Paden22 Posted January 27, 2016 Report Share Posted January 27, 2016 Hey guys, I am trying to make my own hair tails out of the FishHair synthetic hair. Right now it is a pretty difficult process as far as getting the hair to stay together at the base. I've tried super glue to keep it together at the base and then I will cut the tail into the shape I like. I am wondering if there is a more simple effective way to make swimbait tails out of this hair material. Let me know! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mayhem1202 Posted January 28, 2016 Report Share Posted January 28, 2016 There's a very informative thread on this, by jrhopkins. Search the forums for "attaching fiber fins". I would have posted a link, but this forum doesn't seem to allow copying and pasting into posts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vodkaman Posted January 28, 2016 Report Share Posted January 28, 2016 A great thread by JRHopkins, well worth reading. Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paden22 Posted January 28, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 28, 2016 Doesn't really go into a lot of detail. So he puts the hair into the bait first? I can't seem to keep the hair together enough to stay in slot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vodkaman Posted January 28, 2016 Report Share Posted January 28, 2016 (edited) Paden22 - the way I see it; Lay the hair out on a flat surface. Even it out and shape it. Fix it with a strip of tape, both sides, so that the hairs are fixed as one unit, leaving the roots exposed. Trim the roots. Glue into the slot. When cured, remove the tape and tidy up. This is one of those things that needs a few goes practice rather than going for goal first run. Dave Edited January 28, 2016 by Vodkaman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paden22 Posted January 28, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 28, 2016 So trim the roots so the roots are no longer exposed? Then glue the taped portion into slot? I feel like you won't be able to remove the tape Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vodkaman Posted January 28, 2016 Report Share Posted January 28, 2016 No, just square them up, so they fit in the slot nicely. Keep the tape clear of the glue or like you suspect, you will have problems. Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paden22 Posted January 28, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 28, 2016 How durable are these tails? How long will glue hold the roots in place over the years? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vodkaman Posted January 28, 2016 Report Share Posted January 28, 2016 I have paint brushes that have taken serious abuse for years and they are not glued, so I don't see this as an issue. Another thing to try, if getting the tape on is a problem, is work over the edge of the table and grip the roots with a bulldog clip, then put the tape on. I haven't tried this, just thinking aloud. I suggest you break up a cheap paintbrush and have a couple of practice goes. Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paden22 Posted January 28, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 28, 2016 Right now I'm using the Fish Hair fiber. I will try the idea with tape and gluing the roots in and then shaping it once it's dry. I'm just worried my slot is a little too big and it won't be a tight enough fit with roots Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mayhem1202 Posted January 28, 2016 Report Share Posted January 28, 2016 Apologies for the off-topic post. Dave, How did you include that link? I tried to do that, and failed miserably. This forum is not the most intuitive to use! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vodkaman Posted January 28, 2016 Report Share Posted January 28, 2016 Mayhem - first select and copy the link. This puts the link in the memory. Next write your text and wipe over the text that you want to be the link, this turns the text blue. Now press the link symbol. A window opens. Paste the link in the URL box and press OK. Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bass100 Posted January 28, 2016 Report Share Posted January 28, 2016 Fish Hair is expensive just buy Loew-Cornell White Nylon Brushes and sharpie to whatever color you want. Here is were I get mine: http://www.hofcraft.com/loew-cornell-all-purpose-utility-brush.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jrhopkins Posted January 29, 2016 Report Share Posted January 29, 2016 pay attention! get some blue painters tape. tear off a piece approx. 3-4" long, lay it down sticky side up on a table top right near the edge. now use two small pieces of tape on each end to tape it down so I doesn't move. next, take a small bunch of your fibers or paint brush bristles and hold them between your thumb and forefinger. use your other hand to fan the out so it looks like you are holding a miniature fan between your fingers. now lay them down on the sticky tape and use your other hand to press them down onto the tape before you release the fan. next take another piece of tape and place it ( sticky side down this time) over the first piece of tape with the fan sandwiched between the tape. now you can lift the assembled hair sandwich off of the table. now use some epoxy ( I use 5minute ) and pot some on the tag end ( both sides) and press together with your fingers to kind of compress the epoxy and the fibers together. set it aside for the epoxy to cure. once cured you can trim the tag end with scissors and epoxy into the slot in the bait. after it has cured in the bait remove the tape and trim the fibers to shape. the slot: don't know how big of a slot you are making in the bait. mine are approx. 1/8" wide and 3/16" deep . how I attach the fin: I mix epoxy and I add just a touch of paint to match the color of the fin and partially fill the slot with the epoxy, let it set approx. 30 seconds and then insert the fin and hold in position until the epoxy has set. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jrhopkins Posted January 29, 2016 Report Share Posted January 29, 2016 here's a shot of my paint brushes. get them wherever I find them with different color fibers. cheaper than fish fibers and pretty durable. also a picture of the fibers in a perch bait I just did for a guy. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mountain Man 26 Posted January 29, 2016 Report Share Posted January 29, 2016 Do yourself a favor a buy John's DVD from off his website. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bass100 Posted January 29, 2016 Report Share Posted January 29, 2016 If you are looking for maximum durability get paint brush fibers that are solid and not hollow. Most of your cheap paint brushes have hollow fibers and they work but they will kink up much much faster than if you used solid fibers. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paden22 Posted January 29, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 29, 2016 What is his website? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jrhopkins Posted January 29, 2016 Report Share Posted January 29, 2016 I don't have the website anymore. maybe get another one going but haven't got around to it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jrhopkins Posted January 29, 2016 Report Share Posted January 29, 2016 more pictures of fins in preparation. notice the dark areas in the tag end. this is where I have applied the epoxy. when I trim the fin to install it I trim just below the epoxy line. that keeps the hairs together as you install the fin. also notice that some of them have the tape at an angle to the hairs. this is to give the impression of the fins slanting rearward. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kajay920 Posted February 4, 2016 Report Share Posted February 4, 2016 Thanks jrhopkins. I've tried a similar method without much luck. This looks much easier. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
