psilvers Posted October 2, 2011 Report Share Posted October 2, 2011 I had some lead pipe lying around that I had bought from a scrap yard a little while ago. I was talking with someone today from another fishing board and he spoke highly of plumbing lead - he said it was pretty soft and ours great. I melted it and it seems pretty clean. What experience do you guys have with using it for pouring jigs? Thanks, Pete Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelly Posted October 2, 2011 Report Share Posted October 2, 2011 I love plumbers lead!! It is my favorite lead to use. Just remember if it new make shore its dry before you melt it! Most plumbers lead is pure lead so it can flex with the building during hot cold cycles. Some times I will add some wheel weights to harden it up a bit so it dos not dent on the rocks as easily. Enjoy your find. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clint M Posted October 2, 2011 Report Share Posted October 2, 2011 Or you can buy some antimony and mix it with it. That will also harden the lead. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cadman Posted October 2, 2011 Report Share Posted October 2, 2011 Pete, Plumbers lead is excellent to use and do what Kelly and Clint said. Although plumbers lead is very soft I always add tire weights or antimony to harden it . I do not like really soft jigs but that is personal preferance. Also melt your chunks outside and pour into clean ingots that will fit your pot later. Good Luck and be careful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JSC Posted October 2, 2011 Report Share Posted October 2, 2011 P Lead is great but ... if used ... MAKE SURE YOU MELT IT DOWN OUT SIDE IN ANOTHER POT THAN THE ONE YOU USE TO POUR FROM ... ADD IT CAREFULLY TO THE POT ..... MAY STILL HAVE SOME MOSTURE IN IT AND WILL MAKE A DANGEROUS SITUATION ..... Been there .. Done That ... JSC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smalljaw Posted October 2, 2011 Report Share Posted October 2, 2011 Like everyone else said! My neighbor is a plumber so I always get lead from him and I add wheel weights to make my jigs a bit harder, can't go wrong with the stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
psilvers Posted October 2, 2011 Author Report Share Posted October 2, 2011 Thanks. I did melt it in another pot. However, I put it in a COLD pot and let it heat up in an enclosed shed while I was not around. I came back later and fluxed it. After I made the first post I did pour a few jigs and it pours great!! I have been pouring for about 10-12 years, but I have always bought my lead at a hunting/fishing store not far away. I never really looked for another source because I didn't need large amounts of lead. Now that I am starting up a tackle business with a buddy, I have started to look for alternative sources. I picked this stuff up and it was sitting in the back of my truck - and then on the floor of the shed - for a while. it was only after speaking with a guy who was a potential source of lead, that I tried this. Thanks for all your input. Pete Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clint M Posted October 6, 2011 Report Share Posted October 6, 2011 You will be amazed if you use pure antimony. I bought some from a place in Cali. I mixed it basically 50/50 and the jigs were remarkably hard. I would love to use tungsten but you have to have a fire hotter than the blazes of hell and damnation to melt it. So did research and found you could use antimony on lead. It works great. You can use wheel weights but you never know just how much antimony is in them. Generally they are only about 10% antimony. And all of them have some arsenic in them so be extra careful when you melt em down. I know your an old hand at it just throwing stuff out there that i have been reading lately. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fatman Posted October 8, 2011 Report Share Posted October 8, 2011 Any that I get I cut into chunks and put it in the pot and put a lid on it, just in case. You can't totally get everything out of it so safety first. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
psilvers Posted October 9, 2011 Author Report Share Posted October 9, 2011 I have a small garage in which I work. I just start with a cold pot add the lead and leave for a while. Even if there is major spatter, there is nothing in range that can be damaged. In case of a lead explosion, absence of body is even safer than presence of mind . Besides, there are those who contend that I have already lost my mind. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
