psilvers Posted March 23, 2011 Report Share Posted March 23, 2011 I am pouring a large (4 oz) jig using a Do-It mold. The mold has a barb that sits on the hook shank to hold soft plastics. I have preheated the mold, sprayed Frankford Arsenal Mold Release (thanks, Cadman!) and I have poured blanks (without hooks). The blanks come out fine. As soon as I put in the hook, I have a problem getting the barb to form on the shank of the hook. I have been pouring with a fairly large ladle. I have poured the 3 oz jig in the mold, and it can be tough, but they come out. Any suggestions? Thanks, Pete Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cadman Posted March 23, 2011 Report Share Posted March 23, 2011 Pete here are a couple of things to try. #1 Preheat your hooks to the point of being hot to the touch. What I use is a small black metal tray toss all my hooks in there. I then take a 100 watt lightbulb the one with a reflector and aim it pretty close to the hooks. This will warm up the hooks really well. If you need pics. PM me your e-mail and I will send them to you. #2 Put a small groove on 1/2 the mold by the barb. Make sure you cut from the cavity out so you don't damage the cavity. This is a vent line that may release some air that is preventing the lead from pouring. #3 What also works is opening up both sides of the mold where the hook sits in the cavity. What this does is lets the air escape. You might get some flash from the bottom of the hook, but that is easily trimmed off. #4 You can stick a piece of tape in between the mold halves near the cavity. This will crack the mold some and let air escape. Don't crack it too much or the lead will solidify before it gets to the bottom. I would start with #1 and work down. If you need any pics of what I'm talking about or a better explanation don't hesitste to ask. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
psilvers Posted March 23, 2011 Author Report Share Posted March 23, 2011 [ Thanks Cadman! That should help. I was thinking about the went line. When the hooks come out of the mold they are pretty hot because I have the mold and lead hot. Pete quote name=cadman' timestamp='1300893550' post='163584] Pete here are a couple of things to try. #1 Preheat your hooks to the point of being hot to the touch. What I use is a small black metal tray toss all my hooks in there. I then take a 100 watt lightbulb the one with a reflector and aim it pretty close to the hooks. This will warm up the hooks really well. If you need pics. PM me your e-mail and I will send them to you. #2 Put a small groove on 1/2 the mold by the barb. Make sure you cut from the cavity out so you don't damage the cavity. This is a vent line that may release some air that is preventing the lead from pouring. #3 What also works is opening up both sides of the mold where the hook sits in the cavity. What this does is lets the air escape. You might get some flash from the bottom of the hook, but that is easily trimmed off. #4 You can stick a piece of tape in between the mold halves near the cavity. This will crack the mold some and let air escape. Don't crack it too much or the lead will solidify before it gets to the bottom. I would start with #1 and work down. If you need any pics of what I'm talking about or a better explanation don't hesitste to ask. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rhahn427 Posted March 23, 2011 Report Share Posted March 23, 2011 You might need to open the pour hole a tad more ............ I have a ton of the larger heads (4-12 oz spire heads) some times those big 8/0 hooks block the lead flow by blocking some of the pour hole Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ogajiga Posted March 23, 2011 Report Share Posted March 23, 2011 In addition to the other excellent suggestions, I find that I get more consistent fill out ladle pouring with soft lead. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sdsaw Posted March 24, 2011 Report Share Posted March 24, 2011 You might also want to try a light coat of baby powder in the cavity I recently found out that it helps with incomplete barbs You are fluxing your lead? Yeah? Scott Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
psilvers Posted March 24, 2011 Author Report Share Posted March 24, 2011 I just came in from my shop and - thanks to you folks - the mold pours like a dream! I made 2 mods to the mold: 1- A vent slit 2- Widened the pouring hole I get great pours now! Thanks guys! Scott - I do flux the lead. Thanks. Many thanks again to all who helped! Pete Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BLT Posted March 26, 2011 Report Share Posted March 26, 2011 Other than throwing the mold away lol, #2 would be the very last thing I would do. When trying to cut the sprue and file down as best as possible, that would add more work to that and I really HATE that part lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
psilvers Posted March 26, 2011 Author Report Share Posted March 26, 2011 That does make it a bit tougher to remove the sprue, but the mold would not pour well without that. I tried venting first and that helped, but still did not do the trick. Pete Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ogajiga Posted March 26, 2011 Report Share Posted March 26, 2011 How did you widen the inlet gate and how much? A pic of the modified gate would help, if possible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
psilvers Posted March 26, 2011 Author Report Share Posted March 26, 2011 How did you widen the inlet gate and how much? A pic of the modified gate would help, if possible. I just ground it a bit with a Dremel. I ground evenly and tried not to take off too much. The bit I used is used for cutting soft metal - I didn't cut all the way through - just a bit. Unfortunately, a photo won't help much - it has been coated with Frankford Arsenal Mold Release so the surface is pretty black. From the top of the mold, you won't be able to see a difference unless you have before/after photos. Just grind a bit, pour. If neeed be grind a bit more. Pete Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
