[fish eyes]

Just wondering if it is worth to buy it,anybody that has it do you like it.also if i would buy the one that handles .41 to .51 would i be able to bend smaller wire sizes on it. thanks

[Spike-A-Pike]

I have one and it gets a pretty regular work out. I think there are 4 different head and handle size configurations; A being the smallest and D being the largest. I own a C and D head and handle and normally swap between the two as the wire size changes. I have made a few batches of spinners using the larger D size with smaller .035 and .030 wire - the only real difference is the size of the line tie - if you can live with it then its not an issue.

There are two sizes of Tacklemakers; the larger having the base in two pieces and the original one piece design. If I was going to buy one for first time today, I would buy the two piece design. There is an in-line buzz bait design that is just 1 or 2 mm to long to form and I have toyed with the idea of cutting my short framed Boggs.

By all means, I highly recommend a Boggs Tacklemaker to make the task of making nice tight wire loops and get a professional result. Examples of what I made are in the gallery.

[jimcline]

Spike, I have the Hagen's bender and I want to be able to form smaller loops for light wire for in-lines and such. how do I get smaller loops? The standard heads make much larger loops than I need. I wonder does Hagen's make a smaller head? I haven't seen one if they do. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, JIM

[Spike-A-Pike]

Hagen's list a Professional Wire Former for wire .018 to .041 and a Musky lure adapter kit for .041 to .051 sized wire. The Professional Wire Former is supposed to come with 1/8" and 3/16" diameter loop options included. You may want to check with the Hagen's if you didn't get both or about getting a replacement. I don't own one and only saw one used once for just a few minutes; the info comes from page 98 of the 2008 Hagen's catalog.

[fish eyes]

thank you for answering my question spike. also nice spinners

[FishinME]

I agree with Spike-A-Pike. I have one and really like it. I have the "C" and "D" kits and I use the "D" stuff more than anything. I bend 0.050" wire and I make inline as well as safety pin type jig spinners. Let us know how you do and how you like it.

[muskietom51]

I have the D size love it, i am having a little trouble though. After the spinner is assembled on the finish wrap I don't have enough room for the spinner body so I get a bend in the spinner. Hope you guys know what i'm talking about, do u just bend the bait or what lol

[FishinME]

As I start my wrap, the shaft bends out about 10-20 degrees but fixes itself by the time the third or fourth wrap is completed. I do use a pair of needle nose pliers to fix any bends which are VERY minor if any. My lure bodies may be smaller than yours. Which lure bodies are you using?

[FishinME]

After re-reading your post I think that I was talking about a different bend. Are you talking about the clevis bending when finishing the lure? If this is what you are talking about, here are my solutions:

1. Next time cut your wire a little longer. I keep notes of my shaft lengths of each of my spinners so that they are uniform and I dont make them too short.

2. I keep the leg of the wrap around 3/4" or less (Before it wraps around the shaft)

[Spike-A-Pike]

That 3.5 inch limit in the handle is the only limiting aspect of the tacklemaker that is a negative. I have slide extra long wire into the drilled out (hollow) part of the handle. Most of the time, that is enough. Both rubber and brass skirt collars slide inside the handle. There have been a couple of spinners that have proven to be to long if you attempt to make them out of a single wire shaft, then I use two shafts and put a split ring between. The only down side to this is an occasional hang up when the hook catches the other part of the lure.

The other thing I've been thinking of was sawing my standard size base in half and buying the extended head - I just don't know if the cut out is also extended? I haven't been able to find a picture of it either.