Making lead jig heads is too much work for me anymore, but making custom
jigs has some advantages. The Czechs now make molded lead bodies for
Czech nymphs to make very dense bodies, so this discussion has some
application to flies!

First, you can use quality hooks and get much more effective jigs. A
lot of the ones you buy have cheap hooks that bend easily and aren't
very sharp.

You can also get a wider variety of weight and hook size combinations.

The down side is working with lead. I used to splice lead sheathed
power cables years ago so I am a little sensitive. Many lead alloys
have toxic components like arsenic and cadmium that come off when you
melt it. Be careful - molten lead is toxic and you don't want to spill
it.

Like most do-it-yourself jobs whether you save money or not depends on
how many jigs you go through. Have to buy the solder pot and molds
first and then the materials. Can only get back the start-up cost if
you pour a lot of jigs.


--
JeffK
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