canuck Posted February 27, 2014 Report Share Posted February 27, 2014 Hi Guys.I have a question regarding some new baits that I have just received.The shaft has a slight movement rotationally a few degrees left to right and makes a definate clicking sound when I hold the hook in my left hand and apply a small amount of torque to the r bend of the wire frame. My concern is will this get worse if I use them? Is any amount of movement at the head normal or even acceptable .What causes this kind of loose feel. Will it effect tracking of the bait if I dress them and start fishing them? What do you suggest to do with them ? Should I get them re poured with a higher quality lead,less alloy etc. Thanks for your feed back Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Maxwell Posted February 27, 2014 Report Share Posted February 27, 2014 If there is movement I would be worried about the heads getting looser and maybe coming apart. I'd suggest getting them poured again. Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Maxwell Posted February 27, 2014 Report Share Posted February 27, 2014 Might be that the lead or alloy wasn't hot enough during the pour, also. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
basskat Posted February 28, 2014 Report Share Posted February 28, 2014 If you de-mold too fast you will get loose wires. When de-molding, do it by the sprue not the hook or wire. This will solve most your issues on future pours. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark poulson Posted February 28, 2014 Report Share Posted February 28, 2014 If you paid someone to pour them for you, ask for him/her to repour them. Loose anything is not good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flippinfool Posted February 28, 2014 Report Share Posted February 28, 2014 Yea, sounds like they were pulled from the mold to quick or by the hook/wire. Rookie mistake we have all done it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jig Man Posted February 28, 2014 Report Share Posted February 28, 2014 A little wobble won't hurt them. We used to have a local spinnerbait made from plumbers lead. The wire would work loose and the whole thing would wobble. I never had one come apart. However, they sure would get butt ugly after used a while. The fish didn't seem to mind at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smalljaw Posted February 28, 2014 Report Share Posted February 28, 2014 There is actually a couple reasons why this can happen, and yes, removing the bait by the wire 2 seconds after it is poured will cause that, but so will dirty lead and dirty wire. I had this happen so I know about it but I go some special .031 wire in from a guy, I only ever heard of it being .032 but a guy gave me this and wanted his spinnerbaits made out of it so I obliged and as I was bending the wire I found it had like an oily residue, not heavy and not very noticeable, it was only after handling it for a bit did it become clear the wire had something on it. Well I cleaned all but 2 wire forms I made by soaking in mineral spirits and then wiping down with denatured alcohol, the 2 I left alone I poured first to see if there would be a bonding problem and yes, there indeed was as the wire was loose around the head and could be turned back and forth, I think the wire would have turned in a complete circle if it wasn't for the hook loop I put on the wire form. Anyway, I melted the lead off the forms and cleaned it as well so my advise would be to have the heads redone and tell the person to be careful about removing the heads too quick and only do so by the sprue and if it is still that way he may have dirty lead or wire forms with some kind of residue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canuck Posted February 28, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 28, 2014 Thank you all for your input and sharing your years of experience. Yes I did have them poured for me and am planning to send them back to have them redone. I do feel a little tentative in making suggestions about how to fix the problems but did furnish information about what I have found right and not right with the baits. The heads are well cast and have a high shine to them almost polished . To me that would indicate a high tin content,may be to high and alloy mix. I personally have never poured lead but in my research here on site have a little insight as to what goes into the process. As several members have suggested pulling the finnished baits out by the spruce to avoid loosening the wires , a question comes to mind. Would that be specific to hand pouring only or also apply to centrifugal pouring or lead casting by machine? Also with centrifugal pouring can wire and casting be preheated to improve the bonding between the stainless wire and hook joint to lead material ?Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FishAction Posted March 1, 2014 Report Share Posted March 1, 2014 Canuck Your question about preheating centrifugal casting is no, you do not preheat the mold. They are formed from silicone or high temp rubber compounds. All molds retain some heat between castings whether hand or centrifuge and this heat does heat up the wires, hooks, etc. prior to lead being introduced into the mold. The lead or alloy mix, when allowed to cool enough will normally form a tight fit to the wires. This fit is not bonding and is heat critical due the lead needing to be cooled and hardened enough to grip the molded components properly. The above comments about gripping the sprue are definitely correct if the molded item is fairly hot, the lead is still soft. Removal by the wire while soft expands the area between the wire and lead. Charlie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canuck Posted March 3, 2014 Author Report Share Posted March 3, 2014 Thanks FishAction and to all that took the time to share their experience. As a newbie I would just like to say.The years of experience contained in this membership is only seconded by the willingness to freely share it with others . A big thanks to the founders and thoughs that keep it up and running. Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
