Munkin Posted April 30, 2020 Report Share Posted April 30, 2020 Anyone have any experience on making lead masters? I have saved up enough to buy a spincaster, vulcanizer, and the other things to start spincasting. Duplicating say Ned jigs is easy as I can just put some good ones from a Do-It mold together. The two things that I cannot figure out are; how to get details in say a spinnerbait head? Do you carve one out of another material first, etc? and how to calculate weight. Lead I know has a specific weight/density ratio that probably requires math that I gave up on years ago but how to actually calculate is beyond me. So anyone with any tips would be greatly appreciated . Allen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jigmeister Posted April 30, 2020 Report Share Posted April 30, 2020 I have made prototypes of lead heads and made molds using Durhams water putty . Its kind of like Plaster of paris but withstand the heat of molten lead better but breaks down little by little with each bait you cast . You can make a head of roughly the size and shape you want poured in lead using a 2 part Durham mold and then put features in by filing the lead (such as gills for example or eye sockets ) before making the master vulcanized mold after you are happy with your design . One word of caution about the Durhams water putty though . You have to make sure the mold halves are completely dry before attempting to pour hot lead into them or molten lead will shoot back at you thru the sprue hold . 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Munkin Posted May 16, 2020 Author Report Share Posted May 16, 2020 Tried an engraver on some lead heads and it just isn't steady enough. Guess I will have to try some clay for masters. Allen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Apdriver Posted May 16, 2020 Report Share Posted May 16, 2020 I remember someone posting this a long time ago. Shows how to go from clay to a master. He makes it look pretty easy but maybe with some trial and error on the design part a guy could make something nice. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kris brantner Posted May 17, 2020 Report Share Posted May 17, 2020 Some guys are 3d printing masters Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe-Fish Posted January 19, 2022 Report Share Posted January 19, 2022 For those of you who are using Durham's for 2 piece molds, how do you prevent the two halves from sticking together when pouring the master mold? I have read that guys use a releasing agent, does anybody have one they like or have had success with? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coosa Redeye Posted January 20, 2022 Report Share Posted January 20, 2022 Elmer's glue and Water Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bentrod425 Posted March 6, 2022 Report Share Posted March 6, 2022 petrolum jelly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...