Removing Factory Crank Bait Eyes

[txmedic033]

I am trying to remove the factory eyes from 6 8XD crank baits that I have been asked to repaint, and Strike King did not intend on those eyes coming out! I broke a scalpel and almost took one of my eyes out in the process. So far I have removed 1/2 of 1 eye. I am eagerly waiting all of the helpful replies.

[barrybait]

First of all, hats off to Strike King for making some great, durable, reasonably priced baits.  Lucky Craft don't seem to care if eyes fall out of their "premium" priced baits with normal use.  That being said, I have repainted a couple of 10XD's  for friends using an exacto knife with one of the stronger blades.  Maybe that is what you meant by scalpel.  i cut/scribe around the perimeter of the eye and try to get the tip under it after cutting all the way around.  It sounds as though you may have done all that too.  Next I would attach the milling bit (cylinder shape) to a dremel and cut it out.  Wear safety glasses and have a shop vac running pulling air right next to it as you work.

 

Good luck,

Barry

[SW Lures]

I wonder why remove them. If the bait was made that well I would look at another way. Like covering the joint with a product like I was told about by Travis, liquid fresket. I found that white out works well to. I use a very fine brush to cover the joints. It worked! However you will need a jig to hold the bait tight until you are completely done with the bait. Using a clear coat will need some thought of what you will need to do while drying.

If the eyes are in bad shape, that is another story.

Hurray for Strike King,

Dale

[Chuck Young]

You could just grind the eye surface flat and part way down then glue another eye on top. Sounds barbaric, but it should work. At times I have glued a new eye over the old ones They bug out a little, but so do fish eyes - just saying. If it is for a customer, I would take more care.

[mark poulson]

I don't know if your repainting instructions included different eyes, but, if not, you can look for a hole punch at a craft store the same diameter you can punch out discs of blue painter's tape, and just mask the eyes, instead of removing them.

I do that with a 5/16" punch I inherited from one of my kids' school projects, and, if the disc is too big, I use a sharp exacto knife to trace the smaller eye out, using the outside lure eye groove as a guide.

Did I mention I was lazy, too?  Hahaha

[DingerBaits]

I was thinking if it is just an adhesive back on the eye, try heating it up a little with a hair dryer to soften up the adhesive, then try popping it out. Hell, its worth a try

[Chuck Young]

Dynamite should work!

[Mr.t]

Dremel with a cut off wheel, carefully grind a t shape in the center of the eye, careful as not to go to deep,take a small flat screw driver and pop them right off, works for me anyway!

[fishon-son]

i used a small jewelers screw driver to pop eyes  works well   ....flat tip and a vise to hold the bait....

[HawkeyeH00ker]

Blow dryer and a sharp X-acto.
Warm the eyes up good and carefully work the blade tip under the eye. They’ll come right off. I had this issue with some 4.0 KVD squarebills I was just working on. Fought like hell to get them off before I tried heat.