Da big tuna Posted February 18, 2010 Report Share Posted February 18, 2010 Everyone try to take a crack at this. I have looked through the forums but cant get a good read on my problem. I am pouring the flipping jig mold by do- it. I have the proper size hook and base mold pin. I use a lee IV production pot and I have it on the setting 4. I can't seem to get the collars to pour on the jig. I sooted up the mold real good with a candle and It is pretty good lead i'm using. Any one care to make a diagnosis ? Thank you for any help Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cadman Posted February 18, 2010 Report Share Posted February 18, 2010 I'm going to say that #4 on a Lee IV bottom pour pot is not hot enough. You have to keep it on at least #7. If it's really cold out in my garage I put it on #8. I think what's happening is that your lead is cooling way too fast before it gets into the mold. Also at #4, your mold is probably not hot enough to let the lead flow. Crank it up and watch your troubles disappear. That's my suggestion. Let's hear what the rest of you guys have to say. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jig Man Posted February 18, 2010 Report Share Posted February 18, 2010 In the winter I crank mine up to 10 and set the mold on top so it can get really hot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
walleyeman10 Posted February 18, 2010 Report Share Posted February 18, 2010 I agree with cadman its to cold. I have to get the lead hotter with some jig molds to get the collar to form good. On the erie jig I always crank it up to 10 and get the mold good and hot before starting to pour. On others on pour on 7 with no problems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Da big tuna Posted February 18, 2010 Author Report Share Posted February 18, 2010 I too had the same problem as someone else here, when I crank it up the pot leaks from the spout. I'll work on it tomorrow and Ill let you know how it comes out. Thank you for your help guys. I don't know if its the lures I like making or fixing the the problems that come along with making lures? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smallmouthaholic Posted February 18, 2010 Report Share Posted February 18, 2010 Flux your lead and use softer lead. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
softworm Posted February 18, 2010 Report Share Posted February 18, 2010 I'm going to say that #4 on a Lee IV bottom pour pot is not hot enough. You have to keep it on at least #7. If it's really cold out in my garage I put it on #8. I think what's happening is that your lead is cooling way too fast before it gets into the mold. Also at #4, your mold is probably not hot enough to let the lead flow. Crank it up and watch your troubles disappear. That's my suggestion. Let's hear what the rest of you guys have to say. +1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smalljaw Posted February 18, 2010 Report Share Posted February 18, 2010 I vagree with everyone else, you aren't hot enough, I keep my pot around 6 or 7 and sometimes 8 depending on how cold it is in my shop. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gloomisman Posted February 18, 2010 Report Share Posted February 18, 2010 check your spout, it might be clogged up and not pouring enough. I ran into that just the other day with similiar problems as your explaining. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davidefc Posted February 18, 2010 Report Share Posted February 18, 2010 Do not use scrap metal, use pure lead that melts at a lower temperature and hardens after a while. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JBlaze Posted February 19, 2010 Report Share Posted February 19, 2010 (edited) check your spout, it might be clogged up and not pouring enough. I ran into that just the other day with similiar problems as your explaining. +2 on the others thoughts. Also, Gloomisman brings up a good point. This has happened to me on more than one occasion. I use remelted and skimmed tire weights a lot. A few times, some impurity has made it down into the spout and it reduces the lead flow to a small twisted stream. Always when this happens I get a faulty pour down to the collar. If this is the problem, higher heat and getting the mold really hot doesn't help. you will still get the incomplete pours. Only a good thorough cleaning of the lead pot and spout will take care of this. John Edited February 19, 2010 by JBlaze Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Da big tuna Posted February 19, 2010 Author Report Share Posted February 19, 2010 (edited) The higher I go with the heat the lead runs out the spout like crazy. Someone else had this problem and I dont know if he got it fixed . I run pretty good lead but I dont flux and never had. Never had a problem but Im thinking the heat is it . As soon as I can get back at it Ill let you know. Isn't this fun . Edited February 19, 2010 by Da big tuna Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tacklecrafter Posted February 19, 2010 Report Share Posted February 19, 2010 Everyone try to take a crack at this. I have looked through the forums but cant get a good read on my problem. I am pouring the flipping jig mold by do- it. I have the proper size hook and base mold pin. I use a lee IV production pot and I have it on the setting 4. I can't seem to get the collars to pour on the jig. I sooted up the mold real good with a candle and It is pretty good lead i'm using. Any one care to make a diagnosis ? Thank you for any help I'd try less lead in the pot; this will allow the lead to heat faster and that setting its way to low. I run mine at 9 in the winter. I always pour lead on the sides of do-it molds. It helps heat up your molds faster. It the come out bad take needle nose and dip them back in the pot. Good luck!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JSC Posted February 19, 2010 Report Share Posted February 19, 2010 (edited) The higher I go with the heat the lead runs out the spout like crazy. Someone else had this problem and I dont know if he got it fixed . I run pretty good lead but I dont flux and never had. Never had a problem but Im thinking the heat is it . As soon as I can get back at it Ill let you know. Isn't this fun . "FLUX' !!!!!!! Read past posts on fluxing some really good stuff. It really sounds like you have some bad stuff in this batch of lead that is stopping it up. Again "FLUX" if its just sitting in the pot you could get some type of corrosive action. 2 cents worth Good Luck and let us know when U get it fixed. JSC Edited February 19, 2010 by JSC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peterjay Posted February 19, 2010 Report Share Posted February 19, 2010 Don't know if this is relevant or not, but I've been hand-pouring tin jigs using thru-wire forms, and I was having a somewhat similar problem: there were holes in the tin where the form was showing through. I started heating the forms before I put them in the mold and the problem went away. I suppose you could try the same with your hooks. I use a Hot Pot 2, so it was a simple matter of putting the forms on the metal stand that holds the ladle and letting them heat up while the tin was melting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Da big tuna Posted February 20, 2010 Author Report Share Posted February 20, 2010 Okay here's a update: I cranked the heat on the pot and still the same problem. I had a few jig that were bad so I melted the lead off the hook and put the hook in the mold and poured it again. It turned out perfect. So then I lit a candle and ran the hook over the candle for like 5 seconds and put in in the mold. Perfect again. So I solved the problem by sooting the hook first . Any comments? I solved my problem but I don't no why or how. Anyone care to comment? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cadman Posted February 20, 2010 Report Share Posted February 20, 2010 Okay here's a update: I cranked the heat on the pot and still the same problem. I had a few jig that were bad so I melted the lead off the hook and put the hook in the mold and poured it again. It turned out perfect. So then I lit a candle and ran the hook over the candle for like 5 seconds and put in in the mold. Perfect again. So I solved the problem by sooting the hook first . Any comments? I solved my problem but I don't no why or how. Anyone care to comment? I think what you are experiencing by doing that is you are heating the hook. By heating the hook, and putting it in the mold, you are now allowing the lead to flow around the entire hot hook. There are no cold spots in the mold. The process you found is common, especially on cold days and is used especially on bigger hooks. I put all my hooks in the winter time, on a black tray, and put a 100 watt light bulb over the hooks to keep them warm. Many guys put them on a hot plate to keep them warm, you can also lay them on top of the flat part of the pot to keep them warm. As far as sooting hooks and molds, I personally do not do this. I do not believe this helps, however that is the way that I do things. If it works for you then by all means keep doing it. You will find that as you pour more and more, there is no one way to do things. You will find that what works for you may or may not work for someone else. Also remember that all of the help you get here are only guidelines. We are all guessing at what a problem is we are not there with you to see what you are actually doing or what is happening. Some info will work some of it won't. However like you posted, please always give everybody feedback, so we can all learn from the newbies toall of us seasoned(stubborn) pros. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peterjay Posted February 20, 2010 Report Share Posted February 20, 2010 Okay here's a update: I cranked the heat on the pot and still the same problem. I had a few jig that were bad so I melted the lead off the hook and put the hook in the mold and poured it again. It turned out perfect. So then I lit a candle and ran the hook over the candle for like 5 seconds and put in in the mold. Perfect again. So I solved the problem by sooting the hook first . Any comments? I solved my problem but I don't no why or how. Anyone care to comment? I doubt it was the soot - next time, just heat up the hook in a way that doesn't produce soot and see what happens. I suspect you've been using cold hooks and the metal has been cooling and "grabbing" before it has a chance to reach the collar. The closer you can get the temperature of your mold and inserts to the temperature of the metal, the more time the metal will have to fill the mold before it solidifies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peterjay Posted February 20, 2010 Report Share Posted February 20, 2010 Sorry Cadman - didn't mean to step on you. I've gotta learn to type a little faster. (LOL) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cadman Posted February 20, 2010 Report Share Posted February 20, 2010 Sorry Cadman - didn't mean to step on you. I've gotta learn to type a little faster. (LOL) No problem, I'm glad you came up with the same observation (solution) as I did. All answers help newbies take in the whole picture and learn. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chaoticbaits09 Posted February 20, 2010 Report Share Posted February 20, 2010 Everyone try to take a crack at this. I have looked through the forums but cant get a good read on my problem. I am pouring the flipping jig mold by do- it. I have the proper size hook and base mold pin. I use a lee IV production pot and I have it on the setting 4. I can't seem to get the collars to pour on the jig. I sooted up the mold real good with a candle and It is pretty good lead i'm using. Any one care to make a diagnosis ? Thank you for any help Hi, I had the same problem. I found the the lee pot(i got the 420) does not get the lead hot enough when filled up with lead it will perform a bit better with around 3" in it.Then it can get hot enough. I basically use my pot as a pre heater for the lead. I ladle pour everything now heating it with a propane torch. hotter lead pours so much nicer,its bright, clean and shows great detail on molds with scales and lines. the other possible problem is you are not filling the mold fast enough, adjust the flow for a faster pour the lead is cooling a bit before it is filling the collars. I almost positive heat is the problem.... get a ladle and give it a try (Hotter is better) it may save you some frustration and save you some time remelting the bad ones. hope this helps... Chaotic baits Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clamboni Posted February 20, 2010 Report Share Posted February 20, 2010 (edited) Cadman as usual nailed this one. on tough to pour molds you have to keep everything hot before you pour......hotter lead, hot molds, and warmed hooks. I keep my lee pot on 7 or 8 depending on how cold the shop is that day, and when pouring some molds even 9. I set the mold on top of the pot while the lead is heating, and I hang the hooks on a wire that I have suspended next to the side of the pot.......keeps them hot but not so hot I can't handle them. I also SLIGHTLY enlarged the spout to allow the lead to flow a little faster........that was a big factor in a couple of my molds that can be a pain at times. I don't remember what the size of the bit was, but it was only 1.64 or 1/32 bigger than the spout was. Edited February 20, 2010 by clamboni Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IDbasser Posted February 24, 2010 Report Share Posted February 24, 2010 I was having the same problem, cold outside, I started using a ladle to pour into the mold and my problem was solved. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
midmmohunter Posted February 27, 2010 Report Share Posted February 27, 2010 I had the same problem I turned mine up to 9 and smooth sailing after that! Only one thing I found to be a problem I'm out of hooks (which I've got covered now). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
