3d Lure Eyes

[DDSBYDAY]

Hello everyone. I am new here and wish I would have found this site long ago. I hope to help out where I can. I saw a lot of info on this site that I found out by trial and error. Lot's of error! My question is (I see there is a 3d eye sponser here) can you rely on the adhesive backed eyes without covering them with a seal coat or putting a dab of epoxy under them. I have had some requests for these and I just don't want these eyes to fall off. I put some clear seal coat over a couple to test them and it reacted with the polyester resin. I know the surface must be flat but will they stay put with the adhesive they have on them?

[cadman]

Welcome to Tackle Underground,

As far as self adhesive 2d or 3d eyes, in my opinion, they will not hold up with just the stick on adhesive. I seal the entire jig, eye included when I make my jigs using eyes. I can't say for Seal Coat since I don't use it, but Devcon 2 Ton and E-tex work really well for this application.

[DDSBYDAY]

Welcome to Tackle Underground,

As far as self adhesive 2d or 3d eyes, in my opinion, they will not hold up with just the stick on adhesive. I seal the entire jig, eye included when I make my jigs using eyes. I can't say for Seal Coat since I don't use it, but Devcon 2 Ton and E-tex work really well for this application.

Thanks for the reply. I don't know what the adhesive is on these but it seemed too simple to hold up. Do you think if the head was Devcon sealed, could you then epoxy the back of the eye without coating over it. I really like the look but want the eye to stay. Most epoxys will yellow with age and sun exposure. I want these things to be dug up a 1000 years from now and still work.

[cadman]

Thanks for the reply. I don't know what the adhesive is on these but it seemed too simple to hold up. Do you think if the head was Devcon sealed, could you then epoxy the back of the eye without coating over it. I really like the look but want the eye to stay. Most epoxys will yellow with age and sun exposure. I want these things to be dug up a 1000 years from now and still work.

First of all, just stick the eyes on , put in your weedguards and use Devcon or E-tex that will be fine. As far as yellowing goes with epoxies, you will wear the epoxy off first and then the paint, and by that time you will probably lose the jig. Don't ovethink the process. These are jigs after all not tanks. On your last sentence, I don't want to sound like a smart a$$, but you've got to be kidding me, by that time the hooks will have rusted and the lead eatrn the paint away.

Edited March 8, 2010 by cadman

[DDSBYDAY]

First of all, just stick the eyes on , put in your weedguards and use Devcon or E-tex that will be fine. As far as yellowing goes with epoxies, you will wear the epoxy off first and then the paint, and by that time you will probably lose the jig. Don't ovethink the process. These are jigs after all not tanks. On your last sentence, I don't want to sound like a smart a$$, but you've got to be kidding me, by that time the hooks will have rusted and the lead eatrn the paint away.

Yes, I am kidding you. I have made my own 3d eyes directly. The only way to dislodge them was to heat the head(they would pop out). I had requests for these and am just wondering if it's worth the trouble. To go to the 3ds it is an extra step. If I modify molds to make this work I want the eyes to stay. If someone finds one of my lures in their dads tackle box I want it to look like new. If they happen to find one stuck on a submerged tree stump 10 years later I would like to know the eyes are there.-----------These are not for me and I want to stand behind them provided I do it. Thanks for your replies. You have been very helpful.

[cadman]

I am very curious about your 3D eyes you make that you directly put on that won't fall off. If you don't mind sharing this info we can do it via e-mails. I also have had one other thought that would work on 3D eyes that would keep them stuck on forever. That is the use of a 3M double stick tape. I have used it in manufacturing and we have tested it submerged under water for 3 years. It is an excellent product. The only problem is that it is expensive and very impractical to use for our jig application.

Edited March 8, 2010 by cadman

[pirkfan]

Hello everyone. I am new here and wish I would have found this site long ago. I hope to help out where I can. I saw a lot of info on this site that I found out by trial and error. Lot's of error! My question is (I see there is a 3d eye sponser here) can you rely on the adhesive backed eyes without covering them with a seal coat or putting a dab of epoxy under them. I have had some requests for these and I just don't want these eyes to fall off. I put some clear seal coat over a couple to test them and it reacted with the polyester resin. I know the surface must be flat but will they stay put with the adhesive they have on them?

I put a very small drop of super glue under the eye and hold down for 10 or 15 seconds. This seems to hold them in place pretty securely, but you've got to be careful to not get super glue on the surface of the eye or it will make it cloudy. For seriously curved surfaces, I use 2d eyes and then put a drop of devcon 2t epoxy on the eye to act as a "lens" and also to seal down the edges. I use a piece of wire to shape the drop to the eye. A little gentle heat (an embossing heat gun works well for this) will help pop any bubbles in the epoxy, and the heat helps speed the curing of the epoxy, but you've got to make sure the air stream is gentle, or the heat will cause the epoxy to become very liquid and run off the eye.

[DDSBYDAY]

I put a very small drop of super glue under the eye and hold down for 10 or 15 seconds. This seems to hold them in place pretty securely, but you've got to be careful to not get super glue on the surface of the eye or it will make it cloudy.

I had problems with this. Just as you stated if it gets on the lens it makes it cloudy. I should have tried putting the super glue on with a tooth pic or something. I ended up wrecking some jigs at the final stage. I like the 3m tape idea. I am going to get some and use a paper punch and see if it will cut the tape. If so that might be the ticket. Top it off with epoxy and should be on there for good.

Thanks for the tips guys.

[Peterjay]

I've been using molded eyes on flies for years and they rarely fall off. My system consists of wrapping the end of a toothpick or skewer or flat coffee stirrer with double sided tape. I use it to pick up the eye on the rounded side and put a small dab of GOOP on the flat side. Press the eye firmly into place and roll the toothpick gently off the eye. Be sure to use only a small dab, as you don't want it coming out around the edges of the eyes. I've just started casting tins, but the ones I've tested have stayed on so far. I've been doing this with flies for close to 20 years, and I've found that GOOP holds much better that the superglues I've tried.

[DDSBYDAY]

I've been using molded eyes on flies for years and they rarely fall off. My system consists of wrapping the end of a toothpick or skewer or flat coffee stirrer with double sided tape. I use it to pick up the eye on the rounded side and put a small dab of GOOP on the flat side. Press the eye firmly into place and roll the toothpick gently off the eye. Be sure to use only a small dab, as you don't want it coming out around the edges of the eyes. I've just started casting tins, but the ones I've tested have stayed on so far. I've been doing this with flies for close to 20 years, and I've found that GOOP holds much better that the superglues I've tried.

I think that is an excellent idea. Handling and seating the eye was a problem Once the super glue got on the fingers it went down hill. I use some soft wax tips in my office for different things. I am going to see how the stick to the eyes. With those you do the same thing-rolling it off.

Great advice here on this site-I came to the right place-thanks all for the input.

[Terry Anderson]

I think that is an excellent idea. Handling and seating the eye was a problem Once the super glue got on the fingers it went down hill. I use some soft wax tips in my office for different things. I am going to see how the stick to the eyes. With those you do the same thing-rolling it off.

Great advice here on this site-I came to the right place-thanks all for the input.

I have always used medium viscosity Super Glue on the backs of my 3-D eyes. I just dip a spinnerbait wire or paper clip into the glue, and place a VERY small amount, not even a drop, into the eye recession, and then I use the very tip of an exact-o knife, slide it under the eye then set it into the recession. press down gently with the OTHER end of the Exact-O knife and wa-la. You will knock all the paint off the jig (I powder coat and bake) long before the eyes come off!!