Ned rig jig heads

[digitalvoid]

I've started fishing with some UL gear and love the Mule Fishing Donkey Tail Jr's and the jig heads. 

 

I'm curious to know if there are molds for tungsten? Or is tungsten just too expensive to make things like that? Are there molds that allow you to make heavier jig heads, but maintain panfish size hooks? I'm thinking of something that would be be more than 1/32 but not heavier than 1/16. 

 

It seems that the the heavier the lure the bigger the hook. I suppose for some lures that would kill the action. Maybe someone here would be able to get in touch with me about a possible order. 

 

Thanks and have a good one!

 

Pete 

[Bluebasser86]

2 hours ago, digitalvoid said:

I've started fishing with some UL gear and love the Mule Fishing Donkey Tail Jr's and the jig heads. 

 

I'm curious to know if there are molds for tungsten? Or is tungsten just too expensive to make things like that? Are there molds that allow you to make heavier jig heads, but maintain panfish size hooks? I'm thinking of something that would be be more than 1/32 but not heavier than 1/16. 

 

It seems that the the heavier the lure the bigger the hook. I suppose for some lures that would kill the action. Maybe someone here would be able to get in touch with me about a possible order. 

 

Thanks and have a good one!

 

Pete 

Tungsten requires too high temperature to melt recreationally. I have the Midwest Finesse 1/16oz mold and have used hooks as small as #6 in it. 

[smalljaw67]

Tungsten isn't melted and poured. Jigs and weights are made using a process called sintering. When you see Tungsten products you'll notice most are 97% Tungsten. The reason is they have copper and/or nickel added to it. This alloy is then put into special molds that compresses the alloy under extreme pressure to generate enough heat to melt the nickel and/or copper. That molten metal then binds the Tungsten together. All sintered Tungsten is made in China and not due to environmental reasons, it is because of the engineering and machining cost for the equipment. There is Tungsten made in Japan, Keitech manufactures them but it isn't sintered Tungsten. They use a mix of resin and Tungsten powder that is injected into molds under low pressure and there is a difference. Take a 1/4oz Keitech Tungsten jig head and the same size Eco Pro or other brand Tungsten jig head and look at the difference in size and feel. The Keitech Tungsten heads will be larger because the resin mix isn't as dense as there is less Tungsten because it requires more resin to bind it. Now, all of this information was told to me quite a few years back by a guy that imported Tungsten jigs and weights. He would make trips to China and got to see a little bit of the process so I'm taking his word but it makes sense. I'm writing this because I see a lot of people asking if they can make their own Tungsten jigs at home and the answer is no. Now, you can buy Tungsten powder and epoxy resin but what you make will be time consuming and expensive and won't have the density of lead so it kind of defeats the purpose of doing it. 

[HaydenS]

On 6/21/2021 at 8:32 AM, smalljaw67 said:

Tungsten isn't melted and poured. Jigs and weights are made using a process called sintering. When you see Tungsten products you'll notice most are 97% Tungsten. The reason is they have copper and/or nickel added to it. This alloy is then put into special molds that compresses the alloy under extreme pressure to generate enough heat to melt the nickel and/or copper. That molten metal then binds the Tungsten together. All sintered Tungsten is made in China and not due to environmental reasons, it is because of the engineering and machining cost for the equipment. There is Tungsten made in Japan, Keitech manufactures them but it isn't sintered Tungsten. They use a mix of resin and Tungsten powder that is injected into molds under low pressure and there is a difference. Take a 1/4oz Keitech Tungsten jig head and the same size Eco Pro or other brand Tungsten jig head and look at the difference in size and feel. The Keitech Tungsten heads will be larger because the resin mix isn't as dense as there is less Tungsten because it requires more resin to bind it. Now, all of this information was told to me quite a few years back by a guy that imported Tungsten jigs and weights. He would make trips to China and got to see a little bit of the process so I'm taking his word but it makes sense. I'm writing this because I see a lot of people asking if they can make their own Tungsten jigs at home and the answer is no. Now, you can buy Tungsten powder and epoxy resin but what you make will be time consuming and expensive and won't have the density of lead so it kind of defeats the purpose of doing it. 

WOW!  That is really interesting!  Thanks for sharing!

[ChrisD46]

On 6/21/2021 at 1:08 AM, Bluebasser86 said:

Tungsten requires too high temperature to melt recreationally. I have the Midwest Finesse 1/16oz mold and have used hooks as small as #6 in it. 

 

On 6/21/2021 at 1:08 AM, Bluebasser86 said:

Tungsten requires too high temperature to melt recreationally. I have the Midwest Finesse 1/16oz mold and have used hooks as small as #6 in it. 

*What Bluebasser 86 stated !! Owner #5313 in size #1 placed in a Midwest Finest 1/16th oz. jig head is the defacto standardhttps://barlowstackle.com/Owner-5313-Jig-Hook--P440/  ... Go down to a #2 and  #4 hook size (Owner 5318)  as conditions , soft plastic sizes dictate http://www.luremaking.com/catalogue/catalogue-index/catalogue-items/hooks/owner_5318.htm . I could spend a life time with just the #2 hook size with this jig head and never look back . Lastly after making the jig head with the #4 and #2 hook sizes - experiment with bending the hook point up ever so slightly about 1 degree which can lead to better hook ups . If your waters have a fair amount of obstructions at or near the bottom - do not hesitate to drop down to a smaller  #4 hook size which will prevent more hang ups .  I also like the Eagle Claw 'Lil Nasty for Ned Jig Heads in #2 and #4 sizes : http://www.luremaking.com/catalogue/catalogue-index/catalogue-items/hooks/500_nasty.htm .