Can you wear out a lead mold?

[Muskygary]

I have a Do-it mold I purchased several years ago off e-bay. (PHB-18 makes 5 1/8 ponyheads).  Now I've shot a few hundred jigs through it and noe it's starting to leave lead flash in the cavities. Especially when it get hot. I think it's gotton wore out and time to pitch it and buy another one. Using the correct hooks and crane swivel so that's not the problem. Am I right?

[Do-It Corp.]

Gary,

About the only time we see something get "wore out" is when the hinges do not get oiled and over time lock up due to the heat.

Where is it leaving lead?  Are you using a harder lead that is breaking off?

[ctom]

Take a very close look at the mold surfaces too Gary. Even a tiny amount of waste lead that gets pinched there can adhere, be darned near invisible and cause all sorts of flashing headaches. I have had hinges give me a headache but the only thing I have had flash issues with is if the hook wire diameter is greater than what the mold was designed to use or if there was a small amount of lead flattened out on the mating surfaces.

[BareKnuckleJigs]

That would be my 1st thought...debris on an interior face not letting the mold close completely.  Check VERY good because it could be TINY.

[efishnc]

Do-it has a jig mold there at HQ with 1 million plus castings; I still have Dad's first mold (still working) from the early 70s.  It's most likely debris as mentioned above, but if not...

I noticed a similar problem with the poison tail mold since the hooks have been made in China vice Norway.  The bend on the hooks is no longer as tight and pushes against the weed guard pin; without bending the hooks a little extra yourself, you don't get a good fit between the two and it results in fairly consistent flashing.  My point is even though all hook and swivel "numbers" may be the correct ones, a switch in manufacturer facilities could have things just a teeny bit off and you are getting flashing as a result of that.

[Fatman]

With all the others!!  Lead too hot, no oil on the hinges, small speck of lead flash that you don't notice.  I have the old assorted Pony Head mold and the new 1/32 - 1/16 double sided and if you've used larger hooks or in the case of the sickles from those Made in Korea to now China.   Even having to clean them up a bit is better than buying a new mold.  I use an old pocket knife to trim them , but check those other issues first.

Good Luck and let us know how you made out!!

[Muskygary]

OK, I'll clean her up real good, but it will probably be some time (like next fall) before I use it. Made a 100 yesterday and that will be all I need on that size. I have a pack of jewelers files that takes that flash off real nice, only took me two hours to go through the 100. Ready to powder paint next.

[ctom]

Gotta love those jeweler's files.

[WALLEYE WACKER]

I have molds over 30 year's old and never had any trouble. Tom is right you can end up with small piece of lead pinched and will make for flashing.