mkvnmtr Posted March 2, 2011 Report Share Posted March 2, 2011 I have been working with a friend to make some molds and produce some vertical jigs. Last night we had a couple of molds ready and poured the first samples. They turned out great but I have one question. The lead pot I had on the burner had pure lead in it. Here in Mexico we call it soft lead. The jigs are very soft and bend easily. In looking at my store bought jigs they do not seem to be easy to bend. I have a lead pot with lead from wheel weights that is harder but I think will also be easy to bend. It would not be a problem on small stuff but these jigs are 8 to 12 inches in length. Anybody have an idea what percentage of another metal I could add to make them stiffer? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dlaery Posted March 2, 2011 Report Share Posted March 2, 2011 If you can find some linotype, this is lead used to be for printing. It is around 10% antimony. It is pretty hard. Your WW (wheel weights) are around 1 to 2 %. Battery lead is pretty hard, not the cable ends, the posts and there is some useable lead insidet the battery. I would guess it is about like WW.The batteries are a pain to take a part to get the lead out. Trying to put pure antimony in is really hard because of the melting temp of antimony, 1100 to 1200 degrees F. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smalljaw Posted March 2, 2011 Report Share Posted March 2, 2011 Did you try the wheel weight lead? I know you think they might bend also but if you haven't tried it then give it a shot, I know it is a big difference from soft lead. Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mkvnmtr Posted March 2, 2011 Author Report Share Posted March 2, 2011 Thanks for the input. I have worked with the linotype lead and it might be the answer but I think it will be hard to find the quantity I need when we start production. Buying at market price is not something I like. I believe I can buy antonimy to my scrap lead and have an affordable mix. I have one burner that will melt brass if I build an oven around it so maybe that is something I can do. In the mean time I will try the wheel weights and see how they come out. These things are pretty heavy so cost of material is important. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ogajiga Posted March 3, 2011 Report Share Posted March 3, 2011 I have some hard alloys - homemade Lyman #2 95-5-5 and a mystery 80% lead alloy from wire estimated at 16+% antimony which might be pre-stamp linotype. PM me if interested. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mkvnmtr Posted March 3, 2011 Author Report Share Posted March 3, 2011 Thank you I would be interested but I am in Mexico and will need at least a couple of hundred pounds. For the trouble to get it here I will be better off looking for something local. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cz75b Posted March 10, 2011 Report Share Posted March 10, 2011 If you had a picture of what you are making that might help. Linotype is hard but it is also somewhat brittle, won't bend but will snap. Wheelweights are not as hard but will flex a little more. One thing wheelweights allow for is heat treating. If you drop the casting from the mold hot, into water, in a few days the casting will be much harder but not as brittle as a linotype casting. Google bullet casting and heat treating cast bullets and learn more. The alloy needs a few elements that wheelweights have, some impurities at low levels like arsenic. Some casters also add shot to their mix as shotshell shot has arsenic that helps for heat treating. The good news is these harder alloys will fill the mold out better and operate at lower temps than pure lead. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mkvnmtr Posted March 10, 2011 Author Report Share Posted March 10, 2011 Thank you . That is good information. Dropping into water is no problem. l have wheel weights and I get some shot. I make buckshot for some guys here. You can not buy anything but bird shot shells in mexico and some friends change it out for my pellets for deer hunting. You have given me some things to try. I do not need a lot of strength. There is no strain on a vertical jig. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
optimax Posted March 11, 2011 Report Share Posted March 11, 2011 Thank you . That is good information. Dropping into water is no problem. l have wheel weights and I get some shot. I make buckshot for some guys here. You can not buy anything but bird shot shells in mexico and some friends change it out for my pellets for deer hunting. You have given me some things to try. I do not need a lot of strength. There is no strain on a vertical jig. My father in law gave me a bunch of lead bars that he said contained tin. I made a few lures with them and they are very stiff. You might want to try Mcmasterr-carr they sell different alloys. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mkvnmtr Posted March 11, 2011 Author Report Share Posted March 11, 2011 I use about 90% tin for some of the small spoons I do and they seem about the right stiffness. I use it for the color and action but I hate to use it for 8 to 10 oz. lures because of the cost and I want to paint these. Maybe a 1 kilo bar in a 40 kilo pot of wheel weights and shot will work . I have a scrap yard source for tin but it still costs about $4 American a pound. I will recomend tin to any of you making do-it spoons or diamond jigs. For the small stuff it is well worth the cost. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vodkaman Posted March 11, 2011 Report Share Posted March 11, 2011 I use about 90% tin for some of the small spoons I do and they seem about the right stiffness. I use it for the color and action but I hate to use it for 8 to 10 oz. lures because of the cost and I want to paint these. Maybe a 1 kilo bar in a 40 kilo pot of wheel weights and shot will work . I have a scrap yard source for tin but it still costs about $4 American a pound. I will recomend tin to any of you making do-it spoons or diamond jigs. For the small stuff it is well worth the cost. Did you mean 10% tin. Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mkvnmtr Posted March 11, 2011 Author Report Share Posted March 11, 2011 No I mean 90%. It is lead free solder that I mix with a few wheel weights and babbet. I found about 500 kilos for 100 pesos a kilo in a scrap yard and bought all I had money for. That is about $4 American a pound. A lot of times in buying scrap lead I find babbet and solder in the load. I always save it for my spoons and diamond jigs. 50 years they used a lot of block tin but the price went up so now it is rarely used. Makes for a great finish and a different action. Pretty much anything in real tin is in the $10 range. I sometimes use it in those jigs that look like a fish head also if I do not want a painted finish. For you guys in the states it is worth buying a little tin on Ebay and trying it. I think you will like it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
