Lead free jig casting question

matt19801 · January 07, 2012, 07:10:48 PM

Now that Massachusetts lead law has gone into effect I have been looking to make my own jig heads. My question is what metals are best since lead jigs are band here. I have some custom jigs that are pewter that I really like but are not made anymore. And I can't find much info on casting jigs out of pewter. So any other info on casting different metals is appreciated

bigjim5589 · January 07, 2012, 07:27:19 PM

For lower temperature casting, such as with lead, you really only have 2 choices, which are tin or bismuth, and both are quite a bit more expensive than lead, and not as easy to get.

Another alternative would be to cast with tungsten powder & a resin, such as epoxy. No heating required, but again, a lot more expense in buying the tungsten.

matt19801 · January 07, 2012, 07:51:13 PM

Quote from: bigjim5589 on January 07, 2012, 07:27:19 PM
For lower temperature casting, such as with lead, you really only have 2 choices, which are tin or bismuth, and both are quite a bit more expensive than lead, and not as easy to get.

Another alternative would be to cast with tungsten powder & a resin, such as epoxy. No heating required, but again, a lot more expense in buying the tungsten.

thank you bigjim I forgot about tungsten. But with tungsten would I need a different type of mold?

bigjim5589 · January 07, 2012, 07:59:34 PM

I've never tried it, but believe you could use the same mold you use for pouring lead. You would however, have to coat the mold with something to prevent the resin from sticking to it. I've heard that some folks have used Pam spray as a release when molding fly bodies with epoxy, so don't see why it wouldn't work with jig molds too.

matt19801 · January 07, 2012, 08:22:50 PM

Quote from: bigjim5589 on January 07, 2012, 07:59:34 PM
I've never tried it, but believe you could use the same mold you use for pouring lead. You would however, have to coat the mold with something to prevent the resin from sticking to it. I've heard that some folks have used Pam spray as a release when molding fly bodies with epoxy, so don't see why it wouldn't work with jig molds too.

think I'm going to have to try it out on an old mold to see if it works
Thank you for the tip.

Sent from my LS670 using Tapatalk

Stump bumper · January 18, 2012, 02:05:33 PM

I am wondering if brass would work? I see brass I can't use at the range all the time, might be something free to make jig heads? Has anyone ever melted brass?

yak-aholic · January 18, 2012, 10:48:09 PM

I don't know about melting brass, but having worked in the heat exchanger industry in the past, I know brass puts off a noxious gas when welded. Now welding heats the metal to a much higher temperature than would be needed just to melt it to a liquid and pour in a mold, but definitely something you might want to investigate.

cadman · January 19, 2012, 06:44:49 AM

Matt,
Bigjim is correct. Your only logical choice is bismuth/tin or bismith with some antimony. I pour a lot of lead jigs and this ban on lead in some states is stupid. It is going to put a lot of custom guys out of business along with lure makers who use lead as a ballast in their baits. As far as melting brassor titanium, it is not practical or safe for the do-it yourselfer. All my molds are aluminum. Aluminum melts at about 1220 degree F and brass melts at about 1700 degrees, and finally titanium melts at about 6100 degrees F. So as you can see you need a blast furnace to melt any of these metals, and an aluminum mold would melt first if you would try to pour anything in there. Finall yes brass gives off toxic fumes when you melt it. This is not an option or is it safe for the regular guys like you and I.

bigjim5589 · January 20, 2012, 02:15:50 PM

Well, fact is any of the heavy metals give off toxic fumes when melted, so precautions should be taken when working with them. I wear a respirator when pouring lead.

There was discussion awhile back about tungsten jigs, and someone suggested it was melted & poured. I said the same thing that cadman has said, tungsten's melting point is too high, and even if you had the means to melt it, & a mold to handle it, the heat would destroy the hooks!

Munkin · January 25, 2012, 07:22:25 PM

I have been looking into making jigheads using the tungsten powder/epoxy method but it is going to be expensive. By my calculations to make a 1/2oz jighead with a Gama 594 hook would be about $3 each.

Allen