jonister Posted August 18, 2016 Report Share Posted August 18, 2016 I recently have been noticing hand made swimbaits with these giant screw eyes for the hinges. I have noticed them on some certain topwater rats and glide baits too. I was just wondering if anyone knows a source for these. It just has me curious, as they look like it would create a more free flowing joint with little resistance, and make applying epoxy around the joint easier. Just tinkering with ideas. Thanks guys! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonister Posted August 18, 2016 Author Report Share Posted August 18, 2016 Well I fixed it but accidentally double posted. Can some one please delete this one? Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark poulson Posted August 18, 2016 Report Share Posted August 18, 2016 The largest screw eyes I use are .092, and I get them here: http://www.lurepartsonline.com/Online-Store/Screw-Eyes/-092-Magnum-Screw-Eyes.html 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonister Posted August 19, 2016 Author Report Share Posted August 19, 2016 Mark, I use those on glide baits and such for hook hangers, but they aren't the size I'm thinking of. Lure parts online doesn't seem to sell the size I'm thinking of. The lure maker Wooden Swimbaits, who makes topwater rats and wake baits uses them. I think they have a facebook page. I wonder if home depot would have them in stainless? I wonder though if homedepots would have long enough screws. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woodieb8 Posted August 19, 2016 Report Share Posted August 19, 2016 some guys are using basic hardware screw eyes. there galvanized. try a marine supplier for stainless. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark poulson Posted August 19, 2016 Report Share Posted August 19, 2016 I looked at a Musky shop, one that specializes in musky lure making. .092 is the biggest I found: https://www.muskyshop.com/modules/cart/products.php/nav_id/5/page/1/id/1123/name/StainlessSteelScrewEyes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonister Posted August 19, 2016 Author Report Share Posted August 19, 2016 I mean I'm not building a chain link fence. ;D I will have to stop by West Marine or home Depot. I think that those big heavy duty screw eyes at the hardware store have enough length to them. I'll have to go look in person. I just noticed some big bait makers using them and decided to take a look. Unless they are custom, they must just be regular old screw eyes. Anyways, Thanks guys, just tinkering with ideas! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SW Lures Posted August 21, 2016 Report Share Posted August 21, 2016 I have been thinking about your question Jonister and I did the same, I went to home depot and found brass and SS ones. I felt that these were to big. My question is if your not making a large bait I would like to see a picture of what your trying to make. I have never came across that type of bait before. Well at less I don't think I have. By now you may have found something. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonister Posted August 21, 2016 Author Report Share Posted August 21, 2016 I don't want to post someone else's lures, but basically they are on some big rat wake baits, counter sunk into the wood at the hinge point. I have been on vacation, so I have not had time to check out the hardware store, but I plan on hitting up ace hardware when I get home. My plan is a large wake, not something huge but probably 6" or so. Pretty big around too. Just a big rat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SW Lures Posted August 21, 2016 Report Share Posted August 21, 2016 (edited) I differently understand not posting. I see what your talking about. Thanks Edited August 21, 2016 by DaleSW Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobP Posted August 21, 2016 Report Share Posted August 21, 2016 (edited) I think you guys who search for hard to find screw eyes are missing a bet. Why not just twist your own from stainless steel wire? Any size eye, any length shaft. Takes just a few minutes. Edited August 21, 2016 by BobP 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonister Posted August 21, 2016 Author Report Share Posted August 21, 2016 Bob, I forgot to mention, the idea of using screw eyes in this situation would be to tune the lure while on the water. With a handmade eye it would be fixed with epoxy or super glue. I do get what you are saying though. When I run out of my screw eyes, or if I just don't want to use them I will twist my own. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SW Lures Posted August 21, 2016 Report Share Posted August 21, 2016 To be honest I make all of mine so far. I was just curious in the eye size. With what I use in SS it would take a lot to distort the wire. Heck it takes a lot to bend them and twist. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark poulson Posted August 22, 2016 Report Share Posted August 22, 2016 I don't want to post someone else's lures, but basically they are on some big rat wake baits, counter sunk into the wood at the hinge point. I have been on vacation, so I have not had time to check out the hardware store, but I plan on hitting up ace hardware when I get home. My plan is a large wake, not something huge but probably 6" or so. Pretty big around too. Just a big rat. I've made jointed rats that big, and the .092 sst screw eyes are plenty big and strong enough. You'll never have one fail due to it's thickness. I used sst bicycle spokes for hinge pins. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonister Posted August 23, 2016 Author Report Share Posted August 23, 2016 I might have to tear up some bicycle tires. I'm starting to think of just going with the .92, or twisting my own, and then using a pin on one side, instead of connecting both screw eyes. I didn't have time to hit the hardware store today. Maybe tomorrow.. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark poulson Posted August 23, 2016 Report Share Posted August 23, 2016 I might have to tear up some bicycle tires. I'm starting to think of just going with the .92, or twisting my own, and then using a pin on one side, instead of connecting both screw eyes. I didn't have time to hit the hardware store today. Maybe tomorrow.. Yard sales are your friend. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
surfk9 Posted August 24, 2016 Report Share Posted August 24, 2016 with all this discussion of "over sized screw eyes" i was looking at one of my wooden shell crackers ...it has fairly beefy eyes for for the hinges..is this what were talking about or the diameter/length of the thread/stem ....myself i would be interested in finding something "beefy" with a 3/16" eye diameter combined with length..iv'e looked at bolt depot... to get length i'm looking for (overall eye & thread) 11/8 -11/4, the wire diameter is serious beef .225 ....they have one with .160 diameter but only 5/8"of thread which doesn't seem adequate...the .225 has 1 inch of thread length, overall its 2 3/16 which seems too long...this is confusing ...Starting to like BobP's suggestion of twisting my own Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonister Posted August 24, 2016 Author Report Share Posted August 24, 2016 Surf, that is what I am talking about. It seems to be that the. Hardware stores only really carry stuff for Sat picture frame hanging and such. Nothing with a good screw to eye ratio. I think I will just use the pin system, like mark talked about. I'll still keep my eyes open for the right thing though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
surfk9 Posted August 25, 2016 Report Share Posted August 25, 2016 Jonister thanks for the reply...i thought that was what you were getting at..the eyes on the wooden shell cracker look to be 3/32nd wire diameter maybe a 3/16th diameter eye...that's what I'm looking for in a total length of 11/2 -13/4 (i think maybe a little more)...at least now i have more of an idea of what your'e looking for... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonister Posted August 25, 2016 Author Report Share Posted August 25, 2016 Surf, if you are looking for smaller eyes, have you checked LPO? As mark said, they have all different sizes. You usually can get like a hundred for a couple bucks. They have some of the best prices I have found on screw eyes. They have the perfect sizes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
surfk9 Posted August 26, 2016 Report Share Posted August 26, 2016 Jonister I found some .092 11/2 that i purchased from LPO a couple years back in one of my stash cases in the garage ...will try them out & also order some of the 2 inch versions...thanks for the reminder 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
