Fatman

Psilver I understand what you're doing cooling the eye and swivel but how much of your powder gets clumped up/un-usable from water drips???? The heated heads don't stay that hot for too long even using a heat gun. Fatman

I was lucky on another site and won a fluid bed 4 inch. After the two parties that ran it split the site I was worried I wasn't gonna get it but eventually did. Not only the 4 inch but also a small 2 inch, for all the time I had to wait getting it. Gotta get a good blower for it. I've seen fluid beds on ebay (I believe they're TJ's) but the biggest laugh I've gotten about it lately is some bozo is actually selling PLANS for making them for $4.95-$5.95. That's pretty nuts. Fatman

Love makeing inline spinners - I have two different wire spinners - hand held http://www.jannsnetcraft.com/wire-forming-tools/032040000009.aspx and also the Netcraft wire former http://www.jannsnetcraft.com/wire-forming-tools/041571000006.aspx bought it in 1980 and I'm still using it - only paid $7.95 back then one of the best buys I've made. You can make pretty much whatever you want with it. I make more of the Mepps style. I like your spinners and it's an easy assembly which is great for folks new to the sport. I'd like to get a Boggs wire former as it takes larger size wire's. Fatman

psv On your spinnerbait heads is that a double coat of powder??? It looks like a white base coat with the Veining powder over the top. Fatman

I'm sorry after everything I keep hearing about the guy not only here but every board I'm on with a tackle crafting section, but cmon 2008!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It's time to put the smakdown on the guy and maybe he'll wake up!!!!!!!!!!! Your choice but if it was me I'd fry the guy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If you decide to file charges start here: http://www.ic3.gov/default.aspx Fatman

Here's some pictures of molds from tekcast, shows some angles of wires on spinnerbaits and some of hooks and how to cast a whole heck of alot of bell sinkers at one time!!!!!!!!! http://www.tekcast.com/pdf/fishing.pdf I'd love to make one up for flying lure jig heads, got plenty of bodies but hardly any jigs Hope this helps Fatman

Wish I worked for a place like that!!!!!!! I'd definately design some jig molds and pour a few hundred jigs at a time!!!! Is your company giving you a discount on the pewter your going to use?? Let's see some when you finish Fatman

Most of the heads you buy through tackle stores are lead, unless you specifically buy lead free heads you're getting real lead head jigs. I've been pouring 30+ years and I have no lead level when my blood is tested. Gloves, glasses, long sleeves, long pants, boots SAFETY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! pure and simple. Why lead cause it's still cheap and still legal. I'm hoping someone will come out with a material that melts, pours and weighs the same as lead but is lead free but I haven't seen it yet available in to home melters at the same cost as lead. If you want to pour, pour but follow the safety rules and enjoy your home made products. If you don't want to, just buy the premade heads and paint them, plenty of folks pouring and selling. Fatman

Toadfrog Which mold is the pch-4-a - I have the mold with collar and without collar. What sizes does the pch4a make??? They may have renumbered it, as there's lot's of them out there. As far as making them I guess I'm just lucky I don't have any problems making them. Fatman

For you guys that pour your own blade baits who do find the best and cheapest for the nickle and brass blanks???? I finally got one of the old ZR model molds (Silver Buddy) and I need to get blanks for it. I'm looking at quantities of 100 each in brass and nickle in the small and large. Thanks Fatman

In between heating batchs of jig heads I clean the eyes on the ones I've dipped. After curing they're nice an clean and I don't worry about it. Fatman

Ditto #3 - Just have to work on getting a good thin even coat so you don't get them. I've been a dipper for years, and I don't get too many anymore with the extra paint nipple. I just won a fluid bed in a site drawing from another board and just have to get my tubing and air blower then the learning process starts all over again. Read Cadmans sig under his replys Practice Practice Practice and more Practice and when you think you've got it right Practice some more!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I think it pretty well sums it up Fatman

Vt Phisher I can understand the wanting to switch over with the laws the way they are here in Vermont. I live up the road in Northfield and I pour what I can legally. That of course leaves out the split shot and under 1/2 ounce sinkers. I've been doing the research thing on non-lead for a while and Pewter is looking better and better although I've been checking out this stuff from American Tin and Solder it's ATS 75B 75 Tin 17.5 Antimony and 7.5 bismuth. Good luck with the switchover. Fatman

Are you talking for the jig heads??? or the plastic bait's??? or both??? I ask because if you go over to www.crappie.com in the Jigmaking/jig tying section you'll see all kinds of different jig heads for crappie. Now some of them are altered but they'yre different. The plastics section has where guys are getting aluminum molds made for some cool looking baits. Fatman

I got burned once by PayPal not backing me up so I dumped them!!!!!!!! I still shop on ebay for items I want, I just send an email asking if they'll accept a USPS money order, most accept and say yes some say no. Actually with a USPS money order you have just as much protection as with PayPal, keep your receipt and emails showing everything to do with the deal and you're protected. Fatman

Even if they pull all the molds, people will still make pop or rtv molds of them to cast their own. Fatman

They look good!!!!!!! Hey when you don't make alot of them buying 10-15 pre-formed and just painting and putting them together is fine. Fatman

When I use it I have the two part mix from Janns Netcraft. I mix it in the cupped end of a soda can and I've done 40 jigs with a clear coat before I have to mix up more. Works well for me. Fatman

What kind of melter are you using??? If you have a bottom pour I keep mine between 600-700 degrees. If you're just using a hot pot or pot with propane burner, I'd say get a RCBS thermometer, the guys ovr at Cast Bullits recommend this one. http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=357906 If you don't want the expense of a thermometer stick with only pure lead and leave the tire weights alone. Unless you're buying straight PURE lead, if you manage to get some tire weights you have to watch for Zinc ones. They can really mess up a load of lead. Without the thermometer I'd say make sure the sheen on the melted lead stays a purpleish color, on my Lee Pro Pot IV that's between 600-700 degrees. Fatman

You can use it but I'd make sure of some really good ventalation!!!!!! I'd melt it down and clean it in a WELL VENTILATTED area. I go to Cast Bullits.com and some of the folks there have talked about using the older shot, but that some brands had been coated with a powder or chemical. Good to use and shouldn't take long to start melting but like I said good ventallation, flux it and clean it then you won't have any worries. Have fun and be safe!!! Fatman

Glad to hear you're okay!!!!!!!! I got burned in my left eye when I was 13, and I'm carefull as heck now. Nothing like a hot splatter of lead to wake you up quick!!!! Be safe buddy!!!!!! Fatman

whalernut This sounds like some really cool material, but ?? you say once you pour it you hve to boil for 10 minutes?? Are you boiling just the head you pour or putting the whole mold in the water and boiling???? I really see some cool possibilities with this stuff, can you tell us more about it and show some of what your making??? Inquiring minds whant to know. At $13 dollars that's not bad at all. Fatman

When I first watched the video on this I quite literally CRINGED!!!!!!!!!!!!!! How in the hell do you post something like that on youtube for kids to watch!!!! I seen the results of burned skin from plastics and lead as well. To ignore any safety prodcedures especially soemone with his notoriety is quite simpley criminal!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Wear your safety gear everyone, it isn't worth getting hurt Fatman

They need to do away with name patents for any word that shows up in the Dictionary!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I know the same thing goes on with Blakemore and the Road Runner, Sorry I'm legal saying it as the Manufacturers name was mentioned with their product LOL. But like the that, baits like these were present WAY before they got trademarks and patents etc. When will it all end??? Fatman

I dont' worry about it too much when making my spinners. That little extra space allows the beads to bang against the shaft of the spinner and make noise, does it help catch more fish??? Not sure but every little bit helps Fatman