Thread: Keeping hooks in mold while closing question

Even seasoned veterans have issues from time to time.

A couple of things I do to ensure I can move as fast as possible. If I have a mold that will do 5 jigs at a time, I line up 5 hooks in rows on my bench, all facing the same way that I load my mold. I make several rows of 5 (usually 10 sets of 5). This way I can quickly open the mold, remove the jigs, and put new hooks in without needing to fumble through a pile of tangled hooks.

Another thing you can do to eliminate "hot fingers" is to use a pair of spring loaded small needle nose pliers or a set of forceps to load your hooks.

I'm not sure of the mold you have or hooks you are using but some molds don't always play nice with certain brands of hooks. Make sure you are using the recommended brand and size first. Also, I always close my mold while it is laying flat on the bench.

Most of us modify our molds if we have pouring issues or want to pour a little bit different hook set.

x2 on closing the mold while it's on the table, but yeah with more experience you'll get better.

I am using eagle claw 570 hooks, like the mold calls for. In the other mold I am using the mustad equivalent that was listed for the mold and they seem to work just fine. I tried using needle nose pliers but that just seemed to lead to more fumbling. I think I just need to get a little more experience.

Wait till you get a mold that has swivels plus your hooks then it gets fun!!!! LOL It gets better with more times pouring. Usually when I pour I'm doing 3-5 different molds and loading and pouring one to another so you'll get better.

Originally Posted by Fatman

Wait till you get a mold that has swivels plus your hooks then it gets fun!!!! LOL It gets better with more times pouring. Usually when I pour I'm doing 3-5 different molds and loading and pouring one to another so you'll get better.

That sounds like more of a headache for me than its worth! I tried loading my second mold but I went to close it and the screw that holds the steel to the wooden handle decided to back out, now I have to re-engineer how the mold attaches to the handle...

Are these new molds? If they are they can be a little tight on the hinge pin. Use a drop or two of oil at the hinge pin then work it back and forth for awhile to loosen it up some. Also if your heating the mold you can get it to hot causing it to be hard to close. Like Wick and Fatman, I lay mine flat on table, I use a 6 inch piece of stainless spinner bait wire to guide my hooks in place. I just lay them in position and if they need adjusting I use the wire. Hold bottom half down and close slowly. I still get one to slip once in awhile. Practice,Practice,Practice. Just sit down and load over and over for a bit and you will get it. Did the screw that backed out go into the metal or completely through with a nut on the back side?

The screw that backed out was through the steel of the mold and just screwed into the wood of the handle. I think I can just put a bolt through the hold and then tighten it up on the wood. The hole is countersunk on the inside so I should be able to rig it back up to work. I should have lubed up the hinges since they are both used. I think a few more times and I should have a better handle on this, after all it isn't rocket science...put hot metal into mold

I think this round of pouring went much smoother. A little more practice and I should be good to go. The mold that I broke has now been repaired. There was something grinding/catching in the hinge. That was filed down and the hinges lubed. The handles took some slightly larger screws and it is working like a champ! I plan to cast a bunch more jigs tonight after work! Thanks again guys!