Goober Posted January 5, 2012 Report Share Posted January 5, 2012 Ok y'all first let me say that I have been looking on here for a while but never posted before today, I have seen some great things and want to thank y'all for all the great info. Now, I would like to start making my own football jigs and am in need of some help. I am looking for a weedless ring and barb mold with multiple sizes and a flat/horizontal hook eye and would like to use Gamakatsu hooks. Which company makes the best mold for this application and what is the model number? I want to make jigs with weed guards and some with out, so I figured that I could use the mold with the weed guard for both. I'm sure that I will have more questions after this but for now I think this is a good starting point. Thanks in advanced. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FuzzyGrub Posted January 5, 2012 Report Share Posted January 5, 2012 Take a look at the DO-IT FBB-4H-AFM. I have only used Mustad flat eye hooks, others may know if a flat eye gama fits. It will take the mold specified gama hook, which is not a flat eye. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smalljaw Posted January 5, 2012 Report Share Posted January 5, 2012 I have the mold FuzzyGrub mentioned and it is an awesome mold. It will take both flat eye hooks and regualer eye hooks, go to www.barlowstackle.com and they have a list of different hooks that fit that mold. The Gamakatsu 614 fits that mold and it is a flat eye hook and the Owner 5326 also fits that mold and I have used both and can confirm that you can use those hooks. You are correct to use a weedless mold to make jigs with and without weedguards, to make them without you simply use a weedguard but instead of placing the weedguard all the way in the head you just move it out so it just blocks the space for the weedguard so when you pour the lead doesn't run out. One thing to remeber is that this mold uses 60 degree hooks for regular and flat eye, the reason I'm telling you this is in case you want a football jig with a 90 degree hook, personally I like the 60 degree much better and I even like the 60 degree bend for tube jigs, I have a higher percentage of fish hooked solid in the top of the mouth compared to a 90 degree pull point. BTW, welcome to the site, if you have a question don't hesitate to ask as were all here to learn as well as help. Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goober Posted January 6, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 6, 2012 So this mold will take both hook styles, thats awesome. And I also take it that you put your weed guards in when you pour your molds? Is it better to do it that way then paint them (using powder paint) or put the weed guard in after I paint them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FuzzyGrub Posted January 6, 2012 Report Share Posted January 6, 2012 I use some nylon pins (pm cadman) and epoxy in the weedguards after powder painting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jig Man Posted January 6, 2012 Report Share Posted January 6, 2012 I use the metal pins and super glue the weedguard in after painting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goober Posted January 6, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 6, 2012 After you paint them do you back them to cure them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smalljaw Posted January 6, 2012 Report Share Posted January 6, 2012 So this mold will take both hook styles, thats awesome. And I also take it that you put your weed guards in when you pour your molds? Is it better to do it that way then paint them (using powder paint) or put the weed guard in after I paint them? If you are going to use powder paint then it is best to cast the jig using a base hole pin and then paint and cure the jig and then glue or epoxy the weedguard in. And yes, once you paint then you bake them to cure the paint, after all is done you simply need to glue the weedguard in place, I like to use D2T epoxy while others like Loc Tite gel, the choice is yours. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goober Posted January 6, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 6, 2012 smalljaw - do you take the pin out before you paint or after, my thought is if I were to take it out before I paint i would have to clean out the hole for the weed guard. But if I paint with the pin in I dont want it to be cast to the jig with the paint. How do I go about doing this. I want to get all the info before I start so I don't mess anything up. I have never done this before. Thanks for all the help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JSC Posted January 7, 2012 Report Share Posted January 7, 2012 Goober it all takes a little time and trying a few things ... what will work for one mite not work for another ... Just dive in and you will soon find what not to do .... Like Cadman says "Practice" // If you don't mess up a little ... means you are not doing any thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goober Posted January 7, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 7, 2012 JCS - I like that. I plan on diving in but want to alleviate as much as possible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sdsaw Posted January 7, 2012 Report Share Posted January 7, 2012 JCS - I like that. I plan on diving in but want to alleviate as much as possible. Nothing wrong with asking a lot of questions Learn from others Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goober Posted January 7, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 7, 2012 Oh, I know man. Just got of the Marine Corps after 8 years. So if I don't know how to do something I will ask. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smalljaw Posted January 7, 2012 Report Share Posted January 7, 2012 (edited) smalljaw - do you take the pin out before you paint or after, my thought is if I were to take it out before I paint i would have to clean out the hole for the weed guard. But if I paint with the pin in I dont want it to be cast to the jig with the paint. How do I go about doing this. I want to get all the info before I start so I don't mess anything up. I have never done this before. Thanks for all the help. Goober, look up a member here that goes by the name "cadman", he sells a base hole pin made out of teflon, what I like to do is have 2 of these teflon pins, I'll use 1 pin to cast my jigs and when I'm finished pouring I'll start the paint process. The way I paint my jigs is to heat the head, this is where you really have to try different things to see what you like better or feel more comfortable doing, I use a propane torch to head my heads, others use a heat gun and still others keep their jigs in a toaster oven, but it all works so it is just a matter of what one you like. Ok, so now I heat my jig and then as soon as I get it hot enough I'll quickly put the teflon pin in the weedguard hole and then dip my jig in the paint and then hang in a rack. Before the teflon pins were available I used to buy the base hole pins from Do-it, they aren't expensive and come 50 to a pack, I would use a bunch of them to paint with and after I finished painting I would heat the pins and remove the paint but now with the teflon pins all I do is wip them off since the paint doesn't adhere to them. Don'y worry about asking questions, that what we're here for so ask away. Some of us were doing this before the website was here or before we knew about it and learned everything we know through trial and error so are failures and success are going to be able to help you avoid some of the errors we made and speed up the learning curve but you will still run into problems as we all do so good luck and enjoy the hobby. One last thing I like to tell those starting out, if you are doing this as a way to pass time and maybe sell a few to friends or maybe even give your creations away then welcome, but if you are doing it to try and save money then stop right here, you will not save any money, it will cost you in the long run and you can ask anyone here, we spend more than we save..lol. Good luck!! Edited January 7, 2012 by smalljaw Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JSC Posted January 7, 2012 Report Share Posted January 7, 2012 (edited) Just a little sub note: I think it is hard to beat starting out with the basics ... A Ladel & A Cast Iorn Pot & a source of Gas Heat .. When you go to a bottom pour you will need it to clean lead ... Now this will teach anyone the basics of pouring lead (along with the tutorials that I wish I had acess to many years ago). This will help you to see if you really want to go further into this "Black Hole" for money. I started (after 10 years AF) with a ladel only and a mold ... Do not be shy of askin questions Edited January 7, 2012 by JSC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goober Posted January 7, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 7, 2012 Looking to start with the hot-pot 2 and a football jig mold, figure this would be good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FuzzyGrub Posted January 7, 2012 Report Share Posted January 7, 2012 Recommend the Lee Production Pot IV. I considered the hot pot, but felt holding and doing a steady pour would be more difficult. Many here recommended the Lee. I haven't been disappointed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smalljaw Posted January 7, 2012 Report Share Posted January 7, 2012 Goober, the Hot Pot is ok but it does get hard to use after awhile as you are basically using a 4 lb ladle and if you are encountering problems it makes it even worse but I do have an alternative that is inexpensive and help you get started. Take a look at the Lee precision melter, it hold 4lbs of lead and has a variable setting thermostat, janns netcraft sell a wooden handle 2oz ladle and your good to go. The Lee IV bottom pour pot is the best in my opinion and the easiest to pour with so if you can afford it I'd go that route but if you are uncertain and want to go a little less expensive it is understandable but I wouldn't go cheaper than the precision melter, and I had a Hot Pot and it did serve me well but when I got my precision melter it was like night and day and then when I tried my bottom pour it was heaven. So it is up to you but I no longer have my hot pot but I still have and use my precision melter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goober Posted January 8, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 8, 2012 What are y'all using to cure your jigs, a little toaster oven? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cub48 Posted January 10, 2012 Report Share Posted January 10, 2012 The toaster ovens work great. You might find one at a thrift store cheap. When you start buying hooks, buy the smallest amount first. As you will like some hooks better than others, different companys the numbers will be different. one may be longer and the other hook gap may be bigger. So it be bad to have a 100 hooks you don't like. As for lead melting the lee pot is great. You can start out with a ladle heat it up on a hot plate or coleman stove. it take a steady hand to pour with a ladle. As smalljaw said jig making is not a money saver unless you are going in it big time. But it is a lot fun if you like to doing it as a hobby. I give more away to my friends to see if they like a new hook or a new paint color. Shop around (ebay, thrift stores,gun shops, Harbor Freight , Flee markets) I bought power paint for 3.00 at a flee market. it was 7.00 at pro shops. Harbor freight has a big bottle for around 5.00 not too many colors white, black, red, yellow maybe a couple more. Tire stores for lead. Depending on the kind of tools you have at home, I made my first ladle from a piece of square tube and a long screw driver. Welded a 1/4 thick bottom in and welded the screw driver to it. It holds about a lb of lead. Gun shop for used lead pots. Ebay for molds ect. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goober Posted January 10, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 10, 2012 that is awesome, I will look around for this stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
