LEAD MELTERS & JIG MOLDS

[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]The process of making jigs begins with melting lead. There are many ways to melt lead, but for jig making, it is best to have a high temperature melting pot to get the lead quickly into a liquid form and to keep it hot enough to allow pouring into the special molds we use. [/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]The hotter the lead, the better it will fill in the small openings in jig heads with fine detail...like the barbs for holding plastics on the heads. If the lead is too cool to begin with...or cools too quickly in the mold...the result will be poor castings and lack of detail. You will have a lot of jig heads with no barbs or poor shapes.[/#0000ff]

[#0000ff]For those on a budget, or who do not make many jigs, it is possible to get by with the simple open top melters and dipping the melted lead out with a ladle...or pouring it out the pour spout on the side. This is more cumbersome than using a lever-operated "production pot" and is potentially more dangerous...from spilled molten lead.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]

LEE'S PRODUCTION POT (Worth the extra $$$)


LESS EXPENSIVE "HOT POT" WITH POUR SPOUT

[#0000ff][url "http://www.jannsnetcraft.com/lead-melters-tools/"]JANNS MELTING POTS[/url][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][url "http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jsp?_DARGS=/cabelas/en/common/catalog/item-link.jsp_A&_DAV=MainCatcat20166-cat20362_TGP&id=0002838210653a&navCount=5&podId=0002838&parentId=cat20362&masterpathid=&navAction=push&catalogCode=IH&rid=&parentType=index&indexId=cat20362&hasJS=true"]CABELAS LEE PRODUCTION POT[/url][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][url "http://www.barlowstackle.com/lead-melting-pots.html"]BARLOWS MELTING POTS & ACCESSORIES[/url][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]There are probably over a hundred different jig molds available, from the two or three main manufacturers. Some of them have several "cavities", each with a different size mold of the same jig head or lure. These are often the best choices for beginners at jig making. [/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]As you become more experienced at making and using jigs, you will refine your approach and will notice that you use mostly only a few jigs...and mostly of only one or two sizes. When you get to that point, you can seriously consider buying molds that have several cavities of the same size...for "production" jig making. Some of these molds may have eight cavities of all the same size and style. Others may have 3 or 4 each of two different sizes or styles. You will have to decide first whether you need something like that...and secondly, whether it fits in your budget.[/#0000ff]

[#0000ff]The type of jig fishing you do will also determine what style of jig heads you will use...and what molds you should buy. Here are some of the ones worthy of consideration by beginners.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
Minnow Jig Head
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]The minnow head mold makes heads that have a barb on the back of the shaft...ideal for holding mini tubes. It also holds plastic grubs and shad bodies, so it is a "universal" jig head.[/#0000ff]


Pony Head Jig with Barb
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff] [font "Verdana"][/font]
Rigged with Plastic

[#0000ff]The "Roadrunner" jigs were invented and copyrighted by the Blakemore Company. However, there are plenty of molds available to make these effective little spinner jigs. I will post a special post on another thread on making and using these things. They are well worth considering in your beginning arsenal of jig molds. Note: they do require the use of "crane swivels" in the pouring process...and the addition of a small split ring and spinner blade after finishing.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
Round Head With Barb
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]

Round Head No Barb[#0000ff][/#0000ff]

[#0000ff]Round head jigs are the work horses of most jig collections. They pour easily, with minimum muss and fuss, and they fish well under most conditions. They are available in both barb and no-barb models. Barbed heads are better for fishing plastics. No barb heads are generally poured to be used for tieing "dressed jigs"...using hair, feathers and/or synthetics. You can fish plastics on no-barb heads, but they keep slipping down. You can also dress barbed jigs...if your budget only allows buying one kind.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
Shad Dart

[#0000ff]This head was developed for use by shad fishermen along east coast rivers. The flat face makes it "dart" when pulled against current, trolled or retrieved quickly in still water. Since it hangs in a horizontal attitude, when fished vertically, it is a good head for use in jigging and ice fishing. It has no barb but you can still fish small grubs on it. It is great for dressing with your choice of feathers or fibers.[/#0000ff]

[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
Tapered Tube Skirt Jig
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]If you plan to fish tube skirts a lot, you should have at least one mold for making the thin tapered heads that insert easily into your choice of tubes. Although you can fish these heads with other plastics or make them into dressed jigs, they are a specialized jig and are usually not considered a "must have" until later in your jig making career.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]

Shad Head
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Shad heads are designed to present a larger "profile" and to "track" straighter through the water when trolled or retrieved. They are ideal for fishing plastics...either shad bodies or grubs. However, they can also be dressed with your choice of fur or feathers to make some great jigs...especially for larger fish. Again, not a must have for newbies, but one of the ones you might want to add later.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]

Spearhead Jig
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Another jig that is not necessary for a beginner, but is a good one to add later. These elongated jig heads are designed for dressing with hair or feathers...to make large trolling or casting jigs. But, they also wear plastics well and they are great for vertical jigging since the balance gives them a horizontal attitude when fished straight down. These are the jig heads from which I make my "plungers"...by flattening them slightly and making them with smaller hooks. Again, the plungers will be discussed in another thread...on specialty jig making.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]

Ultra Minnow Jig
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]The "Ultra Minnow" is a fairly new development. It was about the 36th mold to be added to my personal collection. Since making and using a few of these, for vertical jigging in deeper water, I would never do without it again. It makes great jigs down to 1/8 oz. and the horizontal presentation makes it ideal for such fishing.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Here are some other links to both Barlows and other online suppliers of jig molds.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][url "http://www.barlowstackle.com/jig-molds-lite-a-q.html"]BARLOWS'S A-Q[/url][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][url "http://www.barlowstackle.com/jig-molds-lite-r-z.html"]BARLOW'S R-Z[/url][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][url "http://www.barlowstackle.com/jig-molds-heavy.html"]BARLOW'S HEAVY HOOK MOLDS[/url][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][url "http://www.barlowstackle.com/lead-molds-spinner-bait.html"]BARLOW'S SPINNER & BUZZBAIT MOLDS[/url][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][url "http://www.barlowstackle.com/lead-molds-fishing-lure.html"]BARLOW'S LURE MOLDS[/url][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][url "http://www.jannsnetcraft.com/do-it-molds/"]JANNS LEAD MOLDS[/url][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][url "http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/pod/horizontal-pod.jsp?_DARGS=/cabelas/en/common/catalog/pod-link.jsp_A&_DAV=MainCatcat20166-cat20362_TGP&rid=&indexId=cat20362&navAction=push&masterpathid=&navCount=1&parentType=index&parentId=cat20362&id=0011109"]CABELAS' LEAD MOLDS[/url][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][url "http://www.lurecraft.com/catalog.cfm/molds/do~it-molds"]LURECRAFT LEAD MOLDS[/url][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][url "http://www.upnorthoutdoors.com/stamina/molds.html"]STAMINA LEAD MOLDS[/url][/#0000ff]
[signature]