Trying to build my own jig...

nmbrinkman · Mar-11-2009, 05:13 PM

...Looking for a solution to my immediate problem. I'm trying to make a homemade surface "iron" out of a mold from a jig I had laying around. I already made the mold and plan to make the body from blue and white polymer clay. My only issue is that I don't believe that the clay, even after baked in the oven, will be strong enough to hold rings at the ends to attach a hook and tie my line to at the other. My solution was to run stainless steel wire through the body. Having them closed (or looped at both ends). I can find them online but would like to know if there is either a better solution or a place I can find these in San Diego. They're called stainless steel wire shafts.

apcrew45 · Mar-11-2009, 05:56 PM

try a hardware store, they usually sell ss wiring by the foot

nmbrinkman · Mar-11-2009, 06:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by apcrew45

try a hardware store, they usually sell ss wiring by the foot

I'm thinking wire like you would find on spinner baits except straight. Unless I'm uniformed, what they sell at hardware stores is usually on bulk spools. Not the stuff I'm looking for.

TGee · Mar-11-2009, 06:45 PM

Nathan,
Why wouldn't heavy wire leader work for you?

IN2DEEP · Mar-11-2009, 06:49 PM

You can use SS welding rod.
You might be able to find a welding shop to sell you some.
...or cut up some old spinner blades

BTW, I'm trying to picture in my mind how the wire will help re-enforce your jig.
Will it be molded internally with eyes at both ends that the rings will be pulling against?
Sounds interesting and challenging to get it positioned correctly while it is drying.

Scott

andy1976 · Mar-11-2009, 06:50 PM

Try using bicicle spokes. I've heard it works well. You can buy round nose pliars from tackle buildig supply but i wire needs to be heated to bend.

Sluester · Mar-11-2009, 06:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TGee

Nathan,
Why wouldn't heavy wire leader work for you?

X2

nmbrinkman · Mar-11-2009, 07:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TGee

Nathan,
Why wouldn't heavy wire leader work for you?

I'm not familiar with the stuff. The jig is made of baked polymer clay so the wire has to be strong enought to not bend from end to end. I'll look into wire leader.....

Quote:

Originally Posted by IN2DEEP

You can use SS welding rod.
You might be able to find a welding shop to sell you some.
...or cut up some old spinner blades

BTW, I'm trying to picture in my mind how the wire will help re-enforce your jig.
Will it be molded internally with eyes at both ends that the rings will be pulling against?
Sounds interesting and challenging to get it positioned correctly while it is drying.

Scott

You got it. I need the wire to go straight through and use eyelits at both ends to connect the line and hook to. I don't thing the jig alone can support the fight of a fish like a commercial jig can. The jig is going to be layered with blue under white. I plan to run the wire in between the layers. I'm not expecting the perfect jig right off the bat but I want a place to start. I also plan on weighting the "face" of the jig. I refer to the face as the bottom as is it swims. I'm thinking hollow core lead or ball bearing. I don't think the jig alone will weigh enough to cast far. I also plan on applying a glaze in hopes that keeps it waterproof. I'll post pictures and if it's succesful, a tutorial after it's done.

BuonaForTuna · Mar-11-2009, 07:05 PM

Lets start with a simple question what is the mold made out of? Reason I ask because if it is made out of RTV i can give you a fast solution to the problem if it is made of something harder like plaster it will be more difficult to do this.

nmbrinkman · Mar-11-2009, 07:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BuonaForTuna

Lets start with a simple question what is the mold made out of? Reason I ask because if it is made out of RTV i can give you a fast solution to the problem if it is made of something harder like plaster it will be more difficult to do this.

POP is the mold (plaster of paris).

BuonaForTuna · Mar-11-2009, 07:23 PM

See problem with the POP is that you dont have flexibility and this will make the construction portion a bit harder, What I would normally do in this situation would be undo the wire that is on your jig that you are going to make a mold out of straighten out both pieces and center them make a hole on the top and bottom of your molding frame where the wires would need to come out and then pour the pop till you have made the mold deep and good enough to support and reconstruct your product, see with RTV i could have done this easily and then flexed it out, at the same time there is a product that you can use to replicate lead but its plastic for these secrets just pm me and i will tell you how to do it lol.

BuonaForTuna · Mar-11-2009, 07:30 PM

Another thing to remember is IF the balance of your jig is all on one end or side then it will make the motion and action of the jig possibly flop around and cause more harm then good ie tangles, loss of fish or lack of attraction, i mean lets face it the loss of attraction might not be an issue but just worse case scenario, Dont use the lead the way you are planning too it will cause an uneven balance unless you core the jig and melt it down the center where you cored it keeping it an even weight all the way through