How do You handle Your sprews?

**crappiefarmer** · 03-12-2014, 06:40 AM

Do You wiggle and break them off Your jigs or do You use gate cutters? Do gate cutter cut good and clean or do You have to still clean them up? What is Your final cleaning/finishing process before putting them in a bag? I have been hand breaking the sprews and then scraping clean the lead head with a dull pocket knife. Just wondering what everyone else does and seeing if there is a quicker way. I have gotten pretty quick and cleaning up a dozen jigs with a pocket knife but always look for ways to improve as we all do.CF

**Fatman** · 03-12-2014, 08:15 AM

I use a pair of needle nose pliers to hold the sprue and then twist the jig back and forth to break it off. I either scrape with an old pocket knife or smooth it with a little file I have. On my horse heads sometimes you'll get a little lead on the upper arm of the swivel and I use a box cutter knife to trim it off.

Any flash you can use the pocket knife on.

I have gate cutters for troublesome ones but if you cut too far you'll leave a big flat spot on your jig.

**STUMP HUNTER** · 03-12-2014, 08:24 AM

I use a gate cutter I get from Hobby Lobby but from the post Harbor Freight has a cheap set. I then also use a pocket knife to clean up the heads. I don't want to use anything that makes lead dust.

**FISHER HAWK 186** · 03-12-2014, 12:26 PM

Depends on the mold I use

Do it molds
Smooth jaw pliers to twist them off
It leaves a little dot on each side like eyes but they still look good

Jacobs molds
Gate cutters
Usind the tip of the cutters right up against the ball head squeeze enough to cut into the lead but not cut all the way through then give the jig a little twist and they come of smooth as silk

**Windjinx** · 03-13-2014, 04:53 PM

I do like others with others and wiggle until it comes off, but then I just tap the cut edge a few times on the flat part of my bench vise to flat out or round over. Lead is soft it does it take much effort.

**plateboater** · 03-15-2014, 08:21 PM

Went to Petsmart on Friday and pick up dog nail nippers also went to Harbor Freight and pick up the $2 small snips. I am still in RnD to determine which is best. These have been recommendations lately for sprue cutters from a couple different boards. Hope that helps.

**Cray** · 03-15-2014, 09:00 PM

Tried the gate cutter,now I do it just like you. Found I had less cleaning to do just breaking them off.

**PA_Slabs** · 03-16-2014, 10:34 AM

With ball no collar heads 1/32 or bigger, I use a gate cutter. I only pour with soft pure lead. In turn if you bend them back and forth, you make some the heads loose on the hook. 1/64 and small they twist right off.

**wicklundrh** · 03-22-2014, 07:41 PM

I've found the quickest way for large size and volume is to use the wiggle method and then clean up with my bench grinder.

Hit it real quick and cleans it right up. When doing a couple hundred at a time it becomes difficult to usr a dull knife. My thumb hurts after awhile.

**Bobo Greybeard** · 03-22-2014, 08:47 PM

I have over 30 different molds. LOL Yes, I am addicted. Anyway, on ball heads 1/16 or smaller I twist off. Egg heads, I use a pair of cheap gate cutters that I bought at harbour frieght. Minnow heads = cutters, pony heads = cutters. It just really depends on what size and for whom I am making the heads for. I have a job starting this week, that I am waiting on the hooks for, that is 10,000 heads. I use the purest lead I can find, then spend a ton of time making sure it is as soft as I can get it. Overkill??? Maybe but it makes me feel better. lol

Bobo

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