anyone ever make their own Tins?

[Diamond Tackle]

Originally Posted by Fishpart

The different metals get alloyed in a foundry where you melt the different metals together usually above the melting point of the metal with the highest melting point. Interestingly enough, once the metals are combined in solution, the melting point of the alloy is something completely different.

To seperate them, they need to be refined so be careful of contamination..

Yes ,when youre speaking about a 60/40 blend for example this maye be True, the exception though would be the small quantities of copper or SILVER for example which have much higher melting points, those are added as a POWDER (I think) , which is how they can be put into solution. I dont think they bring the entire pot to the melt point of silver or copper. I dont know the exact process because the industry is pretty secretive about how they create their alloys. Ive seen pictrures of he labs where they do their testing, but not many people are allowed in.

[Fishpart]

Originally Posted by Tinman

the industry is pretty secretive about how they create their alloys. Ive seen pictrures of he labs where they do their testing, but not many people are allowed in.

[gone fishin]

I have been using bondo molds for a long time and have good luck with the quantities I want to make. It is cheap and I found that it is best to make a couple of molds of the same jig.
The thing that destroys bondo is having your lead too hot and pouring them too quickly. If you are heating the lead in a pouring pot, you can controll the heat and using more than one mold you give it a chance to cool some.
Also -- when you make the molds be sure to soot the insides with a candle before using Them. This is a very important step many do not pay any attention to. It will allow the moulten metal to flow and fill the mold.
I have found that using anything but lead is a waste of time and effort. If you are making jigs for the ditch, you need the weight. I buy pure lead from the plumbing supply house and suppliment it with scrounged tire weights. Works pissa.
Just remember -- do not work indoors, wear a mask that will filter out the deadly fumes