TerryF2858 Posted September 1, 2014 Report Share Posted September 1, 2014 What size eyes do you guys keep on hand at all times, I want to build a small stock up so when I finish a bait I have eyes on hand for them, rather than ordering each time I get baits to paint. sizes and colors you keep would be helpful thank you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark poulson Posted September 1, 2014 Report Share Posted September 1, 2014 1/8, 1/4, 3/8, and 1/2". A lot of commercial eyes are metric, so I try to get what's close. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt M Posted September 1, 2014 Report Share Posted September 1, 2014 I keep 3/16 and 1/4 on hand in a variety of colors. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RayburnGuy Posted September 2, 2014 Report Share Posted September 2, 2014 It really depends on the size of the bait your building. Eyes that would look good on a musky bait might look like cartoon eyes on a bass lure. On the size baits I build 3 sizes gets the job done for me. A few baits get 3/16" eyes and a few more get 5/16" eyes. Probably 80% of the baits I build use 1/4" eyes. And not all of them get 3D eyes. Quite a few of them are painted on. All you need for a template to paint eyes is a piece of clear plastic with various size holes drilled through it. Ben Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HAWGFAN Posted September 2, 2014 Report Share Posted September 2, 2014 5 and 6mm will work for most of the plastic bass lures with recessed eye sockets. Some vendors even recommend the proper size. For my hand carved baits, I use 7 or 8mm. The baits I carve tend to be on the larger side though. The sources I buy my 3D eyes from use the metric designations. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hazmail Posted September 4, 2014 Report Share Posted September 4, 2014 I now only make 8mm eyes and use them on everything, (50- 60mm and 80mm lures), I think the smaller lures look more spooky with large eyes---plus I'm a lazy Bas--rd. Pete Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RayburnGuy Posted September 4, 2014 Report Share Posted September 4, 2014 I now only make 8mm eyes and use them on everything, (50- 60mm and 80mm lures), I think the smaller lures look more spooky with large eyes---plus I'm a lazy Bas--rd. Pete I believe everything you said except for the lazy part Pete. Nobody that's as creative as you are ever got that way by being lazy. Ben Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barr5150 Posted September 4, 2014 Report Share Posted September 4, 2014 Another option - https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=715425885191032&set=vb.101617766571850&type=2&theater Not a money saver considering how cheap eyes actually cost but if your looking for something different or specific it might be worth doing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark poulson Posted September 4, 2014 Report Share Posted September 4, 2014 You can do some fun stuff if you drill eye holes, smooth the hole's bottom with filler, paint in the eye scheme you want by hand with an artist's brush, and then fill with epoxy or solarez, and dome it slightly. Both will hold a curve, so you can get a 3D effect. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hazmail Posted September 5, 2014 Report Share Posted September 5, 2014 Thanks Ben, sometimes I think I'm possessed --Been working on another 3D copy lathe for 10 weeks, just trashed 'Mk 2' and starting to assemble 'Mk 2B', hope this one gets better results - SS0000000 much to do , so little time . Pete Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RayburnGuy Posted September 5, 2014 Report Share Posted September 5, 2014 Thanks Ben, sometimes I think I'm possessed --Been working on another 3D copy lathe for 10 weeks, just trashed 'Mk 2' and starting to assemble 'Mk 2B', hope this one gets better results - SS0000000 much to do , so little time . Pete Wish I could help Pete, but when it comes to stuff like that you and Dave might as well be speaking Latin for all I know about it. No doubt you will figure it out though. good luck, Ben Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shade_skyhi Posted September 19, 2014 Report Share Posted September 19, 2014 I believe everything you said except for the lazy part Pete. Nobody that's as creative as you are ever got that way by being lazy. Ben i agree!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...