making molds

[robbor]

A while back i started trying to make a few molds for flat head crappie jigs I thought id share my experience. I started making 3 different sized molds on a manual mill. It took forever and their still not finished. I went slow and took my time double checking everything and each mold took almost all day at school.
I still have to cut the 2 halves apart and then countersink the sprue holes. Let me say it would have been much easier to buy them than make them. I am taking cnc milling next and will have a go at new molds with barbs, i just could not figure out how to machine all the barbs nor did i have the time. Happy viewing, hopefully one day ill get to pour'em. I forget the sizes but i believe pictured are 1/16 and 1/8 or 3/32. I had a 1/32 but i have no idea where it is.

[smoothlures]

That's pretty cool. You'll probably need a bigger hole to pour the lead in though. But nice job!

[Crappie Reaper]

Originally Posted by smoothlures

That's pretty cool. You'll probably need a bigger hole to pour the lead in though. But nice job!

Not a problem on the bigger hole for pouring. Both halves can be clamped together and drilled as one. Looks as if a countersink would do the trick so as to create a funnel. You've already got the pilot located. Looks like a great idea, and you should be able to sell a few of them to C.C members.
Great job!

[ShilohRed]

some molds you can not buy. Wish I could get one for a 1 1/4 oz sauger jig. but there not for sale. And to get one. I have to get 30 milled. And at $75 each. Just way to high. You would think with the machines they have today. Just scan the jig and let the PC control it. And out comes a mold.
Good luck and keep up the good work.
Pete

[Rowdy]

If you have a vocatioal trade school close they could do it on a c&c they charge $1.00 and materials here, or that what it was a while back
Rowdy

[Bob # 1]

Really Cool,
Worked in machine shop 17 years, and know excaltyl where you are coming from.

My dad was tool and die about 30 years ago, and he use to make molds for piston rods, he did it all with belt driven machines, and files. He sure was good at it. Now days, people have no idea
what CNC machine can do compared to those days.

Just happen that we got a order to build a mold similar to what dad
took him 4-6 months to make. I watched the progress on the mold
similar to what dad make, from drawings to programing to shipping it took them 2 weeks.

[robbor]

For $1 and materials they'd have a line down the block. They dont do that kind of stuff at my school. If you want something done.... got to do it yourself.
Plus i dont like imposing. I even buy all my own bits and materials. I do enjoy the class and students though, we have one guy who is about 75.

And yes the mold are not finished, I have to cut the molds in half and the bore the sprue holes.