Advice needed - Tying

[Kdog]

OK, I am in the jig swap and normally only tie 1 or 2 jigs and am not usually concerned with making duplicates. This time however I gotta make a bunch that are pretty much the same or as close as I can.

I do not do a lot of tying but that is probably going to change as I am trying to move away from live bait for both crappie and walleye.

So my question is, Is it best to break down the tye into various steps and complete each step then go to the next step. Or should you do the entire tie all at once.

For example (Steps 1-3 are about all I normally do and I cast 100 or so, Powder coat and cure, install eyes, clear coat I do each step as a lot)
Step 1 cast jig
step 2 PC jig
Step 3 Install Eyes
Since I am adding materials,
Step 4, wrap hook and add Maribo tail
Step 5, Add tail feathers
Step 6, Add body wrap
Step 7, Clear coat head and collar wrap.

Or should I clamp my jig and go start to finish

I hope this makes sense. I want to have all the jigs as close as possible to being the same so in my mind breaking it down into individual steps will enable me to be consistent.

Please Advise, Thanks in advance.

 

[Radtexan]

I'll paint all my heads at once,tie them all,add eyes and clear coat each jig last,are my steps..Your mileage may vary

 

[eyecrosser]

Agree with RT on this. Paint and add eyes, clear coat, then tie your jigs, clear line eye on jig if paint is in it.

 

[smalljaw]

The best way to do it is like you are, pour, paint, cure and then add eyes and clear coat. I use epoxy clear coat so it takes a full day to dry so I put my eyes on and epoxy and the next day I tie. When you tie you just finish each jig, 1 at a time, if you use like sally hansens as a clear to lock your eyes on then you can put the eyes and coat them whenever you want but if you take a day to pour, paint and then prep (install eyes and clear coat) then you should be able to just keep tying when you get to the bench.

 

[Jay Wirth]

Once you have all your heads painted and ready sit and tie them one at a time

 

[Radtexan]

I might not have been clear,and may be different,but the eyes are the last thing I do.

And I dont always tie them in one sitting.

 

[StumpHunter]

I do the same as Radtexan does. Paint, cure - put it in the vise and tie, then place eyes and clear coat with Sally Henson. Can turn out 15 to 20 an hour when I'm on a roll.

 

[ridgeliner]

First I complete all the heads. Next I complete each jig. The big thing for me is having the materials I will be using nearby and ready to use before I start. Always tie a few extra ones - you will have some that didn't come out like you wished. Those are the ones you use yourself. It usually takes a couple sittings to get them done.

 

[AndyLane]

Its only my Two cents worth but here's a Nickel. Like everyone else has said I get all the heads painted up and cured. I have a rack with a dozen clips on it. I like to put a head in each clip then go right down the line and dot the eyes with paint or stick on the 3d ones then clearcoat them. For me to make consistent looking ties I like to do some prep work before I start tying. i lay out every material that I'm going to use. Lets say I'm wanting to tie a dozen basic Hackle tail jigs with chenille bodies. I precut several V's of hackle all the same size. When I tie the first one I count how many of the V's it took to get the tail how I wanted it. I usually will use one strand of flash off the hank for each jig. Fold it in half--cut--fold again--cut...ect. tie it in the middle on one side flip it over to other side and tie it in again. Then When I tie in the chenille on that first jig I count the wraps I did for the body. After the first one is tied I know how much material I used and how I tied it in so I can make the next one just like it...and the next...and the next... Thats the only way I can keep my easily distracted (Oooh Look Sumfin Shiny) Brain focused and be consistant is going step by detailed step.

 

[Jig Man]

You can also run down to Academy and buy um....

 

[StumpHunter]

You can also run down to Academy and buy um....

:icon14: sure is cheaper!!!:icon14::icon14:

 

[Bucho]

Since I coat my heads with sally hansens, I make one or two hundred and coat them all together with a respirator under a suction fan. Dont´t like the fumes of a dozen wet heads around me. I usually prepare a few hundred heads incl. coated eyes and tie the jigs to demand. Works for me.
Tying I find best be done in lots of a dozen or so. Nr. 8-10 usually looks far better and more uniform than nr. 1 to 4. If you are just getting started you might consider test runs on unpainted or spoiled heads. The bigger the lot, the more you practice, the better and more uniform they look.

 

[papaperch]

Kdog- don't be overly concerned about exact duplication. Tie to the best of your ability and let it go. Remember these swaps are supposed to be primarily FUN. Rookie tyers have given me lots of ideas as well as some of our more accomplished tyers.

As you will see swaps will speed up the learning curve. Most importantly everyone on here is willing to help.

Duplication will most factor in when one of your jigs or a swap jig just creams them one day. As all of us know if you only have one you are almost guaranteed to lose it.