Originally Posted by
Snagged again
Hey Barry,
To use heat shrink to protect eyelets here are the sizes I like For size 6 hooks try 3/64"
for 4,2,1, try 1/8"
for 1/0 and larger try3/32"
I like about a 3/8" piece of shrink with a small space allowed at the base of the eyelet to allow the paint to cover that area of the jig.
I have bought all my shrink on ebay in 100' rolls...it is low cost and of good enough quality to protect eyelets.
Another thing I have done for years is to use 1/4" stainless steel tubing( 6" sections) to heat shield hook eyelets and/or crane swivels from the heat before dipping in the fluid bed paint.It minimizes wasting paint that will stick to the heat shrink otherwise.
Lastly I use round tooth picks to remove paint from hook eyelets when making road runners as I can "heat shield" the crane swivel or the eyelet but not both with the stainless tubing.I do use heat shrink on the crane swivel and the eyelet.
Good luck