Salas Or Tady Style Surface Iron Jigs

[tunaguy]

I have been making soft swimbaits for awhile now and would like to try Sand Casting some metal lures like the Salas or Tady style surface iron jigs. Pouring Straight lead is pretty easy and I have done it before. But my question is this. If I need to make a lighter metal, so that it doesn't sink as fast, How is this accomplished. I have been able to find very little info on this. From what I understand most use lead with a mixture of Zinc? to lighten the metal. How do you mix the metals? Can you just melt them together or is there a trick to this. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I hope this is in the right section, but I didn't see a metal jig section so I thought that I would try here.

If anyone can help or can atleast point me to a book or online resource that would be great!

Thanks

[dlaery]

I have been making soft swimbaits for awhile now and would like to try Sand Casting some metal lures like the Salas or Tady style surface iron jigs. Pouring Straight lead is pretty easy and I have done it before. But my question is this. If I need to make a lighter metal, so that it doesn't sink as fast, How is this accomplished. I have been able to find very little info on this. From what I understand most use lead with a mixture of Zinc? to lighten the metal. How do you mix the metals? Can you just melt them together or is there a trick to this. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I hope this is in the right section, but I didn't see a metal jig section so I thought that I would try here.

If anyone can help or can atleast point me to a book or online resource that would be great!

Thanks

Don't mix zinc with lead. they don't mix well. It just make a mess. If you want something lighter, use tin. It handles like lead but it is lighter. Tin and zinc are about the same weight.

Edited May 4, 2010 by dlaery

[Darkman]

i don't remember...but i think salas uses aluminum...i read about it in article...western outdoors news mag