Tail loop wrapping jig - for MeanStreak

[Hilo_Kawika]

As noted in several threads, there are many ways to wrap a tail loop. Being frustrated with the one or two that I knew of, I came up with this jig. I'm sure the jig can be improved upon, but it's both simple and inexpensive and seems to work. The jig is somewhat based on an available wire eye making tool.

Here's an overview shot:


Two wooden blocks containing the separate portions of the jig are clamped to a 1x3 on the workbench front edge.



The second picture shows the metal parts of the left hand portion of the jig. A ~3" long 1/4" eye bolt has 1/4 of its eye hack-sawed off and the end rounded. A small, flanged bearing with 1/4" i.d. is held in place by two nuts. The wooden block has a 5/8" hole drilled a little less than 1/2" into it to fit the inner nut and the smaller diameter portion of the bearing. The hole is centered from left to right and 1" up from the base of the block. The hole is continued as 1/4" through the other side.



The bolt is then inserted in the 1/4" hole side, a nut put on, then the bearing and finally the lock nut. At this point, the eye bolt can rotate freely but is prevented from going through by the bearing flange.

The right hand portion of the jig consists of a 6-8" eye bolt that has been heated and bent to form a rotating handle. The nut should be put on and tightened to the end of the thread before bending. The wooden block has a 1/4" hole drilled in the center from left to right and 1" up from the base of the block. A slot is cut from the top of the block to the hole, the eye bolt inserted and a filler piece put in to close the slot.



A piece of hard rubber tubing on the end of the thread makes it easier to turn. A fender washer keeps the nut on the eye bolt from grinding away at the wooden block.



This shows that this eye bolt also has 1/4 of the eye hack-sawed off and the end rounded.

[Hilo_Kawika]

The through wire is bent into a loop in the usual way for the front loop making sure that the loop diameter is large enough for the eye bolt.

The wire is put through and the rear eye loop also begun in the usual way. The rear eye is then put on the right hand eye bolt eye. The left hand clamp is loosened, the front eye put on the left hand eye bolt and the block stretched to the left and the clamp re-tightened.

[IMG][/IMG]

Your right hand now slowly turns the crank clockwise while the left hand guides the wire to make tight wraps.

[IMG][/IMG]

The plug will turn during this process; do not try to make the plug stand still - this is the whole point of the bearing - to let the wire and plug rotate while you are guiding the wrapping of the wire.

When you reach the plug end face, you may push the plug a little more to the left if there is enough room, otherwise let the wire wrap over the inner wrap to the point where you feel it is enough.

[IMG][/IMG]

Cut the wire and finish in the usual manner. Constructive criticism welcomed...

[ProfessorM]

Aloha, and that is a good idea but to be honest with you I don't mind doing them by hand. After you do enough they pretty much become second nature. That being said it is a good idea though. P.

[fishaholic18]

Great idea...

[teezer]

Great Job!

[Charleston]

Pretty cool idea.
How do you get the hook through the nose loop when there is a lip in the way?

[Hilo_Kawika]

Thanks all for the kind words.

Charleston, the lip doesn't seem to get in the way because of the portion of the eye having been cut away.

Were it to still be a problem, you could down-size the eye bolt to say 1/8" thread size and/or cut a little more off the 1/4" eye. The smaller size eye bolt would still be sufficiently strong but you'd either need a little collar on it so that it wouldn't wobble inside the bearing or find a smaller i.d. bearing to fit the smaller shaft.

[The Dad Fisherman]

That rocks........great idea

[Raven]

Clever and do-able
an awesome presentation BTW

criticism ....
seems like the wraping of the tail was
a bit long... with the desired look
of having the rear O closer to the lure body.

(not sure about the pro's and con's of closer/shorter or longer)

other than that... a real nice system or JIG

[Woodbuster]

Good thinking Dave

[massmike]

Great post --- thanks for the info--- great pics

[tattoobob]

Great Idea, thanx for sharing