slayer_21420 Posted January 23, 2017 Report Share Posted January 23, 2017 When weighting, Can you Pour lead directly into alumilite white? Or does a lead weight need to be inserted? thanks! Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spoonpluggergino Posted January 23, 2017 Report Share Posted January 23, 2017 If you go on make a lure website there is a video by Larry that will show you that you can pour lead in the alumilate mold, also there are other mold material that you can pour lead Gino Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobP Posted January 23, 2017 Report Share Posted January 23, 2017 Of course you can but should you? In my limited experience with Alumite, it is not very buoyant because it's hard to add a lot of microspheres to it and get it to mold properly. So you need to be careful in ballasting the lure not to get too much lead installed. Pouring hot lead into a small ballast hole is not the easiest thing to do. And you would need to carefully drill the hole to make sure it will hold the correct amount of ballast and that you have filled it to the proper level. I think it's easier and more accurate to just glue a measured ballast weight into a crankbait. There is also the question of what effect if any hot lead has on the Alumite. I have no idea but unless there is no melting or charring, you will not get a securely installed ballast weight. You'll find out how secure it is the first time you slap the lure on the water. If it can, the ballast weight will break the finish and shoot out the bottom of the crankbait. Don't ask me how I know this! 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slayer_21420 Posted January 24, 2017 Author Report Share Posted January 24, 2017 (edited) I should've explained my intentions. This is for larger than average castings, being made into spearing decoys, and I'm getting good results even at 100% microballoons. I normally use red cedar and drill my holes for the weight so that the fins protrude into the lead cavities and the molten lead/fins lock eachother in place. After pouring the lead the decoy gets tuned to sit level and swim properly by drilling out a small amount of lead wherever needed to achieve balance. After all this is done the lead cavity is filled with epoxy putty. Basically as long as the alumilite doesn't degrade to the point of melting I should be ok as they don't take the same abuse as a bait. Edited January 24, 2017 by slayer_21420 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SW Lures Posted January 24, 2017 Report Share Posted January 24, 2017 Automatically we think baits. I have read that you do decoys for spearing but had forgot. Evidently you can. Dale 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark poulson Posted January 24, 2017 Report Share Posted January 24, 2017 If I could make something that beautiful I would never let it get near a fish with teeth! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anglinarcher Posted January 25, 2017 Report Share Posted January 25, 2017 (edited) On 1/22/2017 at 5:04 PM, slayer_21420 said: When weighting, Can you Pour lead directly into alumilite white? Or does a lead weight need to be inserted? thanks! Steve Yes, I use to do it all the time with great results. I changed my mold design and not it won't work, but when I go back to my top fill mold it works great. The thing to remember is that the lead will settle to the bottom of your mold before the alumilite sets, so it only works if you have something to catch the lead or you want the lead on the bottom. PS, I use lead shot when I mold the alumilite so there is no hot lead. It would work great for your decoys. Edited January 25, 2017 by Anglinarcher additional information 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slayer_21420 Posted January 26, 2017 Author Report Share Posted January 26, 2017 Well here it is, sits perfectly level and swims like a fish. You'd never guess it wasn't wood by looking at it. My paint job needs a little fine tuning, it's the first perch I've done. thanks everyone who helped out, I appreciate it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark poulson Posted January 26, 2017 Report Share Posted January 26, 2017 I. HATE. YOU!!!! Hahaha 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slayer_21420 Posted January 26, 2017 Author Report Share Posted January 26, 2017 I'll try harder next time! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark poulson Posted January 27, 2017 Report Share Posted January 27, 2017 21 hours ago, slayer_21420 said: I'll try harder next time! You try any harder, and those things will swim by themselves! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
