JimP Posted January 9, 2015 Report Share Posted January 9, 2015 Chance Encounter: I bumped into a fellow making jewelry a couple of days ago got me thinking. What he was doing might have useful fishing lure potential. I have always liked the real glass eyes on the old wooden lures. As soon as I saw these the bells were going off. The process: This Craftsman was making beads and pendants by taking a short section of a glass rod and setting it on another piece of glass and putting several such assemblies into a temperature controlled oven. A while later out comes coin sized pendants with a fancy design that was the section of glass rod. The glass sheet and section of colored rod are melted together as one and the glass "slumps" into a nice curved smooth oval. The glass rods with the design that is extruded from end to end are called "Millefiori." (Various spellings exist for the same thing) Result: After a bit of chatting and I mentioned my interest in making fishing lures and the possibilities of just using the "slumped" rod sections as lure eyes. After a few odd looks, we all know what I mean, he warmed up to the idea and went on to explain in detail the process. Today in the mail I got a nice assortment of various sizes and colors of what he had on hand. I think they will make great eyes. Even better yet with the right colors. The ones he sent are from about 1mm to 6mm right in the range that are usable for bass sized lures. When I get some lures finished using the eyes I'll post for the group to see. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
imagine_studios Posted January 9, 2015 Report Share Posted January 9, 2015 That's a nice find! I love it when I can use something like that, especially when it's old scrap someone doesn't even want, or have a use for. It's amazing how many things you can incorporate once you look at things with lure building in mind. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SLT785 Posted January 9, 2015 Report Share Posted January 9, 2015 Looks good. Like the black, green and red ones the best. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark poulson Posted January 9, 2015 Report Share Posted January 9, 2015 (edited) What a neat find! One of my kids gave me her stock of glass beads years ago, when she "outgrew" jewelry making, and i stuck them somewhere in my garage. I think I'll go out and see if I can find them now. It also makes me wonder if the faceted glass beads I use for T rigs would work as eyes. Hmmm.... Edited January 9, 2015 by mark poulson 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nathan Posted January 9, 2015 Report Share Posted January 9, 2015 Great find...Those look really nice..Nathan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SLT785 Posted January 13, 2015 Report Share Posted January 13, 2015 Just found this website: http://www.glasseyes.com/cgi-bin/products.pl?ref=fish Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt M Posted January 13, 2015 Report Share Posted January 13, 2015 did you happen to ask how hot the oven gets to melt the glass? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimP Posted January 13, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 13, 2015 did you happen to ask how hot the oven gets to melt the glass? Matt: His ovens run on a program. Temperature ramps up on a programed ramp, holds peak temperature for a given amount of time and then ramps down at another programed ramp. I think the peak hold temperature was set for 1470 deg F. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SLT785 Posted January 13, 2015 Report Share Posted January 13, 2015 Another source for glass eyes is taxidermy supply companies. Found these, http://www.vandykestaxidermy.com/Natural-Fish-Eyes-C407.aspx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Travis Posted January 13, 2015 Report Share Posted January 13, 2015 (edited) Neat to find a source for stuff that isn't the ordinary. DeVeryTY used to make some for his lures. If I recall he used glass rod stock and torch to make his but that was pushing 11 years ago. There have a been a few others to use and make some also since but I don't recall being much instruction on how to. As mentioned plenty of taxidermy eyes available but unless you are making a very high end crank 3 bucks and up going to be pricey. Edited January 13, 2015 by Travis Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Moreau Posted January 15, 2015 Report Share Posted January 15, 2015 Ya it would be nice to know where like Mike Shaw (MS Slammers) or Jeremy at Black dog get their glass eyes. I would love to use em but just too cheap to drop $3+ dollars for a set of eyes for a swimbait. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonister Posted January 19, 2015 Report Share Posted January 19, 2015 I like the glass eyes! i would think you could smash little peices of colored glass and melt with some mapp gas into pools for eyes. Im gonna have to try this now! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimP Posted January 19, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 19, 2015 I like the glass eyes! i would think you could smash little peices of colored glass and melt with some mapp gas into pools for eyes. Im gonna have to try this now! Jonister: Are you OK? Three hours ago you were going smash some things then burn it with a torch. We have not received an update, do we need to call 911, E-squad or the fire department? Keep us posted! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonister Posted January 20, 2015 Report Share Posted January 20, 2015 no, no.. Im fine. i just enjoy destruction . i didnt have any mapp gas(i was all out) so i tried it with a butane torch but that didnt get the glass hot enough so i will be getting some more gas soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
