akriverrat Posted February 10, 2009 Report Share Posted February 10, 2009 i am wanting to get into big saltwater jigs and am wondering the best way of going about it. once a jig gets so big then lead is not going to be the best metal to use. should i be looking into different lighter metals to pour into a mold or should i be looking into a metal lathe? anyone out there make big saltwater stuff? if so id like to hear how you go about it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clamboni Posted February 10, 2009 Report Share Posted February 10, 2009 What kind of metals are you thinking of? How big of a weight are you talking about? And why not lead? Still going to get you the smallest and most dense head, and easy to work with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sagacious Posted February 10, 2009 Report Share Posted February 10, 2009 i am wanting to get into big saltwater jigs and am wondering the best way of going about it. once a jig gets so big then lead is not going to be the best metal to use. should i be looking into different lighter metals to pour into a mold or should i be looking into a metal lathe? anyone out there make big saltwater stuff? if so id like to hear how you go about it. I make large saltwater jigs, up to 2lbs. Tin and other metals are fine for small jigs, but once you get to the big sizes, lead is the only practical metal to use. Any other metal is way too expensive and way too bulky to make the heavy, low-drag jigs necessary to fish deep water and strong currents. I can't imagine the cost of a 2lb tin/bismuth jig. Cutting jigs on a metal lathe cannot ever possibly produce a product that recovers the cost and labor involved. There are many types of heavy saltwater jigs, if you narrowed the choices down I could provide more specific information. (Btw, "I am wanting..." means "I am lacking..." I don't think that's what you meant to say lol! You meant, I think, "I want to get into big saltwater jigs..." No disrespect meant, just a head's-up.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akriverrat Posted February 10, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 10, 2009 take a look at some of the japanese long jigs. they are very large . jigs like the sanme and the nagamasa. the nagamasas look slender and can be made with lead ill bet but the sanmes look pretty beefy. these jigs would kill the ling cod and the halibut up here in alaska ill bet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sagacious Posted February 10, 2009 Report Share Posted February 10, 2009 The Japanese knife jigs are made from lead. I make them up to 6ozs, but have done limited runs up to 14ozs. There are a few considerations to heed when making these jigs for use in North American waters. Number one is that the hooks are meant to be rigged on the top eyelet-- the same eyelet as the line is tied to. Next is that hard lead is required, and water-quenched ww lead works very well-- soft lead will not. Also, heavy through-wired eyelets are necessary if one expects to get a useful lifetime out of the jigs. I use 0.076" stainless wire. Hope this helps. Let me know if you have questions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akriverrat Posted February 19, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 19, 2009 do it molds has come out with the 7 and 9 oz "flutter jig" that resemble knife jigs. im gonna pick one up. will use the harder lead but the biggest challenge will be coming up with the color coordinations and making it look good. thanks for the advice sagacious. i also talked to the sales rep about grout for pouring lead and i guess they do make a high temp grout. he said he would get the specs on it and i will share if i get them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
