Thread: Bat jig and Minnow head jig

I copied and pasted this from a thread a little ways down the page. This is the process that I use for 3D eyes. It is a bit time consuming, but I have never had an eye fall out using this technique.


Here is what I do with 3D eyes. I hope it helps. I do the powder paint, baking and everything just like you would normally do. Then I take Loc-Tite super glue "Gel Control". It is a grey bottle with blue finned sides. I use this to attach the 3D eyes to the jig head. I allow the super glue to dry completely. Then I use a Clear Vinyl paint by CS Coatings called "Clear Vinyl". I dip the complete jig head up to the hook in the bottle of clear paint. I then dab off the extra "paint" and set the jig head on a rack facing down and let them dry for 12 to 16 hours. After the clear vinyl is dry you can just about bounce the jig head off of a rock and the eyes will stay intact. You have basically just put a clear coat on the jig head like the clear coat on a car's paint job.

I realize that this is a long and time consuming process but the jigs look fantastic after this is done to them.

I hope this helps someone,

Take care and stay safe,


Bobo

Originally Posted by Bobo Greybeard

Here is what I do with 3D eyes. I hope it helps. I do the powder paint, baking and everything just like you would normally do. Then I take Loc-Tite super glue "Gel Control". It is a grey bottle with blue finned sides. I use this to attach the 3D eyes to the jig head. I allow the super glue to dry completely. Then I use a Clear Vinyl paint by CS Coatings called "Clear Vinyl". I dip the complete jig head up to the hook in the bottle of clear paint. I then dab off the extra "paint" and set the jig head on a rack facing down and let them dry for 12 to 16 hours. After the clear vinyl is dry you can just about bounce the jig head off of a rock and the eyes will stay intact. You have basically just put a clear coat on the jig head like the clear coat on a car's paint job.

I realize that this is a long and time consuming process but the jigs look fantastic after this is done to them.

Bingo! Been doing this for years whenever a stick-on eye was called for. Good refresher Bobo.

People also use Sally Hansen Hard as Nails Polish instead of the clear vinyl. Don't know which is better as I have used neither.

Question::: Do you put the clear on if you just use vinyl painted eye's on or is just when you glue them on? What other paint can be use for eye beside vinyl paint? Can nail polish work?

You can do the total clear coat when the primary paint is the vinyl type, no problem. Dr.Nip mentions a nail care product that will work great to if all you want to coat is the eye socket. Any clear nail polish will work for that.

Originally Posted by Gindog

Question::: Do you put the clear on if you just use vinyl painted eye's on or is just when you glue them on? What other paint can be use for eye beside vinyl paint? Can nail polish work?

If you want to go totally Old School, my father when I was young, use to use Testors Model Paint on his jigs. I have also used some for eyes in the past couple of years. The major down fall to model paint in my opinion is that it takes a freaking lifetime to dry it seems. Then again, the directions I gave for the 3D eyes probably takes longer due to letting the vinyl dry (16-24 hours).

As far as Sally Hanson goes, I have never used it myself, I have heard thought that it will melt your plastics. I think it was the Sally Hanson that had this affect on the plastics. Like I said, I have never used it.


Bobo

Finally busted out my bat jig mold last night and poured some. Didn't realize how hard it would be to place the wire keeper in the mold! Need some more practice. I love the design of this jig head. Been fishing nothing but weedless and might have to modify this mold too. Will try it out 1st before doing this. Can't wait to try it out.

Originally Posted by DrNip

Finally busted out my bat jig mold last night and poured some. Didn't realize how hard it would be to place the wire keeper in the mold! Need some more practice. I love the design of this jig head. Been fishing nothing but weedless and might have to modify this mold too. Will try it out 1st before doing this. Can't wait to try it out.

The wire guard does several things!! keeps from hanging brush,lines up the hook to get a good hook set in the fish's mouth,what we like is if stiff enough wire but limber enough the bait deflects of off brush, rocks gives and injured bait reaction!! For a reaction bite when fish are not feeding!!! We learned this from fishing for hybrid stripers!!If you swam the bait straight through the brush hitting no limbs no bite if bait deflected off of a limb they hybrid striper would attach the bait!!!