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.

[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]

Originally Posted by 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

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]

Originally Posted by 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.

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]

Originally Posted by Life's A Beach

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.