Work Holders

[crankie]

Now that I am starting to spend more time painting and repainting for friends and fellow fisherman, I need to come up with a lure holder.  Do any of you have any ideas for something to hold single or double lures?  If not could you direct me to any stores where I can buy the parts to make something.  I have my work bench down stairs and I can attach or clamp this to it.  I have looked at adapting fly tieing jaws but am unsure if they will work.

 

Besides painting unfinished blanks I have been asked to repaint quite a few crank baits for a couple of tournie fisherman.   I sure could use the help of the experts in coming up with or making a clamp.  Thanks 

[dpalinsk]

I use something from RadioShack called Helping Hands. Stripped off the magnifying glass and soldering iron holder. It's infinitely adjustable so you can rotate a lure into most any position.

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3928375

[BobP]

I insert pieces of scrap lip material in baits while I paint them and hold the baits in locking forceps.  The scrap lips are friction fitted into the lip slots with blue painters tape added as necessary.  The scrap pieces, or "false lips", have holes drilled in them and I hang the baits on nails on the shelf above my work bench with wire hangers shaped from ss wire.  I use the same hangers to suspend baits by their belly hangers while the epoxy cures after I install the final lips.  And when I coat baits with propionate undercoating or topcoat them with moisture cured urethane, I hang them up with the same hangers to dry.

[Fishhead15]

if you have a harbor freight in your area, or want to order online, they have "helping hands" also for 2.99

 

http://www.harborfreight.com/helping-hands-60501.html

 

they also sell the locking forceps for a good price

 

http://www.harborfreight.com/5-1-2-half-inch-locking-clamp-99930.html

[21xdc]

I have used "sheet metal vise grips" and zip tie it to my turner when finish coat is applied.

[HAWGFAN]

I use alligator clips.  They can hold baits on the hook hanger or lip.  Use a piece of wire coat hanger or other stiff wire for a flexible arm.  Then just drill holes in a piece of wood for the base.  It's the same basic principle as the helping hands, but you can tweak the design to best fit your needs.

[bass100]

This is the cheapest place that I have found for helping hands  http://www.frys.com/product/5276537;jsessionid=nWSprIZ09ji+P8giOv-WCg__.node2?site=sr:SEARCH:MAIN_RSLT_PG

 

If you look through the archives, I have posted pictures of the helping hands with a wooden dowel handle and holder that I use with my helping hands.

[bass100]

http://www.tackleunderground.com/community/index.php?/topic/28178-simple-and-cheap-swimbait-holder/?hl=%2Bhelping+%2Bhands

[RayburnGuy]

If your just looking for something to hold the bait while your painting it then you might try using some hemostats. I clamp the hemostats on the line tie and then hold it in my left hand while the airbrush is in my right. When I need to let go of the bait to do something else the hemostats get hung up on some open eye wire hooks mounted under a shelf on the workbench.

 

If I need both hands for things like holding stencils while painting I have a mini vice the hemostats get clamped in.

 

Ben

[gone2long]

I just bought 12 pair of forceps for $15 on eBay

[Matt Moreau]

I also use Hemostat Forceps for crankbaits and smaller lures. You can attach to line ties, hook hangers or the bill. I then hang then by the loops on the hemostats on drying racks.

 

For Swimbaits I use small Vice Grips from lowes. They are like $2.99 each and they hold even the large 10+ inch baits securely. I can rotate and manuever the baits without concern when painting and clearing. I attach a piece of wire to the end where the screw is to losen and tighten the jaws and make a loop at the end so i can also hang on the drying rack.

 

Lots of good ideas just find what works for you!

[Vodkaman]

This was my Mk1 lure holder. Very simple, 10mm diameter aluminium rod. The taper is to push into holes on my lure turner.

 

The bolt traps the lure eye between the washer and the flat. It works well enough.

 

I have a more involved Mk2 which uses a saw cut down the middle of the rod, to clamp the eye. I will draw something up if you want to see.

 

Dave

[joetheplumber]

You can use hemostats or use exacto knife handles. Just clamp them on the hook hangers when you paint. To make a holder for the handles just get a piece of scrap 2×4 and drill a few hole in it slightly larger than the exacto knife handles. That will hold them in place while you're changing paints,stencils or whatever. Plus if you got a dozen lures with a scale pattern on the back of the bait to be painted you can line em up on the 2×4 and shoot em all like an assembly line. Works pretty good.

[crankie]

Hey thanks guys.  Am going to try all suggestions.  Everyone gave great ideas.  I knew you guys would help.  Thanks again.

[Krash7172]

I have a large number of lures to refinish this winter with precise stenciling so I made a holder with Loc-Line parts today. You can easily configure it for multiple hands. Kits go for around $35 (sparkfun.com) or you can get individual pieces from Grainger and make whatever you want. I finished it with a nice base (piece of scrap aluminum) but I would have probably just used a 2x4 otherwise. Fly vises are great but make sure it is adjustable for heavy gage wire. I know this is overkill but I like messing with this stuff as much as the lure making itself.