BLT

Don't have time for it anymore, but I used to do model train layouts. I did N scale size. Loved the detail I could get. I just love trains. Doing layouts, looking at old pics, finding a place to go to ride the old ones.

I make those ball jigs mostly in the 6 and 8oz. range. I do have some eyes for the 2,3 & 4oz I don't use much any more. Could probably let some of them go. Out of the 5 different size jigs on that mold, I only use 3 different size eyes.

If I have jigs with eyes, I have used nothing but minwax polyurethane and brush on 2 thin coats. I have used these jigs in fresh and saltwater, and it has held up. $18-$19 a can, last me 2 years doing many jigs to sell. The Devcon epoxy gives a jig a look of "depth" that my polyurethane does not, but I only use it to coat/seal the eyes. Thin coat, 1/2hour to 45 minutes later, second coat. Never had a customer complaint either of it not holding up. No drying wheel needed if you keep it thin enough. Never tried air brushing it. Have an endless supply of water base UV coating I can get for free at work, but that stuff we use stinks to high heavens, and I doubt the fish would like it lol. But boy the jigs would look great. We use it to coat magazine/catalog covers, so it is very flexible.

What size you looking for? I have some I may be able to give up, but they are mostly in the larger sizes.

Paint them and go fishing. Heck, I go fishing some times with unpainted jigs and rely on the swim bait color and action. Can't say I see a difference.

My Dad had a 50 gallon drum almost full of that stuff. Had a guy drive 4 hours to buy it off my Mom when he passed away. He wanted it for bullets. I won't use it.

I don't know how many you need, but if it is a lot, you can order by the roll direct from WTP

I don't do this with wheel weights, but I get lead pipe a lot and this is how I do it. I saw lead pipe blow crap out of the end one time from pressure build up from the pipe having a clog in it. BWHITE...I do have a friend that uses one of those colmen camping stoves. He has never had an issue yet, but he does like it better when I let him use my pot. He only does about 10#'S of lead at a time.

Wheel weights in the house? My vote is no. I use them for sinkers, and they get melted down outside for sure. When cleaned/fluxed, then I make pour them into blocks, and they can be used in the garage later, but even then, window/doors open, and fan at the window to draw the stank out. Wheel weights have a lot of nasty stuff in them that can be inhaled.

OK, here I thought the drop out was something different. I have/had a can of the Frankford Arsenal stuff, left someone borrow it before I even tried it, and now he doesn't know where it is lol. I'll have to "prod" him about it again and give it a try. Guys at work call me "old school". Heck, I'm still sporting a "dumb" phone lol.

"Finally, when I started to pour way back, I tried candle soot, and it never worked for me, I didn't see any difference in better pouring and the soot always made a mess on all my tools and hands. I love my Drop-Out, to me it is like pouring lead on a Teflon pan. It's all relative. There is no right or wrong way. You can have ten guys in a room pouring and everyone will has his own views on how things should be. All that matters is that it works for you." I haven't tried that Drop-Out stuff. May have to get a can. I agree with the soot not really being much help, and like all crafts, your last comment is spot on.

If that is the stuff I am thinking of, I got about 50-60 pounds of it for free this year, and it should keep coming also. They/we use it for setting the squeeze/distance between manufacturing cylinders. Put it between, turn the cylinders on compress, micrometer the flat spot on the lead. I also now have a contact I used to work with, who moved to the North East and they use lead sheeting a lot for roofing. He just dropped of 130# to me.

My RCBS pot goes to 850 degrees, how much hotter do you need it for what you are doing?

What blade are you using? I tried with a bimetal blade, didn't last long lol. I have some chunks that may have come from an xray room. flat hunks around 5/4" thick.

I thought the same thing as you. I can flux several times, and every time, more stuff comes up. Myself, I think the fire show is kind of fun lol.

If you have your tax numbers, let me know what hooks you are looking for, and I will see what they cost where I get mine. I get mine from Sea Mar tackle dist. I think they only deal with Mustad and Gammy hooks there. They also have tackle making items like beads, leader material, surgical tubing, different types of swivels and such.

Candle wax user here. Don't really need to use a big hunk either.

I'll give them a look, Thanks!

I use the duritin hooks a lot for saltwater. That was the main purpose for them, salt is not a hooks friend lol. Have not had issues with them. Use Mustad or Eagle claw. I know people that WANT bronze hooks because if it gets swallowed and you have to cut the hook off, it will rust out and pass through faster doing less harm. Opinions vary. I am a big fan of the Matzuo black chrome sickle hooks. Use them all the time fresh or saltwater. Have a lot of friends now that use only them also. Panfish, walleye and SMB.

I keep it to around 10 molds i use for production/sales. Most of my sales is two plain hook rigs with bucktail teasers on the top hook. Mostly for flounder, and atlantic Croaker. I may pour 3,000 jigs a year. That's it! Between my regular job and the killer hours, that's all the business I want.

Lol, some of you guys need to seek help! 100-120 molds lol. Do any of you have any Reading molds? I have about 8 of them, don't use them. You have to use vise grip clamps to hold them together while pouring. A real pain in the butt! I'm not even sure what the sell for now.

I did it just by doing the white base, then dipping brush into 2nd color and holding brush really high and tapping it. Used it on some wobble head jigs. I had to shut all window, turn fan off. Could not have any air movement or it would just make it to hard to control where and how much paint your were tapping off the brush. Do not load the brush up. I did not get the streaks mentioned.

If looking right now, I would get another Anvil vise. Used from #10-7/0 hooks on it. There is mention of rotary vise. You can have a Rotating vise, or a true rotary. A "true" rotary will rotate the hook and keep it level while turning, rotating will not. I have a Peak right now that is a true rotary and spent extra money on it, when just a rotating vise would have been all I needed. Not sure which you would want, but if you don't need that true rotary, you can save a few bucks by just getting the rotating one.

You can send regular powder through a Badger mini sandblaster air brush. Buy the air brush manifold at Harbor freight, have 2-3 air brushes and you are ready to go. I spent around $28 for mine at Amazon several years back, and it is a little more expensive now. http://www.amazon.com/Badger-Air-Brush-Co-260-1-Abrasive/dp/B0038D59UM/ref=sr_1_sc_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1446257599&sr=8-1-spell&keywords=Badger+sand+blaster I know there are others here that use it.

I've seen people use throttle springs for lawn mowers and such. Cut to length the size you need. They used a bolt held into the vise, put the spring on, and then the nut on the bolt to hold it on. Seen people us rivots to tie hair on also. Even read of someone using those bicycle tire spoke holders to tie hair on.