fshng2 Posted July 11, 2015 Report Share Posted July 11, 2015 (edited) After I mold a jig with pure lead the spru is removed. One method I use to remove the spru is: Hold the spru firmly and by bending the jig back and forth the spru is removed. The only issue I have is the jig has a divit on the head. The divit is noticible after painting and looks bad. A second method to remove the spru is with a wire stripper side cutter. After trying several cutters I have found this removes the majority of the spru. To finish I hold the hook in a shop vise and remove the remaining remnamt with a file and sandpaper. Would a harder lead work better? Anyone have a method to share that is easier?. Edited July 11, 2015 by fshng2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fshng2 Posted July 11, 2015 Author Report Share Posted July 11, 2015 I do not have hard lead, but would a spru break off and look cleaner in the bending left and right method if I were to use hard lead? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jig Man Posted July 11, 2015 Report Share Posted July 11, 2015 Gate shears is all I use. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JBlaze Posted July 12, 2015 Report Share Posted July 12, 2015 hold the jig body in hand, grab spru with a pair of regular pliers and twist it off leaves a slight rough area that is easy to smooth by scraping with a knife edge or just a few strokes with a fingernail file. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andy1976 Posted July 12, 2015 Report Share Posted July 12, 2015 I do a lot of jig heads and it looks the cleanest when you cut or twist off the sprue and hit it a few times with something flat. I twist off, then smack the sprue area with a flat spot on my dykes. Yes when the lead is hard it twist off more easily. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fshng2 Posted July 12, 2015 Author Report Share Posted July 12, 2015 JBlaze & Andy 1976 thanks for the tips. Do you guys only use hard lead for your jigs? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JBlaze Posted July 12, 2015 Report Share Posted July 12, 2015 (edited) I use soft, only because that is what I have right now. I have used cleaned tire weights which are a harder lead. process is the same for me with either. John Edited July 12, 2015 by JBlaze Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fshng2 Posted July 12, 2015 Author Report Share Posted July 12, 2015 I use soft, only because that is what I have right now. I have used cleaned tire weights which are a harder lead. process is the same for me with either. John When you use wheel weights does the spru twist off easier for you? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaw Posted July 12, 2015 Report Share Posted July 12, 2015 I've used wheel weights myself in the past but can't remember any difference in the way the sprue twisted off. A word of cation if you don't already know but the wheel weights really need to be cleaned and fluxed to remove the impurities in them or they can cause a lot of pouring issues. I try to use only pure lead now but I only pour for myself and a few friends and not that often. There is a lot of information about this in the wire bait section of the forum Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JBlaze Posted July 12, 2015 Report Share Posted July 12, 2015 When you use wheel weights does the spru twist off easier for you? If there was any difference, it was so insignificant that I never noticed it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
odinohi Posted July 15, 2015 Report Share Posted July 15, 2015 While I snip the sprue on jig heads which I use soft lead, I use hard lead for sinkers. The sprue snaps right off. I use hard lead for anything I can twist off. Just grab the sprue with the gate cutters and twist. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nedyarb Posted July 21, 2015 Report Share Posted July 21, 2015 Gate shears Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fshng2 Posted July 21, 2015 Author Report Share Posted July 21, 2015 Gate shears nedyarb and jig man have you ever used gate shears on saltwater jigs? Say around 3/4 to 2oz size smiling bill or spro. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m.t.pockets Posted July 21, 2015 Report Share Posted July 21, 2015 use them all the time.got a pair from Hobby Lobby that are used for trimming leaded glass.They are heavier than then most of the ones Barlows sells Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fshng2 Posted July 22, 2015 Author Report Share Posted July 22, 2015 use them all the time.got a pair from Hobby Lobby that are used for trimming leaded glass.They are heavier than then most of the ones Barlows sells That's exactly what I'm looking for something heavier. The little gate shears just don't work for me. We don't have a Hobby Lobby do you have the part number or who makes it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andy1976 Posted July 22, 2015 Report Share Posted July 22, 2015 Knipex dikes is what I use. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m.t.pockets Posted July 22, 2015 Report Share Posted July 22, 2015 here ya go.http://shop.hobbylobby.com/products/lead-nippers-487074/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fshng2 Posted July 22, 2015 Author Report Share Posted July 22, 2015 here ya go.http://shop.hobbylobby.com/products/lead-nippers-487074/ Looks like these will work and at a great price. Definitely stronger than most I have seen or used. Do these require much sanding or filing after cutting sprues? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fshng2 Posted July 22, 2015 Author Report Share Posted July 22, 2015 (edited) Knipex dikes is what I use.What are your thoughts for using on 3/4 to 2oz size smiling bill or spro type salt water jigs?Found these at Home Depot after a thorough search. KNIPEX 6-1/4 in. 85° Angle Diagonal Flush Cutters Model: 72 21 160 Product details Diagonal provides a fully flush cut when cutting tie-wraps, plastic, soft metals and molded plastic components from spruces. The 85° angled head provide better visibility and increased cutting access. Edited July 22, 2015 by fshng2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andy1976 Posted July 22, 2015 Report Share Posted July 22, 2015 Those will work wonders. Most of my jig heads I twist off though. I do from 1/4 oz to 16 oz. Have you tried puling thr jig out of the mold hot and twisting the sprue off? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m.t.pockets Posted July 22, 2015 Report Share Posted July 22, 2015 Looks like these will work and at a great price. Definitely stronger than most I have seen or used. Do these require much sanding or filing after cutting sprues? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fshng2 Posted July 22, 2015 Author Report Share Posted July 22, 2015 Andy 1976, yes I have removed the sprue with the mold hot and twisting the sprue off. Removing hot improves the look of the area but it still leaves a divet that is evident after powder painting. Not to mention is painful on the wrists after 3 or 4 hours. Removing with a flush type cutter fitted with longer handles is not painful on the wrists. Then filing and sanding the remnant looks best on the finished product. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m.t.pockets Posted July 22, 2015 Report Share Posted July 22, 2015 I use them for the same JIG HEADS up to 3 ounces. Not much cleaning up. Sometimes I will make 2 cuts depending on where the sprue is.Also works great on large sinkers and custom jigs that I DO Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fshng2 Posted July 22, 2015 Author Report Share Posted July 22, 2015 I use them for the same JIG HEADS up to 3 ounces. Not much cleaning up. Sometimes I will make 2 cuts depending on where the sprue is.Also works great on large sinkers and custom jigs that I DO That's great to know you use it on the same or similar gigs as I will. I mold some 3 oz but mainly 2oz and under. Do these stay sharp after many uses? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m.t.pockets Posted July 22, 2015 Report Share Posted July 22, 2015 I have had one pair for over 4 years.Just started to get dull. I touch them up with a fine file. Mostly use these on my bigger sinkers. Bought another pair to use on my jlgs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
