Fatman

Tiny, The manual is available from Janns for about $8+ shipping or check alibris, abe books or amazon. com for used ones which are running about $9 and up + shipping. Break down and get the brand new one from Jann's, they have it spiral bound now which makes using it easier than the old one. Fatman

Depending on what your looking for check with the Worth Company, http://www.worthco.com/fish/ they have pretty decent prices

Never heard of them before but you could also check with Crazy Angler Tackle http://stores.crazyanglertackle.com/StoreFront.bok he does kind of the same thing with Blank do-it molds. Just another place to check Fatman

Not sure if this company Dolphin sports is even around or active anymore last update I've seen is 2002. They took over the sales of Hilts. First link is the site and the second is a black and white picture of the jig. Dolphin Sports page http://www.hiltsmolds.com/Companyinfo.htm Improved Darter jig http://www.hiltsmolds.com/DarterJigMolds.htm

Glad I could help Fatman

JoAnne's fabrics has some stuff called Jelly Rope and another is Stretch magic. Just remember this is full round stretch material and doesn't come in all the colors like v-rib. It can be colored with Prism markers but it doesn't look as good as the real v-rib. Fatman

Tux, The vise is an old Thompson Model A. They are no longer made and every knock off I have ever seen is a piece of crap, the jaws hold for a few months and then crap out. I have two of them and as old as they are they're great. You can find them on THAT auction site but you might not like the price (the vise ain't bad but what some of them want for shipping will give you heart failure). Besides Fly tying I also tie crappie jigs and bucktails up to 1/4 oz. I've been tying on a Dyna-King Kingfisher for the last 3 years, my Thompsons are my travel vise's. If you have any other questions let me know Fatman

Old Bass Man I looked at the wordens catalouge and they carry them in kits. This is copied from the catalouge http://beta.yakimabait.com/YBC_Catalog_2011.pdf?bcsi_scan_143B3A2AD912E4FF=0&bcsi_scan_filename=YBC_Catalog_2011.pdf Spreader Bar Accessory kit Part SPreader NO. bar for: 925 F-5 926 F-6 927 F-7 928-3G U-20 (3-Gang) #10 Trebles 928-4G U-20 (4-Gang) #8 Trebles 929-3G T-4 (3-Gang) #6 Trebles 929-4G T-4 (4-Gang) #6 Trebles 930 X-4 #7 Trebles 931 X-5 #6 Trebles KItS Include: 3 Spreader Bars pre-rigged with treble hooks. Packaged 12 per box. Might have to find someone with a tax id number to order of your local shop can't. Every time I try to explode the picture to get a good look at the hanger it distorts it. If you got a good picture of the hanger maybe we could try and make them but I also don't know the wire diameter. If you're not looking for a lot of them might be less hassle to order them. Fatman

Thanks Cadman!!!!!!! Got the jig and the extra goodie from the Lead Pot contest and it's Awesome!!!!!!!!!! Thanks so much. Fatman

I read this yesterday at work and I had to wait until I got home to pull the pots to look at them, now I have 2 pots that look like the one on the right in the photo, except neither one of mine has holes in the back!!!!!!!!!! The first one I got in 1984 and the second one in 1987, now I know you pour WAY more than me but that's the first time I've seen that style melter with holes in the back so thanks for all the info. I've seen the RCBS pots and they are sweet although they do cost a bit, but with as much as you pour it should pay itself off over a shorter period of time. You'll see them on ebay once in a while but not often. As others have said Midwayusa carries them and they're $354.99 right now (RCBS on their site list's them at $453, you'd save about a $100). Good luck on your decision. I'll pm my address, thanks for a great contest and MOST OF ALL all the help you provide us, even casting for 30+ years I've learned alot of better ways of doing things. Thanks, Fatman

As I don't have a Tax ID number Mine goes to Capt Hooks, quick delivery and never a problem Fatman

I know alot of us who pour jig heads don't always paint them right away so another good thing about vinegar is using it do get oily fingerprints, oxidation and really helps paint go on withoug problems. This is straight out of Ken Oberechts Anglers Guide to Jigs and Jigging. This book may be old but there's some really good info in it. Fatman

Kandy I'd try calling them instead of email. Toll free (877) 845-3009 715-845-3009

Kandy No problem!!!! I've gotten so much help here on this site I'm glad to pass some info back in. Fatman

Kandy I'm wondering if this product will help you out. I saw it at CS coatings site, it's a rack that holds up to 2 oz jig heads. They also say if you need different sizes they can be made to custom sizes. http://www.csipaint.com/products/production-tools/aluminum-clamping-rack.asp Just another idea along with all the others you've been given Fatman

checked out the sites you listed and the baits look really good!!!!!!!!!!!!! Congrats!!!!! Fatman

Jig, Everything I've read here or seen YouTube video's shows em powder painting the jig head then drilling the hole out then glueing the weedguard in. You seem to have a pretty good system even though it may take a while. So I'd have to say if what you're doing is working so far I'd stick with it. I know some guys up here in Vermont who buy the little rubber bands like they used to use with brace's (teeth), and they'd stretch it from the eyelet to the the hook barb and it seemed to work pretty good. Fatman

In Kenn Oberrichts book Angler's Guide to Jigs and Jigging, Ken makes a comment about the toughest coating he had seen even though it wasn't perfect was the old Burke jigs. He then says to the effect "If you ever find a coating that doesn't chip, let me know so I can invest in your process and get rich too"!!!!! This pretty well sums it up. If you get in the rocks you're gonna chip heads no matter what you do, it's just part of the game and something I really don't worry about. Fatman

When I don't want to buy those I get a bunch of old tube baits use a bic lighter to seal the bottom and I have an old metal coring tool that's hollow and used for making holes for inserting rattles. I poke a bunch of holes and they work great for stink bait. http://www.lurenet.com/productdetail.aspx?id=4652

Don't see any problem with getting them heated and coated BUT when you're done I don't think you should leave your raw powder out in yoour garage it could clump up or harder with any moisture changes. Fatman

I have a deal with my wife, I use the oven and when I'm done I fully clean it. My painting pans are cheap aluminum bread pans. I straighten the edges use a hole punch and fold the edges over. I can get about 30 -40 jigs per pan and I load them up till I have 6 full pans. Not only do I use the bread pans for drips if they happen but three of the pans go on a cookie sheet (old ones, my wife gave them to me after I bought her new ones). 6 pans cure at the same time in the oven. Like others have said you didn't put what you were using for a curing oven??? One tip I can give you NO MATTER what you're using for an oven go to WalMart or Target or wherever and get a 3-4 dollar in oven thermometer like this http://www.target.com/s?keywords=oven%20thermometer&afid=google&CPNG=kitchen&LNM=Oven%20thermometer&LID=26p1206266&adgroup=tools%20gadgets&MT=broad&AFID=google&KID=7a18e7bb-fa99-57c8-2ab3-000075e0141d&ref=tgt_adv_XS000000 just to make sure you're getting the right temp. toaster ovens are notorious for being way off temp. Fatman

Hawn Yes I do with my one bottom pour. I just keep scraping the sides and bottom and get out as much as I can. As I've posted before I had NEVER fluxed my lead and when the thread came up on it I tried and thought it was great!!!! Now I always do it. I'm probably one of the few who ALWAYS emptys my pot after I'm done and clean it really well, just my preference and then I'm ready for the next time. My pot looks beat but I sure as heck can't complain I've really gotten my money's worth. Fatman

Tease LOL

I'd start with the french blades, use the kit to gauge if you're going to like making your own spinners. If you decide to stick with it then you can just go CRAZY when you start buying stuff to continue. Making your own spinners is just as contagious as pouring your own jigs, tying your own flys or pouring plastics. You'll end up with enough materials to make spinners for years. Fatman

I'd say your old sinkers were really dirty, I've done the same thing when Vermont made sinkers less than 1/2 oz illegal to use I melted them down and while not as dirty as what you show it was still dirty. I'd get a paint stick, cut it in half and use it to scrape the sides and bottom of the pot then use an old spoon to take the dirty stuff out. Reflux a few times and it should clean it right up. I've been using my bottom pour since the 1980's to clean my lead and it's still going strong. I would NOT drill out the pour hole, I use an old jig with the barb cut off and bent into an L shape and I push it up into the pour hole and it usually takes care of it. I do agree with Hawn, keep that batch of lead separate and use it all up. Then start with fresh lead. Fatman