Attached Files

Making Fiber Optic Eyes.pdf (278.9 KB, 591 views)

Great tutorial, well done!

Where do you buy fiber optics?

www.fiberopticproducts.com

after you pull up the site, scroll down and click on fiber optic lighting, then click archery and gun fibers

Jay

I thought it was a "light". Great tutorial, but what am I missing here? Do they glow or something under water?
Thanks,
Terry

The fibers actually transfer light kinda like a wire with electricity. If light hits one side, it is transfered to the other side and vice versa. So, if light reaches the eyes under water, they will give the apperance of "glowing". But, if there is no light, there is no glowing. In reality, the clearer the water, the better effects you get. Problem is, it would be more effective in stained water, where the light does not reach the lure, thus no glow. Kinda redundant isn't it. The optics make for a cool looking lure but IMHO, they're not nearly as good at catching fish as they are at catching "FISHERMAN". lol.... Not to say they don't have an advantage underwater, to me it seems to be a "selling" point rather than a "catching " point. hope this helps.

Jay

Jay.
With LEDs and batteries always getting smaller, I wonder what it would actually take to make a bait with powered fiber optic eyes. I could see a two piece wooden bait using a battery for weight. If you ground a dimple in the fiber optic strand, with the LED glued in place, when the circuit is powered, the eyes should glow.

Attached Images

power_eyes.jpg (11.1 KB, 59 views)

I actually ordered some "laser lights" (tritium capsules) with this in mind. Drilling a small hole in the fiber and using the tritium as a power source with no batteries. Problem is the tritium capsules were tiny and didn't emit enough light for my application. I have purchased a couple of lighted lures to disassemble and use as such, the light is red and flashes and should give a wild looking effect especially in the green fiber. But i've been busy and haven't had a chance to take the lures apart to see what i'd be working with. The LED idea is by far the best, and brightest, and finding a small circuit activated by water would be great. I used a small LED to get the glow in the pics I posted in the gallery. Too bad I'm not into electronics.Thanks for the input, now I'm gonna be up all night searching for that perfect something to tear apart..... LOL

Jay

what size of fiber did you use in your tutorial?
Dane

1/4 inch. .25" on the mentioned site. Careful if you sand with a dremel, the fiber will crack if you sand or grind too agressively.

Jay