Ric670 Posted August 22, 2010 Report Share Posted August 22, 2010 Can anyone tell me if there is a certain lead that has better qualities than that of others? I get my lead bars at the local bass pro shops. I am just wondering if there is a stiffer lead or is all lead just made up the same way? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
basshunter5 Posted August 22, 2010 Report Share Posted August 22, 2010 Ric I dont have the exact answer you are looking for but what I do know is I have been making myself arky jigs for almost 2 years now out of lead I bought from my local recycling center and I cant tell the difference between it and the bass pro shops lead. And I get it for 2 cents a pound you should check into it. Oh yeah and the fish cant tell the difference either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ric670 Posted August 22, 2010 Author Report Share Posted August 22, 2010 Ric I dont have the exact answer you are looking for but what I do know is I have been making myself arky jigs for almost 2 years now out of lead I bought from my local recycling center and I cant tell the difference between it and the bass pro shops lead. And I get it for 2 cents a pound you should check into it. Oh yeah and the fish cant tell the difference either. Well BH have you asked them?? Hey thanks for the tidbit...never thought of getting it from there... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark poulson Posted August 22, 2010 Report Share Posted August 22, 2010 I haven't poured lead since I used to make surf sinkers from plumbers lead, back when drain pipes were cast iron, with lead and okum joints. But I read here that tire weights are a harder lead alloy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JSC Posted August 22, 2010 Report Share Posted August 22, 2010 There is some of the best information on lead that you can find anywhere on this site. Pull a search and be ready for good long, educational read .. I don't care how little or how much you have done of it I will Gurantee you that you will learn something from it. Not being a smart@.. just trying to be helpful JSC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ric670 Posted August 22, 2010 Author Report Share Posted August 22, 2010 There is some of the best information on lead that you can find anywhere on this site. Pull a search and be ready for good long, educational read .. I don't care how little or how much you have done of it I will Gurantee you that you will learn something from it. Not being a smart@.. just trying to be helpful JSC You know JSC I kinda thought so. M gonna look it up and let me tell you i really appreciate all of the info i get here nothing "smart" about it. I have had nothing on this sight except people who have been willing to help.Sometimes the most minute of details go unnoticed or not addressed. And sometimes some of us just need a kick in the pants to pop our heads out that orifice. Thanks again Rick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cz75b Posted August 26, 2010 Report Share Posted August 26, 2010 google bullet casting and discover the world of alloyed lead.....all "lead" is not created equal, anybody who casts anything needs to know that alloyed lead melts at a lower temperature and fills in mold details better than pure lead, alloyed with tin and antimony that is....lead can also be contaminated with zinc and that will yield bad results. A good alloy, clean and fluxed with a treated mold that is up to temperature will produce good to great castings....as someone stated, do your homework but disregard the advice that pure (soft) lead works better as in most cases that isn't the case.You will get great help from the bullet casters. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mkvnmtr Posted August 27, 2010 Report Share Posted August 27, 2010 I haave bought thousands of kilos of lead from scrap yards here in Mexico. I find about four different types. Printing lead which is very hard. Wheel weights. Soft or more or less pure lead that comes from old plumbing pipes or xray shielding. And medium pure lead which comes from many sources like old fishing weights or odd lead pieces. I find that some molds require a certian type to pour easily. The only one that I do now that has to have pure lead is the Hilts triangular claw mold. I try to keep the different types in seperate pots and use the one that works best in the molds I am doing at the time. Another thing the wheel weights and printers lead will stay bright longer so I try to use it for the weights I sell to other sellers. The sticky threads at the top of the page are worth many dollars to those of us making lead to sell. Read them several times especially the one about fluxing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daved Posted September 19, 2010 Report Share Posted September 19, 2010 Lead is mined & is 100% pure soft.Can't use this as it leaves holes in the heads of jigs.Also thin lures will bend very easy.Wheel weights have 2% antimony & this is what is used in most shops.Thin lures will be hard to bend & no holes in jigs.Scrap lean can contain many other metals which will affect your pouring & how lures turn out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boomer Posted September 20, 2010 Report Share Posted September 20, 2010 Lead is mined & is 100% pure soft.Can't use this as it leaves holes in the heads of jigs.Also thin lures will bend very easy.Wheel weights have 2% antimony & this is what is used in most shops.Thin lures will be hard to bend & no holes in jigs.Scrap lean can contain many other metals which will affect your pouring & how lures turn out. I use and prefer pure lead for making jigs. It will fill out small jigs much better than something like wheel weights. I've used it up to 3 oz. sinkers and never had any issues about holes. The good soft pure lead is getting hard to find around here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tupong Posted September 20, 2010 Report Share Posted September 20, 2010 search for the post sagiocous (not sure if thats the spelling sorry) put up about fluxing lead Has all the ansewesr in there ,just grab a coffee and take a few hours out of the day its a long read but well worth it regards mick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
