Kasilofchrisn

Do I get a bonus if I get a hole in one? I am really not interested in the concept myself but others may find it intriguing I supppose.

Most of the bumpy jigs he make are for vertical jigging AKA saltwater vertical jigging.So no casting required. I don't think he does it for casting distance but more for a different look. I suppose it may have a slightly differrent action when jigged but I haven't yet bought one to try.

Here is a dimpled lure for you guys. Actually it is a jig mold. Shawn collins has been making these for awhile. He calls it a bumpy jig. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Saltwater-D-Jig-3-Bumpy-mold-1-2-4oz-CNC-Aluminum-Diamond-/121401294244?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c4414bda4

No but the paint will be harder and last a lot longer if you do. You can also epoxy coat over them with D2T or something similiar. I always bake mine and the paint is incredibly durable. One of the biggest selling points of my jigs is the long lasting paint even after the jig is mushroomed on the end from pounding the rocks the paint still holds up.

I have read on here of guys trying plastic drinking straws. dip the straw in powder plug the end with your finger then release your finger and tap over the weight while it is hot. You can find different size plastic straws to get different size dots. The red plastic coffee stirrers are a good size to try and their free. I haven't tried it myself so good luck.

When you remelt the jig head hold the hook with pliers. When the lead has melted off inside the pot give the pliers a good thunk on the side of the pot and thehook should be clean enough to reuse. I have had sheet lead give me the rainbow sheen. It still works fine for me though it does seem to give me more dross even after fluxing. I am guessing there is an alloy in it causing the problem but I can't say for sure. To get the molds to fill out better try spraying the cavities with Frankford arsenalt's Drop out. It is a graphite mold release spray. http://www.barlowstackle.com/Casting-Release-Spray--P361C62.aspx

Thats too bad you can't get in contact with Shawn. Try Bob at :http://www.cncmolds.com/ He does good work in a reasonable time frame. I would certainly use him again.

I would have to agree with you there. Also realizing what his work cost and paying him without question (if you really want the mold) helps. I know some people are probably shocked to find out his work isn't double or triple what a do-it mold cost but more like 5-6 times. Especially if a lot of cad work is required or its a large mold. I have never balked at his prices or tried to negotiate with him on price. But quality cost money as does having something unique or at least something that isn't out there as much as a Do-it molds are. I first bought from him on EBAY as I figured that was stuff he already had made and was ready to ship. I also figured I had EBAY buyers protections. I sure am glad I bought molds from him as those are my most popular jigs. The stuff from my do-it molds just doesn't get much attention. Granted there isn't a lot of Do-It's bigger saltwater stuff like I need/use here in Alaska.

On my last set of molds I emailed Shawn on the Thursday July 3rd 2014 about the molds I wanted. He got back to me on Tuesday July 7th with a price quote(they were molds for which he already had the designs). He then emailed me on July 24th that he was cutting my molds and wanted to make sure I was OK with the #3 eye size of the mold. I emailed back an OK the same day. I just got confirmation today that my molds have shipped with a USPS tracking #. 2 CNC machine molds cut and shipped with in a months time seems good enough to me. I don't know why so many people have trouble dealing with him as I have yet to have one single issue.

Yes on the solid ring. It does several things first off it snags a LOT less than a traditional hook on the bottom eye. Second it give you a more direct line to the hook. So the fish cant use the jig as leverage to get off. Also it eliminates the fish pulling on the bottom eye and somehow (I don't know if it is possible) pulling the eye out of the jig. So the jig is dangling while your line is connected to the solid ring and the assist line from that to the hook. The split ring just attaches the solid ring to the jig. Here's how I tie mine up. I add heat shrink tubing after gluing the knot. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xwbEgxLsSw

I buy my solid rings on EBAY. Thats the best price I have found. I don't believe Zeiners,Janns ,LPO or Barlows carries them but I will check again. I use solid rings for my assist rigs i tie for my saltwater fishing. You need solid rings as split rings will abraid and wear the assist line out. So it is split ring to solid ring and the solid ring has the assist line on it that the hook is attached to. You tie to the solid ring as well.

When I deal with Shawn I get email responses within 3 days and often sooner (except oveer the 4th of July weekend of course.lol). I have over 12 of his molds now and he is currently cutting me 2 more molds as we speak. His communication with me and his service and delivery have been great. Living in Alaska we usually get boned on shippping and "handling" charges. His have been great he charges me $12 for a USPS flat rate box of molds. I know he is busy but I can honestly say I have never had a problem not even one when dealing with Shawn collins customs. Maybe I am just lucky? Maybe it's because I buy his molds and have never balked at his prices but rather he sends me a quote and I pay him right away via PayPal. I get my molds in a timely manner and all is well. His molds are world class and I really like them. If Shawn is not your cup of tea try contacting Bob at http://www.cncmolds.com/contact.shtml He also does good work in a timely manner. I have 2 of his molds and they are also very nice molds.

I saw the first video and think the jigs action looks real good.No problems pulling it up. There are no bass where I live but I bet you will slay them on it.

Couldn't agree more. Smalljaw and Cadman are the best at giving good usefull information that really helps!

When I realize I need help or guidance I am not afraid to ask for help sometimes. It often saves hours and hours of time. This a Library that's for sure.And the knowledge is good not guesses but sound advice on what works and what doesn't. I am also amazed at how many people want to make their own jigs or do make their own stuff but don't ask for help. Or sometimes they settle for a second rate finished product because they haven't figured out the tricks to make a mold fill out completly or how to paint a jig properly with powder paints. I try to help when I can with what I know and have learned. People often ask me How do you get such a nice paint job on your jigs. Once they see my setup they are often amazed on how simple a fluid bed really is to build and use. Where did you learn to build that they ask. I'll answer I'ts easy there are web forums where people share their knowledge and help others learn to make tackle. Even my friends are surpeised at what kind of stuff I can make and often wonder where I learned to do it. Yet they just don't use the internet forums like they should. There is a forum for everything nowdays and a guy can learn a lot just by reading them. They can learn a lot more and pass it on by joining and sharing with others. I never have felt comfortable being a lurker on web forums. I feel if I don't participate I am not doing my share to make these places work. If any of you guys ever visit Alaska you should feel free to stop by my workshop and talk jigs and take some of mine home with you. I would feel honored to have that privelage.

While I may not share the GPS coordinates to my favorite halibut or trout fishing spot I will certainly share the info on what I used to catch the fish and how it was made. My first jigs looked good until I painted them. Thanks to members on this site I learned the joys of powder paint and now thats the only way I paint them. I remember when I once got a new mold and me and a buddy just couldn't get full pours. Then I remembered something Cadman said on TU about tilting a mold. Next thing you know we had a pile of perfect castings. Another time I was trying to improve my use of my powder paint airbrush. I read a bit on Smalljaws use of his and by dialing my airpressure down it made a world of a difference. Now I have 2 powder paint airbrushes and just ordered a third one. I was just appaled when someone badmouthed a mold maker because he couldn't make a mold work for him. If he had only come here first he would have a great mold that shoots well and a jig that probably catches a lot of fish. Now he's just frustrated and blames the guy who made the mold. The members here would certainly have given him the solutions he needed to make his mold fill out and he would be much happier.

So the other day I was looking at lead molds on EBAY. I was in particular looking at some CNC machined molds I liked from CNC works. Now I will admit I own over a dozen of Shawns molds and Ireally really like them. Anyway as I often do when shopping EBAY I decided to check his feedback profile. Lo and behold he had one negative feedback. An EBAY buyer could not get his mold to fill out completly and was upset. Then I got to thinking and what I realized was the Negative poster must not be a member of this forum! I Have seen a lot of posts on these forums in the time I have been here where a poster cannot get a mold to work for them. Each and every time a lot of solutions were brought up and each and every time the original poster was able to use one of the suggested solutions to make their mold work properly. I couldn't imagime making jigs without the help of forum members on this website. This has to be the best tackle making website out there bar none! Just though I would post that as I thought about the poor guy who was not a member here and could not get his mold to work properly for him.

Yeah your right on that one. Those box store employees don't usually know much about anything. I though maybe on the off chance that the store you bought it from may have ordered some without rattles for some reason and could clarify that. There are still a few mom and pops around who do know their stuff. I know you wanted what you had before but maybe you could salvage them by adding rattles yourself?

have you tried calling the manufacturer or the place that sold them to you to discuss this? Probably a good first start. Did you accidently buy a different model jig?

While I don't fish bass and dont see myself using these Biffle style heads I can see the merit in using the fastach clips on swing hook jigs. I do have a few molds with the free swinging hook option for my saltwater jigs. I wonder if the fastach will fit in the Do-it mold? Just another option I guess especially for those of us who make our own tackle.

Sorry but I can buy it locally for $1 a pound and no shipping from a local scrap yard. I just bought 750# for $.90 a pound locally from a small business that had salvaged it. It is 100% soft lead stripped off of some lead coated copper wire. I have a friend who might be interested in your lyman #2. How much do you have of just that?

Some of my Shawn Collins molds have magnets inset in them. I wish do it would do that for molds like this one. That would solve the problem.

So what ever became of this app for TU members? I really like the app and it makes it easy to check the forums from time to time. Especially when you are away from the computer but would like to check in on whats going on here. For me it is usefull to check in at lunchtime at work or while my wife is shopping and I am waiting in the truck for her to finish her shopping. Just curious if it might be possible to get this back?

Good idea I hadn't thought of that. I bet it would work well.

The system in action.