mold questions for redman

[JSC]

I will try to post a picture of one in the AM.

I ran out to the shop and got it done now ... things going on.
I hope it gives you a little more idea about the Ament Custom Molds.
These are all from the middle 60's .. I have some older and newer.


View attachment 1
View attachment 2
View attachment 3

 

[redear]

jsc, thanks so much for showing those molds.

 

[redman]

Jim: yep looks like what I saw only different style head. Paul like to use 1 1/2 inch bar stock. The one that he made for me on a 1/2 oz. He use 2inch bar stock and cut in half. He did a good job. To bad he is gone. Will drag out that mold and post a pictur

As far as helping you clean well I will have to think about that. Two big garbage bags already and more to come.

 

[Fatman]

redear - didn't mean to throw the gas in the fire but just had to ask the questions LOL!!!!!!!

Redman - after you described your shop in a PM one time I can imagine how long it's gonna take you to clean it up LOL.

JSC - I used to use my Uncles multi-cavity Aments, he passed away while I was in the Air Force and I went looking for those molds but another one of my cousins got hold of them and they haven't been seen since!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[redear]

so did mr. ament press these custom molds? I'm looking at his pin setup and can't help but think theres a reason for them both being on the far side from the hinge. just thinking that maybe my hinges being so close to the one pin on that one side might be causing my hairline gap on the hinge side, being as that pin is sort of comming into it's hole at more of an angle, causing a prying action against the hinge, possibly letting my hinge get out of adjustment. anyway I love those old school molds, if only they could talk.

 

[redear]

crappyhappy, check your emails for photos. redear

 

[redear]

took the new mold and loaded two vmc size 6 hooks in it and took a little sinker and put it into a stirring ladle and heated it up with an alchohol lamp, when it melted I poured it into one of the sprue holes, and then opened the mold, what I saw was a perfectly formed head with absolutely no flash, I closed the mold and poured the other cavity the same way, same result, beautiful. I don't know why this head and mold got me so exited but it did, took the two heads and clipped off the sprues and tied them both up in one of my favorite color combos, yellow, black and red thread.

 

[Fatman]

Couldn't take it anymore huh!!!!!LOL That's gettin die hard melting over an alcohol lamp!!!

 

[AtticaFish]

...anyway I love those old school molds, if only they could talk.

Have to say i love this thread....... it DOES make the old style molds and mold makers whisper a little and let out their secrets here and there just through trying to re-create it all. Glad to see it still alive and makes me want to create my own.

 

[CrappieHappy]

ok, sorry for the delay, was away from computer for a bit.
Very nice work Kip!
heres the updated pics form redear :

 

[JSC]

Lookin Goood !

 

[redear]

crappyhappy, thank you very very much for posting the pics!!! fatman, I didn't have the lead to load the pot with so I had to make due with what I had, lol surprised me how well the jigheads poured with no air pockets etc. this way, honestly I didn't expect it to work very well, learn something every day, and believe me it looked like ol tire weight lead when irt was in the ladle, all rough looking and not shiney. so I can only imagine the results with good lead, but for now my sinkers are in real trouble. lol can you believe, a perfectly clean jighead with no flashing or seams from a homemade mold. I'm beside myself

 

[redear]

the next to last pic is the head hanging on a loop of mono, and hanging practicly horizontal, did this has I like to use a cork or bobber alot, as do several old timer freinds that I supply with jigs, they got me into the hair jig thing by always talking about how good they were and how they couldn't find them anymore. the last pic is the two heads tied up thread neck style and ready to hunt. man they were easy to tie on too. I have to get dads old grain scale but am thinking this head may weigh close to 1/16, hard to say, but just comparing it to a 1/32 no collar head from a do-it mold. would move the hook eyelet forward to the center of the head for casting or trolling. that would require another mold, oh my! lol

 

[Fatman]

Redear - The mold and pours look GREAT!!!!!! Glad it worked out!!!!! Keep em coming!!!!!!!

 

[redear]

fatman- go figure, took a mold that started out looking like a throwaway and just kept working with it, don't know how many times I had to press it with that head shape and the hard aluminum, but in the end it was all worth it. got some 1/4" brass round rods yesterday, 9 foot worth, still waiting on my peice of aluminum, 3/4"x4"x12", it's supposed to be 6303 t52 I believe which is more mallable than what Iv'e been working with, that'll help with the 1/16 and up heads.

 

[redman]

redear Just saw the pictures and you have done a wonderful job. You have almost duplicated the head that I made 30+ years ago.

Paul Ament didn't always put his pins on the handle side. He would I believe study the blank and then determine where they needed to be. The custom swim head he did for me has the pins one by the handle and on by the hinge.

I think that you have passed me up there buddy and now I need to start asking you for advice.BTW some of my molds I don't have any handles on I use a pair of pliers to hold them together. Originally we fitted a Lee loader bullet mold handle on them but found our quickly that it was faster to us a pair of pliers.

Redman

 

[redear]

redman, thanks for the compliments! there was some luck involved with this one. thanks for the info too. for some reason I kind of like using channel locks to hold the mold for pouring, it works very well for me.

 

[redman]

If it works for you redear than that is what to do. Like we use to say in the 60's and 70's if it feels good do it. Lols. Just really happy that you have taken up this project and that it is so well documented. One of the reasons that I think that Jig Craft may last for ever. There is so much info that should never be lost. You are a big part of it.

Redman

 

[Fatman]

Would a pair of handles like on the Hilts molds except wood instead of plastic work?? or would drilling the holes screw up the mold???

 

[redear]

redman- thanks for all the kind words, they make me feel good. there are others though that have played a big part in this thread. If it wasn't for you willing to share this method, and crappyhappy and fatman posting photos for me, this wouldn,t have made it on the site for all to see. trying to get my wifes and sons hunting bows and arrows together the last few days so I can get back to working on the jig stuff. Also tying some 1/16 pinkie style hair jigs for a guy that catches some of the nicest crappie Iv'e seen here locally. these are from a custom mold and the head is shaped like a torpedo or football lengthwise, it has a collar for tying the hair, but I think I would like to make a mold for this without the collar, to keep from having to use as big a bunch of hair as I am having to use to cover the collar. still haven't recieved the peice of aluminum, gonna have to call those people.