I have a jig that works really well so of course the company that makes it was either sold or went under. I have a few of the jigs left and I was wondering if there is an effective way of making a mold of the jig so I can pour my own?
**Do-it molds makes a blank mold for those with enough skill working with aluminum to make their own molds. **
**I’m sure there are other ways but if you have a steady hand a little know how it would be possilbe to replicate your jig with the blank mold. **
Joe,
Get the book “The Complete Book of Tackle Making” by C. Boyd
Pfeiffer for $19.95. There is a chapter regarding your subject.
It states that one can make molds from plaster of paris and/or a special plastic.
Powderkeg
Thanks guys thats some great info, I’ll let you know how it turns out.
Being a captain, you should probably know at least one or two people in the machine shop business. Do some bartering to see if they can make a cast of the jig heads and then fashion a mold. When you have the tools and the knowhow it is not too complicated.
Otherwise you can buy one of the blank molds and try to fashion a cavity yourself.
I got a question for you guys who make their own jigs. What are yoiu going to use when thry finnally ban lead. i think it is just a matter of time before we can’t but lead sinkers and jigs any more.
While there are some waters in some states that already ban the use of lead, I doubt that it will ever become universal. The big problem in some lakes is the potential for ingestion by waterfowl. On lakes where there are no concentrations of waterfowl, or feeding shallows, then the problem is minimized.
The concern is not that the lead dissolves and enters the food chain through a succession of invertebrates, small fish and bigger fish.
On those waters where lead is prohibited, you can still fish a lot of different flies and lures effectively. There are also other heavy metals that are suitable substitutes, even if they do cost more than cheap lead.
i was just looking at the melting point Most metals aren’t going to melt in a little electric pot like lead.
MOST metals DO have a higher melting point than lead. However, bismuth, the most common lead substitute for jigs and sinkers where lead is banned, is only 7% lighter than lead and melts at 100 degrees lower than lead.
**I have no worries about lead being universally banned for sinkers and lures. Canada and the northern states are really the only ones getting excited about it. That is based on a 10 year old study about some loons dying after ingesting lead bird shot…not sinkers. **
There are no loons in most states and since steel shot has been implemented by waterfowl hunters the incidence of bird deaths attributable to the ingestion of lead has dropped dramatically.
Even where legislation to restrict the use of lead in sinkers or lures is still pending, the language has been structured in most cases to “jigs less than one inch in length”. I don’t use many jigs that small so I am not worried.
aluminum blocks
Dremmel and a few granding bits and honing bits.
or you can go the hard way and make a wax mold, to place in a plaster mold to pour in alluminum to form the final mold
Art 101
to make the aluminum mold you will need the smelting vat and a torch to heat the aluminum to a molten stage…
but realy if you can take the unit you have now and make a plaster split mold you may only be able to make one jig at a time unless you make multiple molds.
with a dremmel you can finish the mold and finish the final product…
chances are good that a mold already exist for the jig you wish to make…
Dave,
This would be my first attempt ever at making a mold. I think I might go with the idea of going to the local machine shop with a blank mold and see if they can cut what I need. I figure they would be able to get 4-5 in a single blank. I only have 2 of the jigs left and obviously don’t want to ruin them by trying this myself.
I would love to find the mold for the jig but my timing was a bit off. The tackle shop owner called the company that used to sell them and it seems they were produced over seas then packaged for sale and shipped to the us. The company over seas went out of business and nobody knows what happened to the assets of the original manufacturer.
you can bet for sure every thing was sold off..
the question is where.
If you can post a picture, some one may start making the jig in another country under another name.
making soap or wax modles of your jig it the first step in making hand made plaster molds.
unless you have a bud in the milling bussness you may be looking at a 500 - 1500 bill for milling a jig mold out of aluminum…
Being a macheinest my self I can tell you first hand there is a lot of work involved in making these.
the comercial molds are made from plaster or sand molds much like your sink fossets. in simple terms they are cast molds not milled…
Lots of math involved in this simple project…
it can be done on a bridgeport mill but you will run in to a problem with the hook part of the milling.. that part is realy tedeous unless you have a cnc mill that can to programed milling .
I am not trying to scare you, I just thought you might want to know what is going on when you get slapped with a two grand bill…
If you’re really serious about having a mold made I work with a custom mold maker that has made many specialized jig molds for me. Just check out the saltwater jigs I have available at www.dragonflylures.com
He takes a 3-D scan from a sample or I can give him a drawing and he gets me exactly what I need. Cost is roughly 150-300 for a CUSTOM mold. I used to think Do-It molds were the best and I still love Do-It Molds for the price but he does make a work of art. Phenolic handles that never burn out and precision cuts out of T-6 Aluminum makes the nicest molds I’ve ever seen. I wish I had a picture handy but the jigs they produce should be proof enough— any questions let me know.
Hey thanks for that info, I will be contacting them for sure. The jig I need done is like the teardrop but without the baitholder feature. I’m sure they will have no trouble making what I need. I can’t thank you enough as I built my charter reputation on the amount of fish I produce. A lot of my success came from that silly little jig. When others had a slow bite I would be loading up, and the only difference was this little jig that nobody else had.
Also if you want I will tell them you sent me, always helps to get brownie points when you can. Just Pm me your name if you don’t want to post it.
I think that is a great site,
deffenantly the place I would look in to in a pickle.
but you may have missed read their costum jig quote.
here is a copy of it…
Custom Jigs
If you just can’t find the jig you’re looking for you’ve come to the right place. Whether it is designing jigs from drawings or a sample we can usually duplicate it. This of course depends on on the design complexity and whether or not the items are patented.
Custom jigs require time and money. We require a minimum order to cover the cost of the mold being made and the hooks being used. Most custom jigs require $150 to $300 deposit; custom work will not be started until payment is received in order to cover our costs.
Custom jigs made from samples can be 3 dimensionally scanned and resized from 1/4, 1/2, 1, 16, 20, 24 ounces and up.
We can also use Premium Quality hooks like Owner, Gamakatsu, VMC, Matzuo, Eagle Claw and Mustad to suit your needs (minimum charges may apply).
Let us help make your next fishing trip a success!
Hey Skipper, What is the brand of jigs that you are looking for???
We have a company on the west coast that make a ton of different shapes and sizes.
I’m sure you have heard of Lead Masters. They supply most of the lead heads for the coastal waters throughout the entire US.
Do you have a picture of your jig??
I tossed the info after tracking it down to a since closed company. I have the contacts to get my own mold made, also I found a guy in my area that has a mold that is almost identical. He made me a few but the color was off a bit.
The shape is a simple teardrop and I have tried others but never get the same result. I think it might be the size or maybe the yellow color is just the right shade. I already went to a few different paint shops and had them scan the color so I will have it when I ecide to get off my butt and get going on this.
Snapper season is just starting so I should get it in gear soon.
If you are interested, this is a very interesting site. I have spent hours on it just looking around. Anyone who can cast, and make their own Lathe has my respect! Anyway, if you are interested in casting your own molds.. have a peak! Caution, this could start up a whole new hobby!