barrybait Posted November 25, 2013 Report Share Posted November 25, 2013 I got my supply of polycarbonate sheets at Tap Plastics. If you have one nearby you might want to check it out. The one near me sells miscellaneous pieces out of a bin by the pound. I got three different sizes of scrap chunks about 1' square very resonable. I think it was 2$ a pound. Fair amount I got to play with for less than 5 bucks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j27 Posted November 26, 2013 Report Share Posted November 26, 2013 Harbor freight has .041 ss wire! Was wondering how this .041 wire size is compared to 19 gauge. I currently use this 19 gauge I get at Ace Hardware but would like to get something just a shade smaller. I have a Harbor Freight in the next town over from me and was thinking of driving there. John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluewaterspecial Posted November 26, 2013 Report Share Posted November 26, 2013 Was wondering how this .041 wire size is compared to 19 gauge. I currently use this 19 gauge I get at Ace Hardware but would like to get something just a shade smaller. I have a Harbor Freight in the next town over from me and was thinking of driving there. John 19 guage is is real close to .041, 19 guage is smaller than .041 .041 is about 18 guage, to be exact, 18 guage is .0403 inch...while 19 guage is .0359 inch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j27 Posted November 26, 2013 Report Share Posted November 26, 2013 Thanks for the info Bluewater Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArdentAngler Posted May 17, 2014 Author Report Share Posted May 17, 2014 Any recommendation on brand for ss wire you guys use? I'm looking to narrow my options down and stick with some tried and true stuff. Specifically looking for 0.9mm diameter, I would love to make a couple baits using some brass wire as well. The only thing with brass is it may pose problems with tuning if it gets hung up on something or just heavy use in general. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
diemai Posted May 17, 2014 Report Share Posted May 17, 2014 Any recommendation on brand for ss wire you guys use? I'm looking to narrow my options down and stick with some tried and true stuff. Specifically looking for 0.9mm diameter, I would love to make a couple baits using some brass wire as well. The only thing with brass is it may pose problems with tuning if it gets hung up on something or just heavy use in general. Might be looking for such : http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_trksid=p2050601.m570.l2632.R2.TR4.TRC1.A0.H0.Xstainless+welding+wire&_nkw=stainless+welding+wire&_sacat=11804&_from=R40 It is softer and bends easier compared to stainlees welding wire rods , as it ist designed to be spooled down for MIG welding , ...but for smaller lures up to 2 " length I consider it to be OK . A 2 lbs spool should almost last you a lifetime . A this MIG wire already is a bit too soft for my own liking(usually I don't make micro lures) , I guess , that brass would be still softer than that(personally I'd keep my hands off brass) , .....but nevertheless I have one spool 0,8 mm dia.of such welding wire down the shop , most likely using it to wrap spacer coils for spinners or wire eyes for homemade bobbers and floats . Greetz , Dieter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Griffond Posted May 17, 2014 Report Share Posted May 17, 2014 If you don't want a spool of Stainless Steel then just get a one pound box of R308L Stainless Steal TIG Rods comes in various sizes of your choosing from about .9mil to almost 2mil every welding company makes it so I guess brand doesn't really matter just pick a size and shop around til you find it the cheapest. Also don't forget if you find it on the big box stores you can ship to the store for free most of the time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seeking 56 Posted May 17, 2014 Report Share Posted May 17, 2014 Never used brass and don't plan on it either. Can't see it as being a good material for lure making. Your split rings would probably fatigue the hook hangers especially if they're ss. .041 should be sufficient in terms of wire. You could get some of the soft tempered stainless available at most luremaking supply companies and it may be available in 12'' shafts. s56 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vodkaman Posted May 18, 2014 Report Share Posted May 18, 2014 Stay away from galvanized, it will eventually rust and will be too springy to work with. You need to look for Soft Stainless Steel (sst). Probably a lot more available than you might think. If you find a coil of wire in a store, bend the end of the wire when the storekeeper is not looking. The wire should bend easily and NOT spring back. DAve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArdentAngler Posted May 18, 2014 Author Report Share Posted May 18, 2014 Are there any cons to coiled wire vs. straight? Just worried I may grab the wrong one and have it ruin a finished bait...that would be a huge bummer. Since wire is one of the most crucial part it cannot be overlooked. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobP Posted May 18, 2014 Report Share Posted May 18, 2014 Soft temper stainless usually comes on a spool. It's soft and pliable enough to easily straighten it. There are various tempers of wire available. The ss wire you buy from a lure store to form spinners, etc, it very hard tempered. An intermediate temper might be something like Malin Hard Wire ss leader material, which is fairly stiff but can still be bent by hand. If you are doing a variety of bait styles and are not going to use a bending form, do yourself a favor and use soft temper stainless. Not only does it bend easily, just as importantly you can bend it accurately when forming a thru-wire or hand-wound screw eyes. I've never had .041 or .032 soft ss wire deform on a hook hanger or line tie on a bass bait. When bent into a small diameter circle it is surprisingly strong. I have also used soft brass wire, which is a little softer than stainless steel. Copper wire is similar but will corrode. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArdentAngler Posted May 18, 2014 Author Report Share Posted May 18, 2014 My intention was to do mainly twisted hook hangers and if thru wire harness is needed I would make a jig using nails on a wooden surface. I like the idea of copper, maybe for one off display lures, but its not utilitarian hook hanger material. Thanks again for all the replies! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seeking 56 Posted May 18, 2014 Report Share Posted May 18, 2014 The soft ss wire shafts I bought were annealed. Some sites that carry ss wire don't mention if it's annealed material they're selling. I may be wrong here but because of this annealing process I would believe it to be even stronger and of better quality than regular stainless steel wire especially in smaller diameters. @BobP How did you like working with brass wire? Thanks s56 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark poulson Posted May 18, 2014 Report Share Posted May 18, 2014 Remember that wire stiffness, apart from the line tie, isn't an issue. Your fishing line will break before you can deform soft .041 sst wire, and even your line tie won't deform unless you really try and horse a big fish. If you make two piece baits with halves that you glue together with epoxy, the epoxy/wire sandwich in the center make a steel-reinforced section that is really strong and rigid. The only place I would use a stiffer rod is if I were making a through-wire prop-type bait or a two piece spinner, like the Whopper Plopper, where the wire projects far enough out of the bait to give some bending leverage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vodkaman Posted May 19, 2014 Report Share Posted May 19, 2014 I have only used coiled wire and not ever had any problems with it. After forming, either by hand or using jigs, the forms are rarely straight. A couple of tweaks with pliers, a tap with a center punch to tidy the hole shape, and they are perfect. I don't imagine using straight wire would be any different. I have done some work with brass, when the SS steel wire just didn't look thick enough. Both are just as easy as each other to work with. Note - both brass and SS steel wires work harden when being formed. This is a good thing, as the action of forming the loop, actually stiffens up the loop at the same time. Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArdentAngler Posted May 19, 2014 Author Report Share Posted May 19, 2014 Thank you again for the sound feedback, guess I shouldn't stress it too much? I am trying to ensure that everything is suited to building and that the only errors will come from me, not the hardware. If its possible, reducing the amount of variables should give me a true running bait and less time banging my head against the wall in frustration. I'm trying to get my process down pat which is easier said than done, right? Basically learn from others mistakes and tailor their process of making lures to suit me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seeking 56 Posted May 19, 2014 Report Share Posted May 19, 2014 Thanks very much Dave! I may actually try it now if I come across it. ArdentAngler, that's the problem with too many variables / options we tend to overthink everything! I'm currently overthinking a Gizzard Shad pattern I have to do s56 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sonny.Barile Posted May 29, 2014 Report Share Posted May 29, 2014 I have some lures I fish in the salt that are 3 years old. They were made with the .041 HB wire. It is definitely stainless. I believe the label (gone now) said it was 316 Stainless lock wire. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zrb284 Posted January 4, 2016 Report Share Posted January 4, 2016 Can anyone suggest a proper thickness/gauge of brass wire for bass sized crankbaits? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zrb284 Posted January 4, 2016 Report Share Posted January 4, 2016 Apologies, I have located where this question was already answered Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishon-son Posted January 4, 2016 Report Share Posted January 4, 2016 my welder at the shop gave me a few 3 ft lenths of stainless steel . so i would think any weld shop could help you we have up to 1/4 dia. he gave me 3/32 thick but has smaller to.. i have not tryed to bend it yet..using it on a few muskie baits.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SW Lures Posted January 5, 2016 Report Share Posted January 5, 2016 Ditto Seeking 56, I'm doing the same thing. I can not get the realistic look I want. I want to have it ready by spring time but at the rate I will not have the gizzard shade ready. I have the blank but the paint scheme is just not happening. Ugh, Dale Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
