Bucktails and trailer hooks.

[makokeith]

This is some of the stuff I have been working on. Poured the bucktails (4 oz here) and powder coated them super glow white. Still learning the trick to tying especially on the trailer hooks. The trailer hooks go on my fluke balls and they get pretty beat up so I don't care to much. The bucktails with the red chin have mustard black nickle finish 32786. Much sharper and better size than the ones that Do-it tells you to use in the mold.
One question I have right now is which epoxy should I use for the thread? Right now I am using Sally Hanson hard as nails but would like to switch up to epoxy once I get the tying perfected. Also can I go over the hard as nails with epoxy? Might be easier to go over the hard as nails after tying up a bunch of jigs.

http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k144/williemilkem/PIC_0037.jpg

http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k144/williemilkem/PIC_0036.jpg

http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k144/williemilkem/PIC_0038.jpg

[tropics]

The stinger hooks do not need to be tied with hair, as for the epoxy save your self some time, most BTs are lost to quickly if fishing sticky bottom. nail polish 2 coats is enough. IMHO

[Captain Ahab]

I like the flash you tied it - sweet looking tails

I have been crimping by stinger hooks with a piece of offshore rigging wire and 50lb mono - works great and stays straight

[hammer4reel]

sally hansan hard as nails works the best for the thread, no need for epoxy , 2 coats, / best if left to dry a day before adding second coat, and it will be rock hard, and will lose the nail polish odor faster

[Life's A Beach]

The stinger hooks do not need to be tied with hair, as for the epoxy save your self some time, most BTs are lost to quickly if fishing sticky bottom. nail polish 2 coats is enough. IMHO


respectfully disagree, to some degree. don't know if the nail polish holds hair on well enough but we've been encountering losing the hair B4 we lose the bucktails.

[Kevin Bogan]

Mako, beautiful work!! Do you put a light coat of nail polish on the shank of the hook just before tying? It helps to secure the thread if you add polish as you go. For epoxy, use 5 minute, any brand. You want to use a fast cure so that it doesnt "crawl" up the hair. I agree with tropics, you dont realy need he epoxy, but it does allow you to "Bulk up" the body and add a little sparkle, and you could add small eyes on the teasers.

[makokeith]

Thanks for the replies everyone. I will just stick with the Sally for now.
Kevin, yes I put my thread on the hook and Sally then I add the hair.

[Kevin Bogan]

Thanks for the replies everyone. I will just stick with the Sally for now.
Kevin, yes I put my thread on the hook and Sally then I add the hair.
Mako, you can get NYC for $1 per bottle. Try putting the polish on prior to the undercoat of thread.

[Foul Hook]

Curious as to how you gents are holding the bigger jigs when wrapping threads. I've got a small vise a bought at harbor freight. It doesn't rotate like the fly vises so I put the jig in the vise and rotate the thread around the hook,kinda bass-ackwards. Any thoughts or input would help! As far as the nail polish head cement debate I've been using nail polish as a base coat adding a little when I've built up my bucktail then finishing with the head cement for a hard finish. May be overkill but I'm not losing hair over this!!( I'll wait for LAB's comment)

[Jigsmith]

respectfully disagree, to some degree. don't know if the nail polish holds hair on well enough but we've been encountering losing the hair B4 we lose the bucktails.

That may be an issue of not using enough pressure on the tying thread (along with technique) to begin with. Some people can cover that up with putting finish on afterwards but if there isn't sufficient penetration it doesn't do squat. I don't use any finish on mine and have no problems with hair pulling out.

[makokeith]

Kevin, what do you mean nyc for a dollar a bottle? What is nyc?

Foul hook, I use a hand me down vise. The hooks have to be forced into the vise. PITA. Will be buying a new one soon. Also what head cement do you use?

And just to let you Guys know. The trailer hooks are for my Fluke balls. And for replacement hooks for my plugs and maybe as teasers for bass. I will probably be tying these with epoxy from now on. They get beat up with the fluke balls.

Here are my balls! LOL Crappy old cell phone pic. They are all on my boat.

http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k144/williemilkem/0505121814.jpg

[Foul Hook]

Keith,I use "Hard as Hull" head cement only because a got an order through Cabela"s and just added it to the order, seems to work good. Also the fluke balls your making look good wish you sold some. For a trailer hook I've been crimping them on may be to expensive for some but I use left over tuna gear!

[tropics]

For finishing your teasers LOON Hard Head clear it looks like epoxy when you put 2 coats.

[Kevin Bogan]

Mako, NYC is a cheap nail polish. every srore has that brand. If you "paint as you go" the hair should hold up well. Good job on the fluke balls. If you use 5 minute epoxy on those red wraps it looks pretty cool. 2 ton epoxy might be a good choice for epoxy on jig heads and balls.
Foul hook's comment about the vise from harbor freight, if its what I think it is , the price is only about $20, rotates slightly and you can put heavy bucktails in it.