DeVeryTY Posted April 20, 2004 Report Share Posted April 20, 2004 I currently use .020 diameter stainless steel wire on most of my lures, most are around a inch long, and less than a 1/3rd of an oz. The wire is rated at a 86# test so I feel it's adequate, but is it? What it is though is easy to wrap, should I be using a thicker diameter wire? I bring this up because I wrapped some .030 diameter wire and it looks like crap and is hard to work with using just a pair of needle nose pliers. Any opinions? Thanks in advance. DeVery Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skeeter Posted April 21, 2004 Report Share Posted April 21, 2004 I use .031 for spring steel and .040 for any other type of wire. What do you mean by wrapping the wire? If you are making hook hangers then you can wrap it around a finishing nail. Steel wire is tough to work with but really holds up. Skeeter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeVeryTY Posted April 21, 2004 Author Report Share Posted April 21, 2004 Thanx for replying Skeeter. By wrapping I mean closed hook hanger. Here is what I mean by looking like crap, compare my 020 dia. wrap to my 030.. I hate to send out something that looks like that. I can make a wire wrap form by hammering some nails in a block but I still would prefer to have a neat look, like in the 020 example. Does everyone who use wire just have the "gift" of wrapping steel wire or do I have to buy a $200 US wrapping machine. Now I'm also worried that .020 is too thin. What do you think? DeVery Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skeeter Posted April 22, 2004 Report Share Posted April 22, 2004 Dude I just don't know. I see now what you mean. The only thing that I can suggest is get the lure with a .020 wire in the fishes mouth and find out. I personally have never messed with wire that thin. It may be just fine. You'll just have to try it. There are all kinds of wire benders at all kinds of prices. Some are as cheap as $20. Maybe some of the guys in the wire bait section of the forum could help you select the right one. These guys bend wire all of the time. I'm sure they could help you out. Skeeter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Splash Posted April 22, 2004 Report Share Posted April 22, 2004 Get a pair of forming pliers with round nose jaws. I wrap wire up to .051 with my little forming pliers and a good pair of needle nose with grip on the jaw to grasp the tag end and make the wrap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeVeryTY Posted April 22, 2004 Author Report Share Posted April 22, 2004 I use both, round nose pliers and needle nose pliers currently. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
