Fitting weedguards into pin holes

[timjohnson]

I am using the "green pumpkin" fiber guards, and they don't fit the 1/8 base pin hole. The black fits....tight....but fits.

What do you do to make guards fit, and do you do it before you paint or after?

Sure do wish I could find a suitable "cure" for molding the guard in, powder painting and curing without having the hassle of gluing the weedguard later!!!!

[lilcraw]

I mold all my weedguard as I pour them, you can still powder paint by using a straw wrapped with tinfoil put over the weedguard during the heating process, but I have found that the epoxy paint is much better and last alot longer on jig heads, I have found it to be alot tougher then powder paint I apply it with a small cheap brush and have had NO PROBLEMS what so ever with it, Lure Craft will even match any color you want, work of advise though keep your hardener part of the paint in the frig and will last forever, 4 oz bottle I have been using for a year now as long as I keep it cold between uses, the paint doesn't matter with temp.... Try it I know you will be HAPPY..........

[cadman]

First of all I don't use the full weedguards from the package. They are too stiff. If your weedguards are too big and they won't fit in the hole, you have two options. #1 pull some strands off the weedguard to make it fit, or #2 measure the diameter of the weedguard, and open up the hole in the jig with a hand drill, this process is used for after the jig is poured. You can modify your mold if you want, to make them fit, if you want to pour with the weedgurds in you mold. I do not pour with weedguards in place. This is a personal choice. I find it much easier to pour, powder paint, bake and put in weedguards in after with Devcon 2T epoxy. You will get a lot of good advice here, try it out and let us know how you do

[Old man in the boat]

Ok I'll be honest I'm a supper Glue Gel Guy simply because the tube makes it easy to get the glue into the hole. Then I just push the weed gaurds in.

How are you applying the Devcon2T when you glue the gaurds in????????

[timjohnson]

Thanks for the replies. I am using Goop right now to put in the weedguards, but I have only done one batch so far. I may try super glue because of the small tube opening.

If you use DEVCON 2, how do you keep it from hardening before you get to glue all your fibers in the jigs? I am doing about 150 at a time.

I used to vinyl coat the jigs, and molded with the weedguard in. One coat white, one color coat, one clear. No heat, so no problems with the guards molded in.

Problems: If it's cold, paint thickens. If it's hot, paint thickens. Strong smell. Long process with three coats.

Positives: You can bang a jig on a metal dock post and the paint remains, very strong and durable.

Tried to mold with guard in and powder coat, then cure, but the guards looked like "spider legs" when finished, even if I fuse the open end of the guards. I've tried polypropolene "sleeves" over the guards, "straws with aluminum foil", etc. and so far no success. Even tried 100 degrees, so I'm doing something wrong.

I make a large quantity of jigs and looking for a solution. Large tackle manufacturers must have a better way, or it would take a LONG TIME and very labor intensive for them to make a jig the way I do.

Sorry to rant on, but hoping for some help that works for me. Thanks again and have a nice day.

[cadman]

OMITB, I put equal amounts of epoxy on a piece of aluminum foil, or an upside down soda can. Mix the two together, and now your set to go. Take the fused end of the weedguard and swish it in the epoxy, then stick it in the jig hole. Two reasons why I do this. The alum. material pulls the heat away from the epoxy, slowing the curing process. Secondly, if I'm going to epoxy my jigs after the weedguards have dried. I know I can use the same epoxy without any problems. I don't know if you can use super glue, or any other glue to put in weedguards, and then epoxy the jig with Devcon 2T, without any chemical reaction. Maybe someone else can answer this. I'm happy with my process.

Timjohnson, I'll agree with the vinyl paint. The only thing that ever gave me was a bad headache. But if it works for you use it. I powder paint all my jigs, then powder glitter, then Devcon if 3D eyes are used. I do my process like Ive posted earlier. I by no means am breaking speed records. However, I believe my jigs are among some of the best I've seen here. My quality and pride come first in every jig I make and sell. I won't be retiring anytime soon making jigs.