Just cranked out a bunch of new tins. 100% pure tin. No lead. Eco friendly :)

I take the non conventional approach and "buff" them with a soft wire brush on a buffing wheel, it gives it a really nice soft luster. And you can refurb them without chemicals in about 20 seconds to look like new when they tarnish over time. Personally I like the brushed look better than the classic smooth tin finish, to me it looks more natural. The hooks I have on there are a tad heavy but I got my bulk order in for a 4X instead the 6X. (0.8, 1.4, 2, 3, 4, 6 oz)

More expensive to make than lead but nice to hold and look at:)

So far they are catching like mad. Cast just like a bank sinker too.

What do you think?

holy schnikies.
retirement gigs all lined up for yourself :D
Mr Sandman's custom lures!

Those are great looking tins and if you're on MV the small ones will be great for the funny fish. Did you make the mold yourself? Either way really nice...mm

[QUOTE=mag minnow;699070]...the small ones will be great for the funny fish.../QUOTE]

I made a few of the small ones late last season and they worked well along east beach for albies. That is what got me looking into making my own. I wanted a little minnow mold to pour tin minnows for albies and bones.
The mid size ones I have been using mainly for bluefish this summer and they have been chowing on them. I did pick up a few bass as a daytime by-catch though. The really big one I plan to use off the boat with a vertical jigging setup. They look great in the water.

Whoa...the Tide clock says it is just about right...have to run. :fishin:

Beautiful job. What did you use to glue the eyes in and is it holding on the tin? Wired thru or using stubby loops? I can see that in 4 to 5 ounces for the ditch!!:buds:

Hi Jim, Those came out real sweet. You got some great ideas goin.I'll have a bunch of those hogs I'm workin on comin once this monsoon season ends an I can do some painting. I'm gonna start fishin in my back yard soon. You'll like them I'm thinkin. Later Ron

You're the bomb.

Beautiful work SM. :btu:

Those are awesome! Where do you get the tin to melt down for them?

The tin bars I ordered direct from a mine/metals company in Colorado, I had to order a minimum of 50# and if I recall it was about 7 or 8 bucks a pound (that was a few years ago), they come in 1 # ingots. I remember you can get it a few bucks cheaper but you need to order a ton or so on a pallet. (way more then what I needed and the shipping was expensive) Also it came in large peices that would be difficult to work with...so I just paid the man. 50# last me a long time as it is. But I am getting low again. I have seen some on ebay now and again but most of it is really small quantities aimed at the home jewelry business. The price of this stuff went up alot at one point but is back down now. Lead did the same thing last year. Notice how the price of sinkers have skyrocketed? But the price really depends on how much you buy. I recall asking the fellow at the metals company what is your best price on pure lead? He said something like: I can sell it to you for 21 cents per # but you need to by several hundred metric tons of it! I don't think my wife would appreciate me storing that much lead in the backyard.:rollem:

very nice.

I like those machining marks on the larger sized one. As the mold is scaled down you don't see the passes as much because the distance is smaller center to center. :)

Talk to Point Jude Joe and may be he would be willing to trade/sell you some tin. ;) Just a thought. :D

Have you tried to flip the lure around and not glue the eyes in it? It would be even more streamline and would give you another option. How is it for vertical jiggin?

Thanks for they eye candy, SM.

Absolutely perfect :buds::cheers:

Love the shape and design, I'll bet they catch really well.

Been getting some pressure to make a bunch more. Just ordered 100# of tin and a few thousand red 4X hooks...lets pour some jigs.:humpty:

Hmmm, I would mind getting my hands on that mold jimmy boy. Better lock yer doors. Got 200 lbs of clean lead calling to me. :heybaby:

Scott

Are those made from a silicone or aluminium mold? they do look fishy.

These babies ("silver bullets") are working well. Yours truly is currently in the lead for shore Albie's (caught on the 1.4 oz), but I don't expect it will hold up long, (its not that big of a fish and there is some heavy fishing pressure on them) But I am fishing exclusively with them and they are producing nicely.:fishin: I handed a few out on the beach and there were lots of :)'s .

Jim,
If you still have some in stock on 10/4, I'd like to work something out to pick up a few. Due on island the 4th, (but may be delayed as I may have a shot at being taken to Alaska for salmon 9/28-10/4.....)

make tons

NF, let me know when(if) you get here I always have a few in the truck. If not, good luck in AK

Thanks, Jim. I will definitely be making the Vineyard, Alaska is a big IF.... longshot at best. I will be at the Basic shack. Catch you when I get there.
Ross

I wish I had my video camera yeasterday...The water was crystal clear, and the sun was behind me and you could see the albies race up to the jig at a what looked to be 50 mph, circle around, back off, turn, circle again, then charge and strike the lure with vengence, it was awesome to watch it play out. It all happens in a couple seconds but it was kewl to see them hit the jig like that.