Need help getting started pouring

sticksteer

New member
Joined
Sep 21, 2013
Messages
32
Location
Ms
I think I'm ready to start pouring my own heads, any help with what i need to get started would be great. I'm thinking i want a production pot but might need to start with a ladle and a burner. Let me hear yall's thoughts.
 

sticksteer

New member
Joined
Sep 21, 2013
Messages
32
Location
Ms
Thanks, would the Lee 10# pot be the best to start with ? I want a walleye head and a round head mold to start with for sure, i like the no neck for tying. I saw the round head Ron Don posted and will start with that one first. Anybody know what manf has the walleye head without a collar ?
 

LedHed

Sponsor
Joined
Mar 23, 2010
Messages
5,146
Location
So Cal I.E.
4-10 up to 1 ounce jigs/weights. You can do bigger stuff but it gets really time consuming (heating replaced lead). The larger Lee production pot - 20lbs (I think) is a lot easier to do the bigger stuff.

Check out Do-it for the walleye jig molds.
 

toadfrog

Active member
Joined
Jun 28, 2010
Messages
2,816
Location
OKLAHOMA
The big lee pot has less drips to deal with . More clearance overall . I think it's JNR-7-A that has an assortment of round heads . Generally pick one up for around 22 bucks on fleabay . Pick up a walleye head cheap the same way and mod it . We can help with that.
 

smalljaw

New member
Joined
Aug 25, 2012
Messages
1,442
Location
Pennsylvania
You want the bottom pour pot from lee, if you aren't use to pouring a ladle can be tough to use and extremely dangerous. I use both a bottom pour and a 4lb Lee precision melter with a ladle for certain molds. The walleye head doesn't come with model with no collar, you either have to use the collar or cut it off. I cut the collars after I pour and then slide them down the hook and dip in my 4lb pot to melt them off, it takes a second to do but I sometimes use the collars, especially for buck tails but crappie jigs I cut the collar off. As TF has already told you, if you want to mod the mold to get rid of the collar then the guys here can help, good luck.
 

Shoemoo

New member
Joined
Nov 1, 2011
Messages
889
Location
Boise, ID
There's only two walleye molds (one with eye sockets and one without) and both have collars. It's pretty easy to do a non-permanent mold mod and fill the collar cavity with flexible sealant, though.
 

Bucho

Member
Joined
Mar 29, 2013
Messages
919
Location
Kiel, Germany
hmmm... I was having so much trouble with drips and plugs in my bottom-pourer, I exclusively use my "back-up" ladle melter now. Got myself 3 spare pot inlets so I can switch through different alloys in a breeze.

Refill breaks are fine with me, I use them to clean up, cut of sprue etc. With all the crust I fish out of the pot in the process, I don´t even consider going back. Might be due to the lead quality I have to deal with here.
 

papaperch

Active member
Joined
Mar 28, 2010
Messages
1,033
Location
Northeast Ohio
Not often thought of but is great for fluxing your molten lead in pot. A common candle. THe wax itself can be used trim off a hunk about as big a pencil eraser. Drop into the pot of lead. Will flame up so be careful. Then use a small ladle to skim the dross off top.

another use for the candle is smoking the mold. If on a certain mold a cavity won't fill right. Light a candle and hold mold in the smoke. Till your troublesome cavity blackens. Baby power can be used as a pour helper too.A light dusting on cavities will help the flow of lead.
 

Kdog

Moderator
Joined
Apr 26, 2013
Messages
1,809
Location
SW Ohio
Lee 10# furnace is great, just keep it clean. Have a small tray to catch drips. IMO never let it get below half full. I never had a leaking problem until I emptied the pot. Then fought for 6 months finally replaced the pot new one from lee was ~10 bucks.

Smoking the mold with a beeswax candle is a great idea and should e done on all molds. However, I did find in a old forum someone talking about dusting cavities with talcum powder tapping off excess and casting, repeat every 3-5 casts as needed. I finally tried this on a 1-1/2 lure I was casting and amazingly enough it works like a champ and even a cold mold will fully fill.

Molding process itself.

Keep everything clean, clean, clean

Organize your hooks for ease of access. I made a little rack from scrap wood and some wire and preload it with hooks. no more fumbling and untangling hooks when casting

I really like my magnifying headband eyes just are not up to the task for setting hooks and inserts. Be sure your hooks are seated properly. It is easy to mess up a mold.

For molds, check out ebay some real bargains can be had. recently I bought new 3 cavity molds for 6 bucks including shipping I still see the same molds on auction and still bid just gotta get lucky. Not in a bind for them I have 3 of each 1/32. 1/16 and 1/8 which make popular grab bag gifts at certain events.

However, best new mold prices I have found are from Zeiner's Bass shop in Wichita KS and having watched a number of auctions on ebay can tell you that Zeiners new prices are often less than the auction prices.

Asbestos finger tips would be nice but I have not found any.

Other than that, a shop apron is nice to have and I will never be without my long handled magnetic pic up tool. Too many times a hook gets dropped and getting up out of the chair to pick it up just slows me down, leaving them lay until end of session is a bad idea.

Good Luck, take your time and have fun..
 

SlabHappy

New member
Joined
Jul 13, 2013
Messages
323
Location
Burleson
Like everyone else, get the 10# bottom pour Lee pot. I have found I don't have problems with it clogging when I keep it at least half full. The walleye heads you can fill in with silicon. I used permaflex copper. It's a high temp gasket material. Worked great, in fact, I have done it to two of my molds (walleye and minnow head) and going to get the wobble head mold and fill in as well. Just fill it in, powder with baby powder, powder your hook, put hook in and let set overnight. You can trim any extra with a razor blade.
 

tholmes

New member
Joined
Aug 7, 2013
Messages
9

chill49

New member
Joined
Jul 2, 2010
Messages
137
Location
Bella Vista Ar
go to shopzilla don't know if is just cyber monday but there is a lee pro 4-20 for 74.59 free freight or one for 66.89 plus freight
 
Back
Top