Can't Get Good Pour?

[curtisb]

Do it football jig mold. 1/2 3/4 1/0 oz. Can't get good pour, not getting near enough and most times none as far down into mold to make a complete pour, never get bait holder part.

I have good lead, plenty heat, lee bottom pour, mold is warmed from pouring many bads.\

Still new to all this.

Thanks again for your help!!

[andy1976]

I put a heat gun on that mold while my lead is heating up. I also pour them quick so the mold doesn't get a chance to cool. I also stick the hook in the lead, pull it out smack it to get the lead off, and then stick in to pour. If the hook, lead, and mold are hot you won't have this problem. Good luck.

[Kasilofchrisn]

Spraying my molds with drop out release spray has helped me with some of my molds.

It is a graphite spray that you apply to the mold and it lasts for many castings before needing reapplying.

I also have molds that require I tilt the mold a certain way to get them to work properly. It is easy to try just tilt the mold as you pour a different way each time until you find what works.

I learned all of this by using the search function on here and reading all the info I could find.

[cadman]

Curtis,

This is a very broad subject that can not be answered in one paragraph. I will start with a few things to try.

#1. Try to stick the mold sprue hole right into the pot spout and then fill with lead. This kind of forces the lead into the mold.

#2. If that doesn't work, gap the mold a little and try again with step #1

#3. The info mentioned above is very helpful, especially the mold release, if you don't use it you should as it will eliminate about half of the problems.

Others will chime in with more info.

Edited August 5, 2012 by cadman

[Apdriver]

Chris, I use a heat gun to heat up my molds before I begin the pour too. I have also found you have to pour pretty fast to get complete pours in my do-it bass jig molds. I have found I can get the molds much hotter with the heat gun than I ever could with just making incomplete pours til it got hot. Much less frustrating too. Message also sent for your request to pot question. Good luck.

[atijigs]

My guess is that your spout may be obstructed. When the lead is hot take a wire and stick it up the spout and jam it around. You may have to lift the handle at the same time to clear the whole spout.. Be very careful not to get your hand under the spout. You should see the lead pour much faster if that was the problem.

[smalljaw]

There are many variables that could be causing your problem and so far you have got some great info and suggestions but I'll add my 2 cents. If you try all of the above and still can't get a full pour then you may want to try a ladle. I say this because you are having trouble with the bigger sizes and if craking the mold to let air escape doesn't help or doing the injection type pouring with the gate against the spout isn't getting results the ladle may work because a lot of times it helps as you can get the lead in faster but it does take practice if you never did it. I have molds that just work better with the ladle and all I do is position the ladle spout right on the gate and with the mold slightly tilted toward the lade I quicklytwist my wrist and dump the lead into the mold. Maybe putting the stuff down and try again another day may help to, I noticed on days of high humidity my pours don't go so well, I don't know if it does something to the lead or if it makes me uncomfortable to the point I'm not doing something right but whatever it is it does have an adverse affect.

[cadman]

If you try all of the above and still can't get a full pour then you may want to try a ladle.

Yes this has saved many a bad days of pouring. Excellent advice and a cheap alternative for a $5.00 ladle.

[curtisb]

THANKS TO YOU ALL!

CURTIS

[Fatman]

Have you fluxed your lead?? This really helps clean the lead and helps it pour well. When your lead is all heated take a flat head screw driver move it up and down along the sides of the pot.

Get heavy gloves on and do as atijigs stated, I use an old bass jig with heavy wire hook cut the barb off, bend it into an L shape. Put a pot under the spout lift the handle and push it in and out. If you have some spinner making wire you can take a really long piece and do it from the inside also - just follow the pour bar until it comes out the pour spout.

flux your lead and stir it, you'd be surprised at the junk that comes up. You say you have "good Lead", is it pure, tire weight, 50/50 mix??? I've got a bullet head mold that HATES pure lead, have to use tire weight in it.

Let us know how you do!!

[flippinfool]

I also have a bottom pour. Lots of good advise already given. All molds have something or some way they pour best. I always keep a small propane tourch handy. After the mold is closed shoot some heat directly into the pour hole. Some times it helps to over pour. After it's filled just keep pouring and let drip down the side.