Jackie Posted May 8, 2015 Report Share Posted May 8, 2015 Good afternoon I am new to this swim bait pouring. I am needing some help with the eyes. How and whats the best way to put the eyes on? I tryed a two step apoxy and the eyes didnt stay on and it didnt bound to the plastic. Any help would be great. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jigginpig Posted May 8, 2015 Report Share Posted May 8, 2015 Man... is this a good question! I think the best way to do it, in all honesty, is to incorporate the eye into the master carving, and paint it with special purpose soft lure paint. Not dye, as that will bleed, but paint. Spike-It has a range that is suitable. Another option is to use the soft plastic eyes Lurecraft makes, and add them with soft plastic glue. Best adhesion comes from swabbing off the surface of the FULLY CURED (at least a week post pour, and two is better) eye socket with acetone prior to the installation of the eye. I like this method OK, as with the soft eye they tend to stay put better, though not as well as with the painted on eye. A third option is to use the domed hard plastic "3D" eyes. These look nicest to my way of thinking, but stay on the worst. I still use them, because they are dead sexy, but man do they fall off. My best results have come by removing the self-adhesive on the back of the eye first, because that stuff turns into slime when exposed to the softeners in the PVC of the softbait. I clean the eye, clean the lure with acetone, and add the eye with a dab of cyanoacrylate gel. Put the eyes on the right side of a full batch of baits, and walk away. Let them dry COMPLETELY before you flip them and do the other side. If you fiddle with them before the superglue is dry they are rendered extremely weak. A final dip in thin clear plastic (like all the hollow-belly baits use) will give an extra level of protection, but it is more or less when, not if, you will loose an eye. If anyone else has a method that is better than what I have listed, I am all ears. It has always been a pain in my butt. Cheers all. SS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JRammit Posted May 9, 2015 Report Share Posted May 9, 2015 (edited) I havnt tried this yet, dont know if it would work... Wouldnt be near as "sexy" as the stick on eyes... But for a basic eye ball, carve the eye sockets into the master as jigginpig suggested, then dip a tooth pick into black (or color of your choice) plastic and dab into the eye hole on your bait, similar to how one would paint eyes onto a hard bait... Maybe end up with a 3D effect, and maybe not have to dip Edited May 9, 2015 by JRammit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Posted May 9, 2015 Report Share Posted May 9, 2015 Spikeit has some soft plastic eyes that go on with there soft plastic glue. This way there is one step and you are done. They are soft and flexible just like the bait. These are made with the same glitter we use and a dot for a pupil. As mantioned before they have two types of paint for this also, if you use this method get the dotting colors they are a little thicker and work much better. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jackie Posted May 11, 2015 Author Report Share Posted May 11, 2015 Thanks for the info guys!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
txsteve Posted May 27, 2015 Report Share Posted May 27, 2015 dip the head in clear plastic after cured will seal the eye Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
