Eyelets cleaned out or not

[Fatman]

Ok this question actually came from my wife. She asked me why I spent time cleaning out the eyes on my jigs when she see's pics with some where just a needle has been heated and pushed through.

So!!!! As hard as powder paint gets when we cure it, do you think the eyelets with powder in them contribute to broken off jigs???? because the lines rubbing on the paint edge??

What say gang!!!

 

[redear]

I think it would contribute to broken off jigs, if there was a rough edge there.

 

[Radtexan]

Its what makes a hand crafted jig compared to mass produced..

 

[smalljaw]

I experimented with exactly what you're talking about! I cured a bunch of jigs in a hurry and when I pulled them out I realized I forgot to make sure the eyes were cleaned out so I seperated the ones with no problems and left the ones with blocked eyes on the rack for me to clear. Well I cleared them out but it wasn't easy and then it dawned ou me how rough did I make the line tie so I got some 8# like and tied it in one of the jigs and pulled and pulled again and it seemed ok until I pulled from an angle and then it felt strange almost like the knot gave and on the next pull it broke. That was the only time I tried it and once was enough for me, I stripped the paint off the jigs by putting them in a bowl of paint stripper overnight and then after a good washing and a drying period I remelted all of them and repoured. I also used a jig eye buster to make a small indent in the paint so I could place a finishing nail in it the spot without it slippin and then I drove the nail into the eye and moved it around to ream the hold out, I didn't want to use a drill bit because I didn't want to make the hook eye rough and have it end up with burrs but it turned out the broken paint was hard and sharp enough to cause line damage.

 

[Fatman]

Thanks for the comments guys!! I've wanted to post that question before and only when the wife asked did I post it right away so I wouldn't forget.

 

[toadfrog]

If you don't clean the eyes people will think it is a second rate lure . Paint will abraid the line.

 

[Charlie2]

If you don't clean the eyes people will think it is a second rate lure . Paint will abraid the line.

I clean my eyes after I cure them (powder paint), using a pair of split ring pliers. The sharp point will penetrate the paint. Squeeze them and move the jig around. All of the paint will come right off. C2

 

[quivira kid]

I just like to clean them as soon as possible because it seems way easier that way, and I HATE cleaning out eyes while I am fishing. Can't be wasting time when the fish are biting!

 

[papaperch]

Easiest way to clean out eyes for me is to use a heat gun and metal shaft apprx size of hook eye. Holding metal shaft with needlenose pliers. When metal is hot stick through powder painted eye. That and since I took to spray painting with PP it really becomes easier to avoid clogging the eye in the first place.

I heartily concur with others that a clogged eye just detracts from the appearance of a fine looking jig.

 

[SaltyBuckster]

I clean every eye before curing.Even using a eye buster or slip ring pliars will put little nicks in the hook eye.Saltwater fishing,that is a big deal.

 

[Fatman]

Thanks for the comments

 

[hookup]

Depends.

On some hooks, the eye's big and doesn't need cleaning imho.

Or others, I hold the eye w/ hemostats while powder painting, then afterwards, clean them before curing in an oven. I found it's easier to clean powder paint before its cured.