Yet another mold question

Like most folks I have more molds than I really need. I have one bouncing around in my head for some time now, and want to give it some air. Like a lot of people I like to fish with a horsehead jig, but I lose them at record speed in the trees. Result is that I don't use em near as much as I would. I'm wondering how a horse head mold would adapt to a bristle type brush guard? I don't know much about doing mods to molds to accept these, and I know somebody out there can give me some input. Tell me what you think.

Your onto to something there! If you can get it accomplished post up some instructions for the mold mod. I really would fish them a lot more if it had a bristle guard!

Skeet

Something like this

http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/c...s/100_4357.jpg

I used a small drill bit and then glued the leader wire into the hole. Nightprowler moded a ball head mold so it would accept leader wire and he send me some and they powder painted without melting. He could tell you best how to do it this way but it may work the same for a fiber guard.

That works Fatman! That would stop a lot of loss pony heads.

Is it the shape of the head or the spinner that makes you like them so much? The reason I ask is you could just make up a swivel with a split ring and blade on it. Then slide it up between the head and the plastic on a regular weedless jig also. Let me know if you want me to take a picture of what I am talking about.


Bobo

I follow you Bobo. Didn't think about that. I usually run a rod or two when I spider with a good sized RR with a minnow. I've found they produce with or without the minnow. In the winter I deep jig in trees in 50fow. The extra flash would help but you don't get to see them very often working them in standing timber. The brush guard heads that Grousefly fixed me up with work great and I was only broken off twice yesterday instead of twice every 15 minutes. It was a natural progression to add the guard to a very popular head. I could do it if I had access to a milling machine but I don't. I would, of course, have to do two. One with a holder or barb for plastics and another to tie. I think it would get a lot of traction.

Pbug had a screw loc mold made for 1/16 and 1/8 heads made that worked better than planned. Screwing the plastic onto the head held them so well that they had to be physically removed because it had been chewed so much it looked white instead of the intended color. In certain circles it also got a lot of traction. Being a custom mold it was kinda pricey, and with the screw locs having to be added they weren't cheap, but they do the job the best of any so far. This is another idea like that. A narrow market but an excellent product.

Thanks for the input, I may get it done yet.

Fatman, exactly what leader wire are you using?
Bobo good idea hadn't thought about that!!

https://scontent-b-ord.xx.fbcdn.net/...90&oe=54D192D5These ponyheads are from a mold I modified years ago with a small file to accept the small Do-it 1/16" dia. fiberguard. Not hard to do. Just take your time and remove a little metal at a time. These are 1/8 oz x #2 EC 570's. I usually remove some of the bristles to get get the right amount of flexability to come through the cover but still soft enough to get good hook ups. They have worked very well for me. Hope this helps.

If you're going to use bristles, I would either trim them shorter or bend them where they lay flatter over the point to the hook. Still weedless but makes for easier hook ups.

I like Y guards better to prevent hanging up. I always bend the ends over the point (like above) to help with hook ups. If I didn't, I believe a few crappie would knock it out of their mouth when taking it.

I've considered drilling a hole and adding a YG-4 guard after powder coating them but read where you have to be real careful doing this and using a face mask to prevent ingesting fine lead particles. It said this can be much more dangerous than the normal way we handle lead.

You might have someone who makes weedless jigs with a Y guard or bristle put them in a little shallower than normal and pull them out after they are made. This leaves a small hole which allows you to powder coat them and/or go ahead and epoxy the Y guard/bristle back in place. This should definitely do the trick.

Would be good to see what works for you, might want to give it a try myself.

I've got a 1/16 collarless horsehead mold i modified to take wires i don't have a pic handy but i have some barbed collar wireguards on my site Wire Guard Round Head Staggered Barb Jigs at Simply Crappie that will give yo the idea.Holler if you like em big fella and i'll hook you up.

I have never tried a wire guard, and I like your idea Doug. I can probably do a few of those to see how I like em. Z520Tom, those are exactly what I had in mind. I've done some low end mods with milling bits and a drill press but I'm kinda OCD and can't do something that I know will be second rate. That's why I haven't tried it. Yet. My OCD also wont let it pass til I try, no matter the outcome. One day I'll pull the trigger on something. And Bugman, I get low on what I have I'll give some of yours a shot. Thanks everyone.

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Originally Posted by Redge

Bobo good idea hadn't thought about that!!

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Let me know and I will make you up a few.


Bobo

I went to the boat and dug through some of the boxes and didn't find what I was looking for. I've had this spinner in the floor of the boat for months and I couldn't throw it away cuz I knew I would find a use for it as soon as I did. Today was that day.This is one of the 1/4 oz that I got recently from Grousefly and Bobo's idea will get a workout. Just a couple of pics to show it off. Thanks again for all the input.

Thanks I'm going to put that idea to work next weekend!!

Here's my weedless pony heads.

http://i1187.photobucket.com/albums/...ps0448a8f2.jpg

The wire I used is just leader wire with a plastic coating, used for making pike leaders.
American Fishing Wire Coated Leader Wire, Bulk 300 foot spool

Nightprowler had asked me about different wire and then told me what he was trying to do and I suggested the leader wire and he moded a ball head mold to start and sent me some, I powder painted them and cured them in the oven and they worked fine. He used the black colored leader wire - I wanted some horseheads and bkabina had tried using a small hand drill and he sent me one.

I used it and the same small drill bit on a dremel would work better, it DOES NOT create dust. Just pieces like flash which I save and put in my pot when I melt again.

For me I hate the idea of moding a mold but I'm gonna have to break down sooner or later and do it, if I get tired of the work arounds.

Thanks for the input!!

Attachment 180645Attachment 180646Attachment 180647 This is what we use!! The wacky wires.No mold mod!! Works good in our pony head molds also!!

How are you getting the wires? molded in without modeing the mold??

Boy, looking at you guys I'm just getting up to speed. You all do good work.

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Originally Posted by Fatman

How are you getting the wires? molded in without modeing the mold??

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The wires are .012 dia has a hook that goes over the hook in the mold and will lay right in the mold!!no mod!!!

Attachment 180670Attachment 180671Attachment 180672Attachment 180673 pony heads with wire keepers and wire guards. and 1/24 oz with spinners and blades.

Attachment 180674Attachment 180670Attachment 180675 pony heads with wire guards!!

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Originally Posted by jackie53

The wires are .012 dia has a hook that goes over the hook in the mold and will lay right in the mold!!no mod!!!

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Attachment 180676Attachment 180677Attachment 180678Attachment 180679Attachment 180680 The eagle claw gold hooks in #4(1/8 oz) & #2(3/16 oz) works best for in our molds!!with the wire guards. showing the 1/8 oz and 3/16 but will work in any size!!

another words squeeze tight so they don't fall out!!!!LOL Is the wire just stainless steel? and where are you getting yours??

Thanks!!

Wire Weedguard

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Originally Posted by Fatman

another words squeeze tight so they don't fall out!!!!LOL Is the wire just stainless steel? and where are you getting yours??

Thanks!!

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Yes!!!! Barlows tackle!! Maybe a cheaper place but fast and good service!! Also buy the smallest stainless steel roll of wire and make my own stock number (430230) 30 ft .011 dia 27 lb test.(430231) 30 ft .012 32 lb test!!

Have had my molds a while and have poured several through them makes a grove in mold so wire fits pretty good!!! Not a Pro but what works for me:twocents

Thanks for the info Jackie!!! Like the ballhead with the swivel in it. Have some chub heads with it, I'd have someone else do that kind of mod for me so I didn't really screw it up!! found this place earlier 1 lb. spool, but I don't think I'd be making that many!
http://www.highlandmetals.com/stainl...-1lbspool.aspx

Very well done Jackie! I love a good mold mod.