Shaft Wire Size And Type?

[mark poulson]

I want to make some hard baits with a through wire shaft and spinning rear section.

I need to find some sst wire that is stiff enough and thick enough to handle bass, but that I can bend into terminal loops.

I don't have a wire bender, but I'll probably make something like was posted here in an earlier thread.

So I think I want a wire that's like what you guys use for musky spinners.

I saw some on the Moore's site that have a loop pre bent on one end.

Is this what I should be using?

I worry because a rotating hard bait with a bent shaft would be a problem.

[Vodkaman]

Here is a link to Dieter's

At around 13 minutes, he is dealing with the wire and insert. Dieter used a brass tube insert with a 2mm inner diameter, so I reckon a 1.6mm diameter wire 1/16" diameter in real money. I am sure Dieter will jump in and confirm.

 

I am sure you could use the same principle with a plastic sleeve and a smaller wire diameter. A plastic sleeve that I am working with at the moment is from cotton bud, Qtip type girly things.

 

Dave

Edited January 5, 2016 by Vodkaman

[LimpNoodle]

You're not going to need really heavy wire.

 

Tuna jigs only have .051 through wire.

 

The heavier the wire the harder it will be to bend.  

 

1/16" wire is .0625 and it's VERY hard to work with.

[mark poulson]

Thanks LimpNoodle.

I think I'll try the .051 wire first, to see how it handles.

[Basseducer]

Mark,

I have a ton of .040 if you want to try that.

[mark poulson]

Mark,

I have a ton of .040 if you want to try that.

 

That's a very nice offer.

Let me try the .051 first.

I think I need the thicker wire.

But, then again, I've never made this bait before, so what do I know?  Hahaha

[Vodkaman]

Mark - I guess you are using decking, so the water intrusion problem goes away, which is the main reason for sleeving. I would probably still want to use the sleeving but I do have a reputation for overkill.

 

Dave

[mark poulson]

Dave,

I am thinking of sleeving the tail section, because of the offset prop and constant rotation.

I'm like you.  I don't want to ruin a good bait because I skipped a step.

So far, I've found small plastic drinking straws, but I'd really like to find some metal tubes, like used to be used in ball point pens.

Edited January 6, 2016 by mark poulson

[Vodkaman]

Try model shops. They use this kind of material.

 

Dave

[LimpNoodle]

Or craft/hobby shops.  

 

That thin wall metal tubing is not hard to find at all.

[mark poulson]

Here's what I've carved so far:

 

http://www.tackleunderground.com/community/gallery/image/15443-whopper-plopper-1/

 

I actually did very little carving.  It's mostly shaped with an oscillating belt sander, a dremel with small sanding drum, and I only carve where I couldn't fit the dremel with an exacto knife.

I ordered some .051 wire shafts that will arrive tomorrow, according to the tracking.

I'm excited to see how it works.

[nedyarb]

Nice work, is the tail one piece or is it two pieces glued together?

[Apdriver]

That's cool, Mark. I'd like to see the action.

[mark poulson]

I'm going to paint it up, and coat it with Solarez tomorrow.  If I can get the shaft through and bent right, I will take it for a test swim, rain or shine.

The tail is carved (dremel sanded and shaped) from one piece of 1" thick by 1 1/2" by 1 3/4" PVC.

Edited January 8, 2016 by mark poulson

[Musky Glenn]

Mark, I would suggest you get the wire that is prestraightened with a loop already in one end. Most coils of wire tend to go back to that circle shape. They also make some small stainless steel brake lines that are small and tough. Musky Glenn

[mark poulson]

Mark, I would suggest you get the wire that is prestraightened with a loop already in one end. Most coils of wire tend to go back to that circle shape. They also make some small stainless steel brake lines that are small and tough. Musky Glenn

 

My Knipex 7" pliers came but not my shaft wire, so I used a piece of sst wire I had in the shop.  It used to be the control wire for my live well valve, so it's pretty stout.

I finished the bait today, and did some test casts.

It works!!!  Thanks for all the help.  I would never have tried it without the knowledge and encouragement you guys gave me.

I posted it in the Hard Baits Gallery:

 

http://www.tackleunderground.com/community/gallery/image/15445-whopper-plopper6/