swampman Posted January 3, 2017 Report Share Posted January 3, 2017 Purchased .035 wire for 3/8 and 1/2 oz spinner baits why does the one recommended for 1/2 have longer arm ? Purchased from Skirts Unlimited, new to spinner bait making. Wondering if I need .040 for 1/2 ? Thanks in advance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smalljaw Posted January 4, 2017 Report Share Posted January 4, 2017 The reason one has a longer arm is because of the head size difference. Ideally you want your wire to have the same anchor point inside the head, it is usually the thickest part of the head a little forward of the center point. So when you set your wire in the 1/2oz cavity it will sit further back that it would in the 3/8oz cavity. So if the wire forms are the same length your 1/2oz bait will actually look to be made on a smaller wire form. I buy and bend my own wire 99% of the time, I do have pre made wire forms that I use in a pinch but I will normally cut them to my own specs and the reason being is the length of wire can make a difference in what you want the bait to do. I like .035 but I still use .031 on occasion for the sizes you listed, good luck . 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swampman Posted February 19, 2017 Author Report Share Posted February 19, 2017 Anyou help on .035 wire in ultra minnow spinnerbait jig mold,trying to pour 3/8 oz and wire and hook moving around....will I have to resort to. 040 wire ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Apdriver Posted February 20, 2017 Report Share Posted February 20, 2017 No. It's the nature of these molds. If you anchor the wire form, the hook will pretty much stay in place. The way I do this is to take that gosh awful retail hanger off of my mold. Put a piece of masking tape on the mold where the wire form goes thru the mold. Don't let the tape interfere with the sprue or the cavity. It has to be small and thin. Then open the mold on a flat surface. This is how you have to load it with wire form and hook. Measure the distance from your flat work surface to the face of the mold. Now cut a piece of wood that distance and lay that piece where your wire form is supported on it as it lays on the mold. You put that piece right against the mold where the wire form hangs off to support it. Put the wireform and hook in and close the mold. Turn the mold where the sprue is up and put your wire form in line with the mold. Only work with one cavity at a time. Too much going on to pour more than one at a time. Now, I pour mine with the Lee bottom pour but some guys ladle pour as the wire form kinda gets in the way of the bottom pour. I would like to do some pics for you but I go on the road for a week starting tomorrow and will be away from my stuff. Pics are worth a thousand words, they say and I understand that. If you still need help in a week, I'll be glad to do that. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swampman Posted February 20, 2017 Author Report Share Posted February 20, 2017 Thanks for the info,I sent another question about wire size on 3/8 oz... I'm on my phone so please excuse my wandering around questions. I'll give this a try,have a safe trip!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EironBreaker Posted February 20, 2017 Report Share Posted February 20, 2017 I have this mold also but I pour with a hot pot II which is just like using a ladle. I close the loop of the wire form on the hook eye, that seems to help some. After laying the wire/hook in the mold in the position wanted, I close the mold and use my thumb to hold the wire end in the centered position while pouring with my other hand. Just a little down pressure on the upper end of the wire form holds it in place. I pour with my left hand, hold the mold with my right. The hook centers itself since the mold is held upright to pour. Works for me. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark poulson Posted February 21, 2017 Report Share Posted February 21, 2017 Wear gloves and eye protection, long sleeves, go slow, and make a dry run before you pour. Having to ad lib with hot lead is a disaster waiting to happen. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EironBreaker Posted February 22, 2017 Report Share Posted February 22, 2017 Great comments Mark. Totally agree, safety is priority. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
