20 replies to this topic

[Goober]

Once I mold the jig and cut the excess off (not sure what the name is) what should I use to clean up the head of the jig? I would like it to be a little neater than what I am getting, should I just us a file then paint it? I also have some jig head that are note painted but have weedguards in them. I would like to paint them, what is the best way to do this with out messing up the weedguard?
 IMAG0350.jpg   850.62K   53 downloads
as you can see this one is worst the the first one. Either way I want to clean them up.
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[RAWJigs]

I just use a file bud. I use to break off the excess, but I bought a pair of gate shears. File them down and on to painting.

[Fatman]

I hold the pour sprue with pliers and wiggle the head back and forth holding the head not the hook. Then I have an old barlows single blade knife and scrape it over the sprue mark until smooth.

[Jig Man]

Get you some pins and mold the jigs with them instead of the weedguard. Paint them then install the weedguard.

[darkman]

i use a file to smooth out all the rough edges...and as stated paint your baits then add weed gaurd...might have to enlarge the pin hole a bit after you paint (if you use powder pait that is)....take you time..this is fun

Erick...peace

[smalljaw]

As others have said, use a small file and smooth the sprue area (the excess attached to the head is the sprue), If you get a hold of cadman or go to Barlows or Jannsnetcraft, you can get some nylon base hole pins and then you can cast your jig and then when you use powder paint you can simply heat the head, put the pin in place and dip in the paint. The reason for adding the pin once you heat the jig is to keep paint out of the weedguard hole. You can do this with the steel pins but it is much harder plus you need to clean the seel pins off after 2 jigs as the paint will stick to them.

[Goober]

I have the teflon pins and I agree that I should paint the heads with them in, the issue is I have some heads I bought a couple years ago that already have the weedguards in. I need to paint them, what is the best way to do this without messing up the weedguards?

[Jig Man]

Use a different type of paint for the ones you have with the weedguard in them then switch.

[EironBreaker]

I think Barlows, Do-It or Jann's Netcraft has a weed guard cover for painting and baking with the guard poured in the head. I can't remember where I saw them.

What I did was get a wooden dowel, cut it into 1 1/2 inch pieces and drill out the center a little bigger than the guards. Take a big drill bit and funnel one end so you can get the tips in it easier. Throw them into the oven at 285 degrees for 45 minutes. Can't go any hotter, I've tried without good results, lol. When time is up, just shut off the oven and let everything cool down. If you pull them out too soon, you can deform the guards to a different angle as they will be a little soft from the heat. If you have a bend guard, this is a good way to straighten it out and make the jig usable again. This only works for the guards from Kaiser Lure, who I think supplies everyone like Barlows, Janns, etc. Baking with the guard in place doesn't work very well for the guards from Charles at fishingskirts.com. Another company makes his guards and the plastic is a different material. The individual fibers will actually shorten and get fatter with heat and time. They work great to glue in after painting though.

I think the paint holds up just as well as cooking at 350 degrees for a shorter time period. Others may not have the same experiences.

[Goober]

Eiron - now all I need to do is get me a little toaster oven and I think I have everything I need.

Also for those that tie the jigs, what material are you using. What kind of wire and where would I be able to get it?

[EironBreaker]

I use gold craft wire, 24 or 26 gauge. You can get it at any Hobby Lobby, Michaels or whatever craft store you have around. Take a look through the store, they may have other things that you'd need there also. I get zip-lok bags for packaging there when on sale and metal beads for spinnerbaits/buzzbaits. Just have to look around. I take my daughter with because she likes to make jewlery, gives me a good cover to go in the store! LOL.

[EironBreaker]

Also, I use a fly tying bobbin and thread to wrap the skirts on first and then wire tie them down. I don't know how people do it without wrapping it first and you can get it to lay perfect every time.

[mark poulson]

I am just a hobbiest, so this may not work for you.
I band my skirts with the rubber skirt bands, and then cut it off after I've wired them on. It makes it easier for me to make the jigs the way I want them, and to keep the skirt material in place on the jig while I'm wrapping on the wire.

[Goober]

This is great info, I like the bobbin idea but that will be on the back burner for now.

What do you use to glue the weedguards in place. I figure I would put the skirt on then put the weedguards in seeing this will give me more room to work while putting on the skirts.

Sorry for all the questions but I have most of my material coming in and would like to see how others are doing this.

Thanks

[smalljaw]

mark poulson, on 26 January 2012 - 10:16 AM, said:

I am just a hobbiest, so this may not work for you.
I band my skirts with the rubber skirt bands, and then cut it off after I've wired them on. It makes it easier for me to make the jigs the way I want them, and to keep the skirt material in place on the jig while I'm wrapping on the wire.

I don't always tie my skirts as I believe a single spinnerbait can be a two or three spinnerbaits just by changing the skirts but I have a lot of friends that want a tirs skirt so I wire tie exactly like Mark Poulson described, I make the skirts and then I put them on and make sure the colors are positioned proprely and then make a single wrap with the wire, cut off the band and finish the tie by adding another wrap, pulling tight and trim and fold the tag ends down.

[mark poulson]

smalljaw, on 26 January 2012 - 12:18 PM, said:

I don't always tie my skirts as I believe a single spinnerbait can be a two or three spinnerbaits just by changing the skirts but I have a lot of friends that want a tirs skirt so I wire tie exactly like Mark Poulson described, I make the skirts and then I put them on and make sure the colors are positioned proprely and then make a single wrap with the wire, cut off the band and finish the tie by adding another wrap, pulling tight and trim and fold the tag ends down.

I'm not sure if it's "Great minds think alike", or "Even a blind pig finds an acorn once in a while". Hahaha

[FuzzyGrub]

I do my jigs similiar to Mark and Smalljaw. I don't always cut the rubber collar off, though. I roll it off, and then slide it back up the hook, and right up against the base of the skirt. This will flare out the inner part of the skirt, more.

As far as glueing weedguards in before or after, try it both ways, and go with what you think works for you. I tend to glue before adding the skirt, especially if doing devcon over the whole head, for eyes, etc. While dealing with the brush guard is a bit of a pain, getting devcon on the skirt is too. Foil can help hold the skirt out out of the way.

Edited by FuzzyGrub, 26 January 2012 - 01:15 PM.

[FuzzyGrub]

PS: I never did well with unpainted jigheads with weedguards in place. I tried the protect and low heat method, but it wasn't low enough! I ended up heating up the heads some, and just pulling the old weedguard out. New was easier to deal with, for me.

[Jig Man]

I rarely wire tie my skirts on as the new bands are holding up a lot better than they used to. For gluing in the weedguard I use superglue gel.

[Goober]

smalljaw, on 26 January 2012 - 12:18 PM, said:

I don't always tie my skirts as I believe a single spinnerbait can be a two or three spinnerbaits just by changing the skirts but I have a lot of friends that want a tirs skirt so I wire tie exactly like Mark Poulson described, I make the skirts and then I put them on and make sure the colors are positioned proprely and then make a single wrap with the wire, cut off the band and finish the tie by adding another wrap, pulling tight and trim and fold the tag ends down.

You make a good point. I think I am going to do it this way to start.