How Soft of Lead Do I Need

[slabbandit]

Pouring 1/16 and 1/32 double barb Do-It Mold jigs. Is there a certain type or purity of lead that I should be looking for for these pours?

[crappiedoc]

Soft lead pours so much easier than hard lead. You can order soft lead but it's expensive. Some easily accessible forms of soft lead are plumbers lead (pipe, barrel traps), roof jacks, and sheet lead. These can be obtained through metal recyclers or construction guys. Hard lead which is generally wheel weights (ww) can be obtained from recyclers or tire shops. Most bullet lead is ww as are unlabeled ingots from tackle suppliers.

WW is usable, it works better cleaned or fluxed. I've found that it's best to crank up the heat and use hot molds. WW is an alloy lead, it has some different metals and is generally pretty dirty which can cause some problems when pouring. Hence my pouring suggestions. After some experimentation I've found some good mixing applications and reasons for doing so. With smaller things this can be some good info since ww lead clogs up spouts and molds.

If you can find some soft lead you'll pour those smaller heads so much easier, but a mans gotta do what a mans gotta do with what he has. I hope this helps and good luck.

[Redman]

SB Think that if you go to a scrap metal yard and ask for plumbers lead you should be ok. That is what they call it at the yard I go to in Marshall, Texas. As you are not all that far away would think that they call it the same thing. I use a little paraffin wax as a fluxing agent but there are newer products out there that are probity better. I am Old School and have been doing it the same way for more and 40 years.

Redman

[Fatman]

I'm with the rest - softer the better, and if your local scrap yard will sell to you, some places here in the North won't. Check with plumbers - they may know of projects where old lead water pipe was pulled out of a house being renovated, and it's just sitting ready to go to the scrap yard.

If you have a bunch of tire weights - PLEASE SORT THEM!!!!!!!!! anything with a Z or ZA or ZN on them are zinc, Besides who wants to just dump them in the pot when you could have air stems or other junk that's going to smoke and stink you out!!

I've got loads of ww lead - my local independent saves them for me - to spread things out I'll make a 2-1 mix, 2 parts tire weights to 1 part pure lead. I've not had any problems pouring down to 1/32 in any of my molds - and that includes pony and horseheads.

I've also melted it down and fluxed it and gotten it all clean and make up ingots of it. You can go on some of the bullet casting forums and trade tire weight lead for pure. If the ww lead is all you can get - take it - trading a bullet caster could yeild some really good pure lead.

[Bronson]

I agree with the hot, hot pot and fluxing. I've been turned away from some of the scrap yards about lead. They sounded fine on the phone but when I got there I had to talk to the manager and he said no! Wouldn't give me a reason, he didn't have too, so I don't know what was the problem.

I've heard it's very, very important to make sure there is not any moisture trapped inside a piece of lead because it could cause it to explode dumping almost all the lead out of the pot. Don't know if it's true or not but I never take any chances. I've seen small drops of water hit it and the pot will spit out small droplets of hot lead. Usually these cool enough that you don't get any serious burns.

I do get some great free lead from dentists who use it to xray patients teeth. They are usually glad to get rid of it. Some will make sure it sanitized while others dump it and paper together. (I would wear gloves in case there is an blood residue left) It takes a lot to make much lead but I've been told it's some of the purest lead you can find.

You can sometimes find big slabs of lead from hospitals who are getting ready to discard it. You'll probably need to know someone at the hospital to help you with this one. If you find one, you'll have enough lead to last for many, many years.

[PBUG2009]

You can also buy soft lead sheets on ebay. Seen some on there also. I believe its a about 1.00 per pound

[crappiedoc]

Bronson,

Good catch on the moisture Thumbs Up I really like grease clogs in pipe, self fluxing and it does an awesome job

[R an J Jigs]

I flux everytime I put lead into the pot. And also bake you lead if possible before place into the pot, just in case moisture is hidden somewhere!!!!

[shipahoy41]

I flux everytime I put lead into the pot. And also bake you lead if possible before place into the pot, just in case moisture is hidden somewhere!!!!

Welcome again from Alabama Rebecca. Glad to see you posting and sharing your knowledge on the jig tying forum. Anyone on here will answer your questions. Post them as a thread or just shoot a pm to someone. I would recommend Skiptomylou, Crappie Kid 24, Nightprowler, Fatman, "G" , pbug2009 and others just to start you in the right direction. These are all knowledgeable, friendly, helpful and good to learn what they already know.

[R an J Jigs]

will do ship... Pouring molten lead you have to be careful. Ive seen pics of where lead has poped all over people...Always around the belly chest area. Wear a leather type apron if possible.