Hoodaddy

Mr. J, I just tske a small finish nail and push it out or my exacto knife and run it around the inside of the hole. I don't mind using the knife since I use stainless wire. Yes you do have to be very careful getting too close to the bait or you will take off some of the clear. After a little practice you will feel comfortable.Best thing is ....it's quick....a little messy but quick

First of all Welcome, Fatman scores an A+, Those are the 2 places I would try and as he said some members also sell a few occasionally.

I agree with Woodie and Bman, I contacted a place that mkes signs in my area a while back and the guy said he had some scrap, I went down to get it and my gosh he gave me 11 sheets of 1/16th 1' wide and 4' long. Needless to say that has lasted awhile. He also is a fisherman so I offered in trade a few baits. Cant get much cheaper than that and that thrilled me to death. I'm a tight&%^ anyhow. Its worth a phone call or two.

Another option for bending your own eyes is.........cut a section of your preferred wire, bend it in half , clamp the tag ends in a pair of vice grips.... Take a finish nail of your size choice bent into an "L" and chuck it up in a cordless drill...insert the leg of the nail into the loop you have already formed and pull the trigger. In seconds you have a screw eye. With practice this becomes much easier than I described. It takes a little practice but its a tiny learning curve. Once you find the desired legnth of wire you can have plenty in a matter of minutes. Happy Twisting:wink:

Sean, Do'nt use the 5 min. epoxy . The faster setting epoxies I have found yellow faster.(not sure about the new devcon mix ). !/16 drill is what we use for our hook hanger holes if I understand you right..

Fatfingers, You struck the nail on the head. I have found that in some cases especially with high humidity Devcon will definitly fog up the foil job. I also 1st coat with etex. I have also had some luck doing some shading on top of the foil with Createx translucent pearls before clearing the 1st time and it gives a neat look. I do a foiled red craw that looks pretty cool like that.

The way described above is beautiful but there is another option should you want to try it. Foil from a craft or candy supplier can be applied to the bare sealed wood (except if sealing with plastic dip or prop pellets or devcon ) with spray glue then a scale roller from Wasco can be rolled over the foil to get the imprint. Then clear coat before painting. This technique would probably work best on smaller baits. The reason with the issue of sealant is some is too hard to imprint with a roller. If you use plastic dip 2 coats can still be rolled opposed to 6-7 caots. Just trying to give another option you'll have to find what you like best or fits your needs.

Also dont mix your clear with a wooden stick. The air that is trapped in the wood transfers into the epoxy. (or something like that ) I use a piece of 40 guage wire shaped to the contour of my mixing pot to be able to get all the unmixed epoxy out of the edges....guaranteeing a full mix. Chuck it up in a cordless drill.

I am definitly not the neatest person when it comes to clearing...I let it flow over and around the eyelets and tie and use a dremel with a wire wheel to clean it off. Very neat and even polishes the hanger.

Sapre tire, I also set my hangers in 5 min. epoxy the same way you do and have not had a problem with the cup dip reacting with it. I still have'nt gotten any prop pellets from Swede ...... but still want to try them. I'll get around to it sometime. Just remember .....use VIRGIN laquer thinner to melt your SOLO cups. A thinner by any other name is not the same. Good dipping

Thanks Longball, Looks like a good site with several different products I'd sure like to experiment with.

Get 'em Cuz !!! These guys are good.

Great Job Mr J. Your right, No words can explain how you feel catching fish on your own creation. Keep up the good catching. Build it and they will come.........

Excellent job !!!! Could'nt have done better myself. . Really, Great Work:worship:

The same thing you do to cows after they go to sleep. Or what I may do every now and then.

If anyone has tried to reach me in the past month or so I've had some simple but complicated:eek: computer problems. But I'MMMM BACCKKK if anyone gives a **** Hoot. I'll be lurking if anyone needs me. I really missed being on and all the great folks on here.

Snooter, IMHO I do'nt believe there is a set or determined time for clearing as far as createx is concerned. Personally I have cleared baits litterally within minutes of painting them. As long as the paint is dry I've never had a problem. As a matter of fact just last nite I painted 6 baits and from priming to dotting the eyes and having them turning on the dryer.....45 minutes. I was'nt trying to set a speed record they were just easy paint schemes. There are some that may have a different outlook on this but this is just the way I did it.

Theres a method in doing ceramics called dry brushing. If you are using waterbased paint....load your brush lightly then brush out a lot of it on a peice of cardboard so you only have a light color on it then try brushing over the netting. This method will probably not work with anything but waterbase. Give it a shot and let us know how it worked.

Very nice Dan:yay:

Cory, Do'nt get too discouraged because each and every builder on this site and others has been where you are now. Just let the love of your art and sport take over and all things will come together in time. There are a lot of different levels on here and to say that one is better than the other is just from time devoted to your craft. The compliments you are getting should tel you something. If nothing else you're on the right track. Keep on pluggin and It'll all come together.Like someones signature says.....if it was easy everyone would do it.

After posting on the gallery I found out that my baits do'nt look near as good up close. I do'nt think I'm being to critical so I guess I'm finished with this stuff . Guess I'll have to take worse pics or start paying a little more attention. If you want to find out how they really look just put 'em under a microscope. Goodbye cruel....uncaring...judgemental... up world....................................OK i'm over it.