chugbug5 Posted January 17, 2009 Report Share Posted January 17, 2009 Hi Guys, I'm new at making my own hardbaits - Especially when it comes to finishing. I found plenty of help from the TU-torials, but couldn't find much on homemade eyes. Do most of you guys make your own or usually buy them? I made some, using either foil tape and a red marker to make the red, and yellow electrical tape to make the yellow. Then I made the "dome" using Hot Melt Glue applying it over the eye after it was applied. Turned out pretty well, for my first try. Anyone else ever try this method? If interested, you can view pics of my eyes at: http://www.jebswebsite.com/misc_pics/domed_eyes_group.gif Thanks... JEB 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JBlaze Posted January 18, 2009 Report Share Posted January 18, 2009 Those look great. Very Ingenious. John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StoneCoal Tackle Posted January 19, 2009 Report Share Posted January 19, 2009 I've always preferred raised eyes and have tried several different things but your method is a good one for sure. Great looking eyes! Thanks for sharing them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
speechless33759 Posted January 19, 2009 Report Share Posted January 19, 2009 Those look pretty good...i just get my eyes from Snax here on the boards! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seafoam Posted January 19, 2009 Report Share Posted January 19, 2009 Those are great looking eyes and lures.The bottom one looks very realistic . Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lockjaw Posted January 19, 2009 Report Share Posted January 19, 2009 Nice job. I use to make my own when I only made a couple of lures a year. I used the epoxy method. Now I just purchase them from Lisa & Ed's - less hassle and the eyes will always be consistent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
braveviper Posted January 19, 2009 Report Share Posted January 19, 2009 The hot glue is kinda hazy no? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chugbug5 Posted January 20, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 20, 2009 Hi Guys, Thanks for the comments. Sorry it took so long to repost. I keep having problems with the server dropping my after I've logged in, and I get the log-in window over and over and over again. To answer some questions and comments... Photo-finish - I did that using the tissue paper and inkjet printer technique from the tutorial I found here. That was my first attempt at it, and it's a little crude. But as you can see - it REALLY WORKS! Hazy eyes - YES, it did get a little hazy in the first couple I did. But it can be overcome... First... I just used the hot melt glue I had. I mostly use mine for temporarily gluing up woodworking jigs, so I don't usually worry about what the color is. The hot melt glue I used was labeled "All Purpose". My wife works at the craft store, and she said you can buy some that's totally clear. She said she'd look for some when she went back to work on the weekend. So I'm looking forward to trying it. Second... Some of the haze came from my technique. I tried to apply the glue in one shot, applying it to the center of the eye and let it flow out to the edges. But I had to put a little more on that I wanted in order for it go get out to the edges. Plus I used a hair dryer to try to dry it fast. Then it got hazy. So the haze came from a combination of the glue I used, the thickness I built up, and drying it too fast. I found that I could work it a little more than I thought I could before it cooled too much. So on the next couple, I started to apply it at the edge, then rotate around the edge, then finish up in the center. I was able to get the glue slightly over the edge, and keep it flatter (which actually came from not applying as much glue as the earlier technique). I also found that it wouldn't hurt to work directly on the eye I already applied to the lure. If it doesn't turn out right, you can pop it off and start over. The background color for the eye stayed in tact, I just had to apply a new eyeball. Hope this information helps...JEB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark poulson Posted January 20, 2009 Report Share Posted January 20, 2009 Very ingenious. Good job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hazmail Posted January 20, 2009 Report Share Posted January 20, 2009 (edited) chug- I had a go at this a few months back using D2T, they turned out all right but a bit hazy with some bubbles, so then used Glasscoat or something like that, they came out very clear with no bubbles (5mm eyes), I have never used hot glue, but if there is a clear, this may be the solution- I also found if you hang them upside down while setting they get a better dome. Very time consuming but what isn't in this game - there is a certain satisfaction in making all your own bits though. pete [/img] [/img] Edited January 20, 2009 by hazmail add pictures Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JBlaze Posted January 21, 2009 Report Share Posted January 21, 2009 Hey Pete, that gnat is a nice touch. Would that be considered fishing with live bait? John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
braveviper Posted January 21, 2009 Report Share Posted January 21, 2009 "bug eyed" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hazmail Posted January 21, 2009 Report Share Posted January 21, 2009 (edited) You can guarantee if there is something sticky, there is a bug around. The dots looked pretty good when I placed them (in my eyes), it's amazing what a dome and a bit of zoom does, they look like they were painted with a pointed stick. pete Edited January 21, 2009 by hazmail Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vodkaman Posted January 21, 2009 Report Share Posted January 21, 2009 Pete, in 65 million years, some creature is going to find that bug eye, extract some DNA from the gnat and recreate a HAZMAIL!!! Scary. Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hazmail Posted January 21, 2009 Report Share Posted January 21, 2009 Yes Dave, a bit like the 'Tree sap room' (cant think of the name) in St Petersburg (Russia). pete Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hazmail Posted January 27, 2009 Report Share Posted January 27, 2009 (edited) I just remembered it - 'The Amber Room' , thought to have been stolen from Russia by the Germans in WW2, all the amber has bees and other bugs intombed in it, so maybe in the future these eyes will become part of an 'epoxy' room??????????????? pete Edited January 28, 2009 by hazmail Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Downriver Tackle Posted January 30, 2009 Report Share Posted January 30, 2009 Just sitting back thinking of ideas. What about taking clear powder paint and puting it in an eye mold? If the mold can take the heat, of course. I'll bet if you hit those eyes with heat right away Haz, you'd cure that bubble problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hazmail Posted January 30, 2009 Report Share Posted January 30, 2009 They make baking trays out of silicone now- what temp does the powder paint melt at?? There is also some they use for exhaust gasgets etc, that must be up around 600 deg, you might have something there DT. pete Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
braveviper Posted January 30, 2009 Report Share Posted January 30, 2009 250 or so degrees F for the powderpaint. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hazmail Posted January 30, 2009 Report Share Posted January 30, 2009 (edited) DT- just to satisfy my curiosity, I made some more 1/4" from 'Glass Coat' about a week back, and no bubbles compared to D2T, it's so tedious though************ have made some others since and are better than these. pete [/img] Edited January 30, 2009 by hazmail Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hazmail Posted January 30, 2009 Report Share Posted January 30, 2009 Here's another two 1/4" eyes on a partially finished 4" 'swim bait', it's amazing what 'Macro' shows up, NOTE- small air bubbles, layers separating, placement of eye on lure!!! all fixable, I think I better get one of those magnifiers with light surround. pete [/img] [/img] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JBlaze Posted January 31, 2009 Report Share Posted January 31, 2009 Hey Pete, those eyes look good. Your swim bait is looking good too. John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JBlaze Posted January 31, 2009 Report Share Posted January 31, 2009 Maybe this will help someone who wants to make their own domed eyes. I made a silicone mold by taking a shallow plastic lid and pouring Alumilite RTV into it. Next I toook some assorted sizes of craft eyes and pushed them down into the still liquid RTV and set it aside to cure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JBlaze Posted January 31, 2009 Report Share Posted January 31, 2009 After curing, mold will look like this when you pop out the eyes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JBlaze Posted January 31, 2009 Report Share Posted January 31, 2009 I make the eye by 1st. placing a few drops of D2T in the mold pockets and let it sit long enough to get thick 2nd. I either put a few drops of black paint or a steel ball in the pockets on top of the thickened D2T. I let this sit until the epoxy hardens. 3rd I mix some more D2T and thin it with denatured alcohol to the consitency of cheap pancake syrup. I finish filling the pockets with this. 4th. I sprinkle glitter on top of the thinned epoxy. It will sink down into the thinned epoxy and coat the sides of the eye. the eyes will have a concave surface on their backside after curing. I guess this is due to the evaporation of the alcohol. You can fill this with a couple drops of epoxy if you want or use as is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
