Big Ray Posted January 25, 2015 Report Share Posted January 25, 2015 (edited) Hey does anybody use crochet hooks to make crappie tubes? I am thinking about trying a 3MM crochet hook so I can dip a 1 1/2" tube. I measured the diameter of a 1/32 lead head with a micrometer and it came out to .1245 inches so I just say that it is 1/8" diameter. Do you guys think that it will work? I never made any tubes but I do know from reading around I need some hard plastisol. Edited January 25, 2015 by Big Ray Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wallyc14 Posted January 25, 2015 Report Share Posted January 25, 2015 I don't see why it won't work Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jig Man Posted January 25, 2015 Report Share Posted January 25, 2015 That should work. I have used fiberglass rods and bolts with the threads covered. Post some pics when you get some finished baits. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Ray Posted January 25, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 25, 2015 (edited) Ok Jig Man I will. I just need to get some hard plastisol. I do have Baitjunkys soft and some hardener. I am thinking I will just pour 5 Oz in a pyrex cup and then add two tablespoons hardener. I read somewhere on there forum that 10% hardener takes you to the next level of hardness so I am just guessing 20% will take soft to hard. Edited January 25, 2015 by Big Ray Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jig Man Posted January 26, 2015 Report Share Posted January 26, 2015 I never used hard. I just used what I had on hand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Ray Posted January 28, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 28, 2015 (edited) Ok I tried it out last night. I tried making my plastic harder by adding hardener but I don't recommend doing that again. I must have added way too much hardener because it turned into a cup of hard white plastic that I couldn't use. So I just used some softer plastic that I had laying around. I dipped my crochet hook into the plastic and just flipped it around so that it will evenly coat it. Once it dried I slipped it off and it looked ok. The only problem is I tried cutting the tail with a knife and that didn't look good at all. I was wondering if any of you guys have a good method of cutting smaller tubes? Edited January 28, 2015 by Big Ray Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jig Man Posted January 28, 2015 Report Share Posted January 28, 2015 What we did was bolt carpet knife blades together. We held them in a vice, put the tube on top and rolled a dowel across the tail. It was crude but it worked. I'm sure that you can find info on some cutters if you do a search on this site. I have heard mention of them at some companies but don't remember which ones. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BuckMaxx Posted January 28, 2015 Report Share Posted January 28, 2015 Sod staples work ok then you can dip two at a time. but you have to lube the wire before dipping or its a motha to get off. ALuminum is the way to go probably pick up a stick of 1.8 at the hardware store pretty cheap. as far as cutting tails. I have a lurecraft block that I do smaller stuff on. I built one of those pizza cutter type but my plastic all balls up in it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Ray Posted January 29, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 29, 2015 Thanks guys I like your ideas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark poulson Posted January 30, 2015 Report Share Posted January 30, 2015 I don't dip tubes, but my buddy asked me if I could try and dip one, using a large hex shanked Allen wrench, because he wondered if the shape would transfer to the overall shape of the bait, and make it's action different. The good news is I could easily dip with an Allen wrench. Thanks to you guys, I coated it first with worm oil, and the bait slid off just fine. The bad news is the outside of the bait just rounded itself off, and totally lost the hex shape. But it did tell me you can dip just about anything, as long as it doesn't get melted by the hot plastic. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Ray Posted January 30, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 30, 2015 (edited) Hey Mark I didn't think of using a Allen wrench. That is a good idea I guess you can use anything as long as the diameter is the right size. Edited January 30, 2015 by Big Ray Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark poulson Posted January 30, 2015 Report Share Posted January 30, 2015 I don't dip, but that's what I found when I tried. You could probably make an A rig-type setup, with multiple wires, so you could dip lots of baits at once. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Ray Posted January 30, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 30, 2015 (edited) Mark I was thinking about doing something like that once I get more skilled at dipping. I am still trying to get the cutting down. I am wondering if any of you guys have used this thing? http://www.lurecraft.com/Deluxe-Plastic-Splitter/productinfo/2X138/ Edited January 30, 2015 by Big Ray Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jig Man Posted January 30, 2015 Report Share Posted January 30, 2015 That is the same idea as the one we had. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
