davycrockett

Great info!

Thanks for the reply UG. Yes, my mold is the EM-3858. I was At Netcraft last week and they no longer carry the 3366G. With everyone on Erie throwing harnesses and Mayfly rigs the weight forward spinner kind of got forgotten about. If I can find the bronze in the 3366 I will go that route.

I made up a few weight forward spinners for walleye on Erie and was wondering which hook to use. The only info I can find is the size of hook(2/0) which is on the mold. I would like to find gold hooks like on many of the manufactured weight forwards but isn't that critical. I wondered if I could use a spinnerbait trailer hook? Any ideas? Thanks guys.

Thanks Jigman. I planned on using my old cooker/burner (I bought a new one for feesh last spring ). I just need to locate a cast pot.

Just finished getting the lead worked up into smaller (12" x 12") pieces that I can work with. I ended up scoring the sheets with a utility knife. I removed as much drywall and paper that would come off easily as I went. In all I ended up with 485# It really added up. I figure I'll begin to melt 100# or so down into ingots and flux it so it can be used. I will probably sell most of it. What would be a fair asking price per# for the state that it is in?(small sheets)

Thanks for the responses guys! I got a little anxious at first but was told today they weren't going to demo the other 3 walls! Then a co-worker and I divied up the pile (he pours bullets) so I didn't end up with the obscene amount I was hoping for. I still have more than I can use for quite some time. I haven't weighed the pile but there must be a couple 100 pounds there. We are getting a snow storm and they are calling for nasty stuff for the next 24 hrs. so I decided to leave the lead in the back of my truck for traction! The gypsum paper backing looks to be the biggest chore to remove. I plan on cutting the pieces down to smaller stuff with tin snips and melting it down into ingots. I am going to use parrafin as flux. It ought to be interesting! Thanks again guys

As soon as I entered my post I noticed another post had just been posted concerning x-ray lead. What are the odds? Thanks Boomer. The room is roughly 12 x 12 so I should have plenty.

Gentlemen, At work we have a contractor doing demo work in a building. The demo area was a medical/rehab center and has an X- Ray room with lead - lined walls. The contractor said I could have all the lead after they demoed the area. The sheets are about 1/8" thick and are sandwiched between the metal studs and the drywall. The sheets should be easy to score with a utility knife and reduce down to more managable size for the melting pot. Have any of you used this type of lead? As I said it is mine for the taking and should give me more lead than I'll ever. Any thoughts or suggestions? Thanks in advance guys!

I have the Hagen's unit and have used it to a limited degree. My only complaint so far is if you are switching back and forth from heavier wire to lighter wire the converting can be time consuming, if not a royal pain in the arse. If you are only working with one type of wire for a long amount of time this wouldn't be a big deal. I also had to modify my heavy wire head to bend .051 wire with a file. For $30 for the heavy wire kit it should work out of the box. Overall though I like the unit. It is built solid and performs the way it should.

This question is for you reel junkies. I would like to supertune some of my older Abu reels. Has anyone worked with Abu's?(Round Black Max's, C3's) Any suggestions? Thanks in advance.

:)Great thread!! I dont own any Pro Max's but have many Black Max's, (1) 1600, (2) 3600, (1) 5600, and (1)6600. The 1600 and 3600's are for cranking,spinnerbaits,etc. The 5600 is on my flippin rod as I often use the same rod/reel for launching frogs in the slop and the extra line capacity is a plus. The 6600 is on one of my muskie sticks. I picked this reel up at Wallyworld for $10 in the mid 90's!:nuhuh:It was a display model and they had no paperwork or box and didn't have a clue what it was worth. I figured it had been forgoten about after being discountinued and was just sitting in the case year after year. The fella told me to make an offer and I started with an absurd $10 offer. I couldn't get the cash out of my wallet quick enough! All of my Black Max's have performed flawlessly for their age. I was thinking about buying a newer Abu reel (Revo?) but wonder about the durability down the road. Maybe I should stick with my bullet proof Black Max's and C3's and C4's. I'm glad to see their are other Abu junkies out their that admire the older stuff in an age with so many new "cool" looking reels coming out every year.

Speaking of materials for the membrane, has anyone used a vaccum cleaner bag? Not the whole bag of course but a piece big enough to seal the bottom of the cup.

Thanks for the opinion, Zib. The price for Matzuo's is close to that of Eagle Claw and Mustad. I am going to purchase a few to see how they hold up to the others.

You've got the idea. Good luck!

If there is a previous post on this topic, forgive me. I am pouring jigs 1/80th to 1/8 oz for tying using Do-It molds. Most of my jigs are for personal use for panfish but I have had requests from others to purchase some. I have used VMC and Mustad but would like to find a sharper jig hook out of the box for the lowest price. I am considering Matzuo but dont know what the quality is. I use #10 through #1. Thanks in advance.

Sorry for the late response! I trully appreciate all the helpful comments and suggestions. A lot of great info. I plan on cranking out a few spreaders this winter with my new bender. I will post pics. Thanks again guys!

I tie my coils in my fly vise. First slide a coil (lawn mower throttle cable cut to length) over a looped wire shaft. I use a 6" scrap shaft that is too short for anything else. When you slide the coil up to the loop and turn it you will notice that the end of the shaft loop wire and the end of the coil wire will "lock". Simply chuck the shaft in your vice makiing sure the coil is tight against the loop and the vice. Make your thread wraps in the coorect direction as to keep the coil locked in. I hope this isn't too confusing. Good luck!

Jann's carries several Do-It molds for these. I have the style H mold and love it. You may have to modify the wire slot with a drill or Dremel to accept the heavier wire.

I would like to make some perch spreaders. Does anyone know how the commercial made ones are made? I am refering to the weight molded into the wire at the top. I was thinking of an egg sinker mold modified somehow to accept the wire and swivel. Thanks guys.

I am interested in building a few of these boxes out of lexan. I was wondering what the best way of securing it was. I would like to use some type of glue(Gorilla?) to fasten the panels together. Or, is there a better way? Anyone ever build one of these? Thanks.

Welcome aboard! The best advice I can give you is dont even start! Just kidding. When I began tying bucktails I examined proven store bought bucktails that I already had and basically copied them. The trickiest thing to me to learn was tying the bucktail. The next thing to master is the loops in your wire. You will find that .051 wire doesn't bend too easy. With a little practice(and a lot of scrapped wire) you will be able to bend nice loops. I use a pair of needlw nose and a pair od vice grips. Someday I may break down and buy a wire former(Boggs, Hagens) but until then I will bend the wire by hand. I buy throttle cable for lawn mowers and cut the coiled outer piece into 1 1/2" to 2" lengths. These coils are great to tie on and easier than tying the tail directly on a hook.When you are done with the tail simply slide the coil on your wire shaft. Make sure to coat your thread wraps after completing a layer with nail polish or head cement.I would also suggest epoxying the final head wrap with Devcon. Have fun and don't get discouraged!

Thanks a bunch Glaucus:yay: ! That looks easy enough to attempt. I never gave a thought to using willowleaf blades. We will see.

Anyone know where to buy creeper wings like those found on a Creepenstein or similar musky creeper? I considered making them out of SS but they look to be pretty involved. Jann's and Stamina don't have them. Thanks!

O.K. I've been spending too much time luremaking and not enough time fishing! This is going to sound Forrest Gumpish but what on earth is a shakey jig used for?

WOW!!! Those boxes rock! I believe there are boxes similar to those in Rollie and Helen's. BibsBox, I believe. They are very pricey though. Did you use Lexan. Please give us the details. I think this would make an awsome tutorial! AWSOME!