Tin Or Bismuth For Strength?

[cadman]

@Cadman

 

Nice example you did in CAD, by the way.  I work in Autocad and Revit myself, do you use Inventor?

I figured if you were pouring bismuth that you knew what you were doing, However sometimes small flaws by the manufacturer, like burrs or other annoyiong things make pouring more complicated for us. So the info was just something to try. Sometimes it solves the problem and sometimes it doesn't. I have found that all molds aren't made the same. I have two identical molds and one pours way better than the other. So I polished one and it helped some. As far as cad work, goes I am a sheetmetal engineer, and throughout my career, I have used Cadkey, Auto Cad, Metalsoft, Solid Ege and finally and currently Solidworks. Hence the name Cadman from the years of working with so many cad packages. I know guys who use Inventor, however I have not.

[Killerbug]

Yes, tin at 64% lead weight vs. bismuth at 85% lead weight. As smallmouthaholic pointed out the lightness could have advantages for certain "trick" applications requiring slower fall or shallow running. For example, the Cabela's Wobble Jig is perfect for casting in tin, especially since the deep cavities are impossible to pour with bismuth alloys down to the 58-42 I tried. For snaggy bottom shallow river trout fishing I prefer a similar flat bottom tin jig. Mostly tho, I agree that heavier bismuth is advantageous for casting distance, drop speed, and handling in wind or current.

Just noticed you're in Denmark, one of the pioneers of lead free fishing. How are bismuth & tin prices in your country?

 

True, i also noticed today that my new bismuth jigs have a higher tone, when hitting rocks.  I don't know if this has an extra trigger

effect over lead?.  

 

Actually prices here are high, I pay 57$ for tin, and 33$ for one pound of Bismuth.

[Ogajiga]

IMO antimony constituent lead alloy has more of a "ding" than BiSn alloys I use. My standard 2-1 is very close to your 70-30. Guess you can't compare with lead given Denmark restrictions.

 

Wow, is that US dollars or Kroner? I've sent leadfree product to Denmark a few times and wondered why they purchased all the way from Hawaii.

[Killerbug]

It's dollars.  Why someone purchase stuff from Hawaii, I don't know, but i guess he didn't find exactly was he was looking fore elsewhere.  

[Ogajiga]

Maybe I've got Danish customers because shipped from HI, USA is cheaper?

 

For example, your alloy cost ruffly $40 US per lb. My cost ruffly $20 US per lb.

International Priority Mail 4 lb. small flat rate box postage me to you is $14.95 US.

So your cost local supplied 4# alloy is $160 US.

Shipped cost from USA $94.95 US. Plus your customs duties, if any.

[cz75b]

So, this may help although the loose hook issue means the mold and/or alloy is too cool for a solid and well filled casting. Recently I made a small silicone mold to make sculpin heads directly on a 3366 Sproat hook and the first few turned on the hook after casting. I started putting a little soldering flux on the hook shank before putting it in the mold and that solved the problem. The flux is only on the shank covered by lead and you hear a sizzle and see a small puff of smoke when the cavity is filled but the mold fills completely and the detail is fine. In a commercial jig mold, loose hooks are a function of temperature though. If you are using pure lead, soft lead, use alloyed lead with tin and antimony. Wheel weights (clean and fluxed) are perfect.