Leaderboard

It depends on the use of the crankbait on the rise, i personally like everything but my really deep divers and my susp. jerkbaits to rise really fast because i fish really heavy cover and the fast rise helps me to not get hung up as often.

I as well do something similar to smalljaw. Only thing different is always make sure each mold is covered with "Drop out" and I use a 100 watt bulb with the clamp on reflector shield aimed at my hooks in a black old teflon frying pan. The 100 watt bulb keeps the hooks very warm depending on how high you adjust the bulb from the hooks.

I do it the same way since 2005 and it works well. I put the mold on top of the pot and then turn the pot on. After the lead is melted I run 5 blank pours without hooks and I have an ingot mold under the mold as lead will come out on some molds. The only time I warm hooks is in the winter when it gets cold. I have a small stainless steel dog bowl that I put the hooks in. I heat the bowl with a torch for about 8 to 10 seconds and my hooks will stay warm for 20 minutes or so until I have to heat the bowl again. Remember, I only warm my hooks so they stay a little warmer than the room temp. The bowl is hot but the hooks on top only get warm, maybe 75 degrees. You don't need hot hooks, just warm and I only do that when it is really cold.

You can use 1/16 drill bits for pouring. When you are going to powder paint, stick in small 1/16" copper wire in the weedguard holes, once powder is applied immediately take out the copper wire, and hang jig on rack for baking. Copper wire can be re-used over and over. Once you are done with all your painting, put all jigs in oven, bake ,let cool and then epoxy or glue in weedguards. This is the easiest and cleanest process in my opinion. If you have more questions PM me.