WHEEL WEIGHTS? SHEESH!

[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]I agree that the weights can be a good source of cheap lead. But, the impurities on the top are not the antimony and other hardening metals in the lead. They are permenantly amalgamated with the lead. Even "100% pure" lead floats up some slag that needs to be skimmed off.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]The melting point of tire weights is about 10% higher than pure lead, and it cools faster too. That means that if it hardens quicker in your mold it may not reach all of the small nooks and crannies in a detailed small jig. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I agree that there is no problem pouring simple jig heads down to 1/8 oz. with wheel weight lead. But, a lot of us also make small stuff, down to 1/64 oz heads. Believe me, you just can't get good molds with the really small stuff. In most cases the alloyed lead hardens as soon as it hits the hole on those small heads and you do not get anything at all.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]When making super small jig heads, even with 100% pure lead, most experienced jig pourers will even pre-heat the molds, to reduce the number of partially formed heads.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Been there, done that.[/#0000ff]
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