[jimcline]

Gene, what size cotter pins do you use? JIM

[Lincoya]

Mark,
I don't remember any conversation about barrell weights. So, I don't believe it was me. Sorry.

The Natural,
Thanks for all of the compliments. The cotter pins have worked great fo me, too.

Jim,
The following is a description of the pins that I use. I bought mine from McMaster-Carr. But, there are others that sell them.





Part Number: 98401A417
Price - $2.29 per Pack of 100
Material Type - Stainless Steel
Finish - Plain
Stainless Steel Type - 18-8 Stainless Steel
Diameter - 1/16"
Overall Length - 1"



Gene

[cheesehead]

one method I've used for baits made of pine, cedar, basswood and other semi-soft hard woods is bend a loop in SS wire but instead of twisting the wire just bend some 45 degree rabbit ears on the end of the wires. leave the tag ends long enough that they are forced to compress as you insert the wire into the hole drilled into the bait but short enough that when you try to pull the eye back out they grab into the wood and resist extraction. Fill the hole with epoxy push the wires in and you are set.

[The Natural]

Here are some pics. I'm not sure if Gene does it exactly this way, but I just took the idea and ran with it. I just went to my local Home Depot and purchased a bunch of packs of cotter pins. I'm using the 3/4" long pins...




Here are some Tru-Tungsten bullet weights (ballasts) ready to be inserted and epoxied into the belly.










Here is the cotter pin for the tail section with the end bent into a barb. I drill a small hole, one smaller than the pin, and shove it in with pliers. You can't pull it out...an then I shoot epoxy down into the hole.