By organized I mean, make sure you have all of your tools that you need while you're pouring at hand, and don't go searching around for anything. By focused, I mean take your time and since you're new to this, focus on what you are doing every step of the way. Don't rush to get things done. The more proficient you get at pouring, you will then pick up speed. Also make sure you do not get distracted, keep all kids, pets away from your work area. Don't answer phone calls, and tell everyone in your house that you will be pouring and to leave you alone. Too many distractions, and you may have a mishap. Don't leave your area when you have a pot full of hot lead, someone can walk by and touch it and get burned. Be very vigilant about what you are doing and your surroundings. Finally, being a little nervous is good, as this will keep you on your toes and keep you focused.  If you have further questions, I have some tutorials I can e-mail you. You can PM me if you like.

[Bsud]

I guess the main thing that's scaring me is reading all this about how easy it is to explode. I have an 10x10 outside building that has a 4' wide door I could leave open, and also raise a small window. I will have to run a fan in there anyway in summer because it gets hot with no air in there. Other than in there that's only place I have I can pour. As for the fumes and splashes I'm not really worried, because I will be wearing a make for lead and the appropriate clothing. 

[cadman]

There are only several ways lead will explode and if you take precautions then it will newer happen:

 

#1. Buy your lead from a reliable source, and make sure the lead is dry. When you start off do not use tire weights with clips, lead weight belts (Divers use), or any lead that has been sitting in water or outside in the rain.

 The reason being water and lead do not mix.

#2. You will be sweating in the summertime. Do not let your sweat drip into a hot lead pot. Another recipe for disaster.

#3. You will also be thirsty. Put your water or beverage far away from your lead pot, so the two don't come in contact. Also don't drink alcohol while pouring, for the obvious reasons.

#4. You will attract flies and flying insects if you are pouring at night. Try not to pour at night, reason being is any bugs that fly into the pot might make the lead explode, as bugs have moisture in their bodies.

#5. When you add lead to your existing pot, put it in slowly, so you steam off any moisture,

 

The above items are the things to look out for and why lead would explode. Finally if anything wear eye protection and a face shield. If you burn your hand(s) that will recover. if you burn your eyes, well that is a whole lot worse. Not trying to scare you but, take as many precautions as possible and enjoy the hobby.

[Bsud]

So will the building I mentioned above be good enough and enough ventilation? Also can there not be something laid over top of pot to keep moisture and bugs out? Also I ordered my lead ingots from do it molds, its a 99.9% pure lead in bags. I got 10lb to start, not sure how many heads that will pour but I assume a bunch. I would appreciate any respirator mask reccomendation as well. Thanks for the replies so far guys!

[Bsud]

Let me ask this question, would injecting plactics be a easier and safer way to go as far as making custom baits? It looks like more fun, and I could just cancel my jig order since it hasn't been shipped yet and get the startup kit for plastics.

[gaspumper]

If your afraid of pouring lead,I wouldn't be thinking of pouring plastics.....

[cadman]

5 hours ago, Bsud said:

So will the building I mentioned above be good enough and enough ventilation? Also can there not be something laid over top of pot to keep moisture and bugs out? Also I ordered my lead ingots from do it molds, its a 99.9% pure lead in bags. I got 10lb to start, not sure how many heads that will pour but I assume a bunch. I would appreciate any respirator mask reccomendation as well. Thanks for the replies so far guys!

 

While you are pouring lead, just make sure of your surroundings and what you are doing. Don't be in a rush and everything will be fine. I pour in my garage, without a respirator. Like smalljaw mentioned above, the only way you will get lead poisoning is through  your mouth and or when lead is boiling. Your pot will never get that hot for the lead to boil. If you want to wear a respirator that is fine as well. Ventilation is always good. Put a small fan around your pot to draw away any fumes if you are worried. Just don't aim the fan at the pot, otherwise you will be cooling your pot and it will never get hot. The lead you ordered is excellent. I mentioned buying good lead, because many guys want to go the cheap route when they start pouring and use free weights they get from the local tire shop. The local tire shop lead is mixed with all kind of garbage, and if you get really hard lead it is going to be difficult for a beginner to pour. BTW the 99% pure lead from Do-It will be soft lead and excellent for pouring. What kind of pot did you get?

[cadman]

I sent you an e-mail per your request. Check for it, it may go to spam.

[Bsud]

1 hour ago, cadman said:

I sent you an e-mail per your request. Check for it, it may go to spam.

Yes I got the email thanks. BTW to answer you question, the pot I ordered is the Lee 10lb bottom pour.

16 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

What about melting and pouring is scaring you? If you're wanting to make them to sell, pouring your own is going to be cheaper than buying someone else's. 

The possible explosion part of it is what scares me. They rest of it I'm not worried about because I will wear the proper things.

[cadman]

A bottom pour pot is easier to use and safer than pouring with the "Hot Pot II". Don't worry about the explosion part, just be cautious with every move you make so, you don't get burned. The reason there are so many concerns, is that lead is very hot, and if you get burned, it is not like getting sunburn on your hand, it is serious. I don't know how old you are, but just use some common sense and you will be fine. Most of all enjoy the pouring part. Then you will have to paint the jigs and skirt them. Once you get past your few, you will be fine.

[Bsud]

10 minutes ago, cadman said:

A bottom pour pot is easier to use and safer than pouring with the "Hot Pot II". Don't worry about the explosion part, just be cautious with every move you make so, you don't get burned. The reason there are so many concerns, is that lead is very hot, and if you get burned, it is not like getting sunburn on your hand, it is serious. I don't know how old you are, but just use some common sense and you will be fine. Most of all enjoy the pouring part. Then you will have to paint the jigs and skirt them. Once you get past your few, you will be fine.

Ok thanks for the encouragement! I'm going to keep my order because I've got a lot of skirt material and powder paint coming with the pot lead and I'm starting with a brush jig mold. I know it will be fun and hope to sell a few in the process. I was just concerned after researching the things that could go wrong. Is just a pair of leather gloves good enough or do I need some special?

[Karma]

I have never heard of anyone exploding while pouring lead....

 

I mean, I guess it could happen if you were cooking your meth in the same shack but I am pretty sure you are going to be fine.

 

I use a Lee pot melting pot that pours out of the bottom when I pull a lever, wear googles and a respirator, thick gloves and long sleeves and no open toed shoes, if any of it goes flying through the air its usually going to be a very small drop and will harden before hitting you but it will still be hot.

[Bsud]

23 minutes ago, Karma said:

I have never heard of anyone exploding while pouring lead....

 

I mean, I guess it could happen if you were cooking your meth in the same shack but I am pretty sure you are going to be fine.

 

I use a Lee pot melting pot that pours out of the bottom when I pull a lever, wear googles and a respirator, thick gloves and long sleeves and no open toed shoes, if any of it goes flying through the air its usually going to be a very small drop and will harden before hitting you but it will still be hot.

Lol! No cooka no meth here! What's a good respirator and gloves to use?

[Karma]

2 hours ago, Bsud said:

Lol! No cooka no meth here! What's a good respirator and gloves to use?

 

A P100 respirator from Lowes. I think I dropped $40 on it.. the gloves, just cheap leather work gloves.

 

I make hundreds of football jigs, finesse jigs, arky jigs, swim jigs.... I think you will be ok.

[Bsud]

Let me ask this, researching more what goes into pouring "Lead free"? I'm sure its more expensive, but what materials are involved and is it melted and poured the same way?

[Bsud]

Actually I did change my mind, and canceled my jig order. Im going to start with plastics and its not so much me being scared of lead but more so as I researched plastics just look more fun to me with all the color options you can create. Also as I get better I can sell those just as I could the Jigs. Actually the startup on the plastic supplies was not much more cost than jigs actually bout the same. Not sure how many plastics I can get out of a gallon of plastisol but again from research it looks like a lot! So to me it doesn't look much different but more fun. I can always get into Jig heads and spinnerbaits later.