I've always wanted to make my own jig heads. Not sure why, because buying jigs in the store are certainly fine jigs and less costly.

For those of you who do make your own jigs, where do you get your lead? What is your process for painting them?

I melt down lead shotgun shot in a Lee production pot. I paint with powder paints and a toaster oven.

I get lead ingots from Do-it Molds, and use a Lee production pot. I like to use about a one size up larger hook than the standard for each size, and found Matzuo sickle hooks to be sharper than most other brands, and give a better hookset, the only problem is the company went out of business and you have a very hard time finding their hooks anywhere now. Last time I stumbled across some, I stocked up, so I should be good for a decade or 2. For painting, I use the powder paint that requires you to heat the jighead and dip in powder and let melt on. Took a few tries before I got the process down on how hot to get the jig head. I then bake the paint on in the oven to give a harder paint that doesn't chip off as easily

I use old plumbers lead or old wheel weights from the local tire store and use a hot pot from cabelas. I like the pony head jigs that you put a spinner blade on. Drives walleyes nuts. I also make slab spoons and sonars and little georges and erie dearies. But the pony heads you can't dip or use powder pain cuz it paints shut the swivel. Have to hand paint those.

Check craigslist or facebook classifieds for lead. The last batch of lead I bought from a guy on craigslist that reclaimed the lead from a shooting range.

Powder painting is the quickest and simplest method. I just heat the jig a little with a heat gun, swish it in the paint and then heat the paint to a gloss finish and hang on a rack to cool. You can bake them for additional hardness, but I haven't found that necessary.

Harbor Freight carries a few basic colors of powder paints at a price that cannot be beat to get you started(don't forget to use a 20% off coupon). Colors can be mixed for custom shades. I also ordered some powder paints from thepowdercoatstore.com and have been quite pleased with the results. They sell in 1/2 lb increments and if you sign up for emails on their site they sometimes offer free shipping. They have some nice florescent and transparent metallic colors available.

I too like the Matzuo sickle hooks(in red) and have stocked up, but I understand Eagle Claw makes a similar style hook called the little nasty.

My dad used to make them all the time in the mid-2000s. His username is plexmidwest. I'm sure he'd be willing to answer some questions if you have any.

Wables: "I melt down lead shotgun shot in a Lee production pot. I paint with powder paints and a toaster oven. "

+1
I bought several hundred pound of lead at an estate sale 10 years ago for $30. I'll never use it all and I give jigs and blade baits away all the time.

Jackfish: "I've always wanted to make my own jig heads. Not sure why, because buying jigs in the store are certainly fine jigs and less costly.

For those of you who do make your own jigs, where do you get your lead? What is your process for painting them?"

Powder paint for color or jig paint. Wheel weights aren't the best as they are not pure lead and don't pour as well as soft lead.

You can buy this type of lead from a scrap dealer, get the stuff wrapped around high voltage electrical cables (4160 volt industrial-the kind used on electric shovels in the mining industry). Pre-heat the mold before pouring to get the best results.

If you use impure lead be prepared to skim the surface of your lead pot frequently (and the bottom spout if you use that type). Wear leather gloves when pouring.

Leather gloves might not be a bad idea. Personally I cannot work well with gloves on, I am far more clumsy with them, so I don't wear gloves. Eye protection is more important, in fact I have gone to using a full face shield. Ventilation is also important and keep skin exposure to a minimum, long pants/shirt, no exposed toes, etc. Keep liquids away from possible contact with molten lead at all times.

Ventilation is a good point. I do mine outside on the patio cuz I have an electrical outlet on the outside of the house there.

My dad and I started pouring our own years ago because we fished the MIssissippi River and lost a ton of them.

We never painted them and I still don't. I love our mold since the jigs don't have the barbed throat. You can get a lot more life out of your twister tail without the throat.

My dad has about 25 molds of different sizes and types of jigs sinker spoons bottom bouncers, tons of stuff. He spends all winter making things, I usually help him a few times. About 25 years ago when I was in high school I worked at Wal Mart and got to be friends with the guys in the tire shop and they would save all the old tire weights for me, I couldnt even guess how many hundreds of pounds of lead I took to my dad. He finally ran out a few years ago and I tried getting more from a few tire shops but kept getting the same story that they couldnt give them to me because epa regulations they had to dispose of them properly. To be honest he probably has enough gear made to last the rest of his life plus mine but every time I see him he's asking if I can get him more lead. lol

Stop at your local plumbers shop in the morning with a dozen donuts. They regularly cut out old cast iron pipes with lead joints. One four inch joint will make a bunch of jigs and it’s pure lead.