I just bought a football screw lock shakey head mold at bass pro shops yesterday. I started pouring a few jigs today and ran into a serious problem that is making the jigs turn out very badly. The head has some extra flashing around it like the mold isn't closing completely and the screw locks are being bent as I close the mold. I can fit each piece- the hook and screw lock- in separately and the mold closes just fine. But when you put both in to make a jig the mold doesn't close and turns out the way I described. Does anyone have any pointers or experience with this that they could pass on to me so I can get things right? Maybe Cadman or G-Man can help, they seem to be the go to guys here for tackle making. Thanks.

Or, here is a better question. How many of you guys have realized that you messed up a mold that you just bought? I think I actually messed up the mold and that is why I am having trouble. I tried to file just a little bit off the hook groove and screw lock groove and took just a hair too much. It's always exciting to figure out you wasted $40.

With a bit of ingenuity and some JB Weld you can fix that sucker back like it used to be. I've go a bunch of it on some of my molds that I "customized" and didn't like the outcome.

Back to your original problem, are you sure you have the correct size of things for the mold? A hook that is too big won't let the mold close or if they have different sizes of screw locks is yours the right one. I really don't know about commercial screw locks as I make my own.

With a bit of ingenuity and some JB Weld you can fix that sucker back like it used to be. I've go a bunch of it on some of my molds that I "customized" and didn't like the outcome.

Back to your original problem, are you sure you have the correct size of things for the mold? A hook that is too big won't let the mold close or if they have different sizes of screw locks is yours the right one. I really don't know about commercial screw locks as I make my own.

I'm using the recommended hooks and screw locks made by Do-it. I think I am just gonna see about exchanging it at Bass Pro Shops rather than trying to fix it or something like that. Thanks for the help though.

I don't have the fb mold but do have the round head one. On mine I've found that laying the screw lock in first then the hook one top of it helps hold it in place better. As for the closing look the mold over CLOSELY for any specks of lead or dirt that has stuck to the face of the mold. Any little piece will provide just enough gap for the excessive flashing.