Author Topic: Cleaning tiny Tungsten eyes?  (Read 14830 times)

Offline pete/ny

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Cleaning tiny Tungsten eyes?
« on: Nov 21, 2019, 04:03 PM »
I just got somw-e tungsten jigs and all the eyes are completely closed shut with paint or epoxy.I won't mention the name but rest assured I will not buy these again.So now that I got them what is the easiest way to clean these eyes out? Thanks in advance.

Offline meandcuznalfy

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Re: Cleaning tiny Tungsten eyes?
« Reply #1 on: Nov 21, 2019, 04:12 PM »
Jig eye buster tool works great for doing them.

Offline wallydiven

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Re: Cleaning tiny Tungsten eyes?
« Reply #2 on: Nov 21, 2019, 04:21 PM »
I use a candle and a sewing needle.

Offline Iceassin

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Re: Cleaning tiny Tungsten eyes?
« Reply #3 on: Nov 21, 2019, 05:25 PM »
I use a candle and a sewing needle.

Good idea 
"Si quaeris peninsulam amoenam circumspice."
 


Offline maddogg

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Re: Cleaning tiny Tungsten eyes?
« Reply #4 on: Nov 21, 2019, 06:49 PM »
I use a dental pick.

Offline Sylvanboat

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Re: Cleaning tiny Tungsten eyes?
« Reply #5 on: Nov 21, 2019, 07:10 PM »
The "regular" eye buster I use for open water fishing is too big for my small ice jigs. Cabellas apparently has one for ice jigs but I just use the hook on one of my larger jigs to clear my ice jigs. Likely ruins the larger jig but does the job.

Offline meandcuznalfy

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Re: Cleaning tiny Tungsten eyes?
« Reply #6 on: Nov 21, 2019, 08:40 PM »
I believe my eye buster is a eagle claw and works great on small jigs.

Offline pete/ny

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Re: Cleaning tiny Tungsten eyes?
« Reply #7 on: Nov 21, 2019, 09:19 PM »
Thanks everyone for the tips.One of them should work.

Offline kasilofchrisn

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Re: Cleaning tiny Tungsten eyes?
« Reply #8 on: Nov 22, 2019, 07:48 AM »
I heat up a needle or a paperclip and push it through.
Like you I don't buy jigs with paint in the eye anymore. But I suppose when ordering online you never know what your gonna get.
KasilofChrisN
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Offline Baetis62

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Re: Cleaning tiny Tungsten eyes?
« Reply #9 on: Nov 22, 2019, 07:56 AM »
Heat up a bodkin from my fly tying desk. I try and inspect my jigs when I get them so I can address this before they go into my jig boxes.

Offline Iceassin

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Re: Cleaning tiny Tungsten eyes?
« Reply #10 on: Nov 24, 2019, 06:21 AM »
I also use nail clippers. Pinch them around the base of the eye and give a few spins. Then I take a safety pin and poke it through the hole. Usually the paint comes off but takes a little "picking" once in a while.
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Offline Ice_Fly_Guy

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Re: Cleaning tiny Tungsten eyes?
« Reply #11 on: Dec 04, 2019, 04:07 PM »
When I have gotten jigs with painted eyes, I've sent them back.  There's no excuse why they should ever send them out that way.

Offline DR.SPECKLER

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Re: Cleaning tiny Tungsten eyes?
« Reply #12 on: Dec 04, 2019, 04:15 PM »
I dont buy jigs with paint in the eyes either.i make and sell my own steelhead jigs and make sure all eyes are clear of the powder paint.

Offline quickco

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Re: Cleaning tiny Tungsten eyes?
« Reply #13 on: Dec 31, 2019, 01:09 AM »
After breaking off with nail clippers I have  had the rest of the paint break off of tungsten jigs piece by piece.

Offline Kevin23

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Re: Cleaning tiny Tungsten eyes?
« Reply #14 on: Jan 01, 2020, 04:36 PM »
If they are epoxy painted or powder coated, good luck. Paint has to be taken out of the eyes before you cure them or it will all chip at once.

If they are acrylic paint, I use an exacto knife to clean the eyes after painting and clear coating. It's a pain in the butt but it works. Kind of slice off both sides of the eye, then poke the tip though the eye to get the middle out.
EYECONICFISHING

Offline Gills-only

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Re: Cleaning tiny Tungsten eyes?
« Reply #15 on: Jan 01, 2020, 05:33 PM »
I also won’t buy them no matter what the price with paint in the “eye”!!

Offline Luckydog

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Re: Cleaning tiny Tungsten eyes?
« Reply #16 on: Jan 06, 2020, 12:50 PM »
If I find paint in the eye of an ice jig I pick it out with the hook of a large jig that I no longer use.

Offline eyeflyer

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Re: Cleaning tiny Tungsten eyes?
« Reply #17 on: Jan 11, 2020, 03:15 PM »
I just got some from Big Sky Jigs and Flies. Eyes full of paint and 3 of the eyes broke while trying to clean them.......never again. Terrible quality control.


Offline BURNSEY

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Re: Cleaning tiny Tungsten eyes?
« Reply #18 on: Jan 12, 2020, 09:39 AM »
Dental pick

Offline kpd145

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Re: Cleaning tiny Tungsten eyes?
« Reply #19 on: Jan 16, 2020, 09:54 AM »
I use an old salt hook.

Put hook point through eye and spin the jig and hook opposite directions. Usually gets out all the paint

No need for fancy stuff.
"Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out and loudly proclaiming, "Wow! What a RIDE!"--Hunter S. Thompson

Offline Kevin23

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Re: Cleaning tiny Tungsten eyes?
« Reply #20 on: Jan 16, 2020, 02:24 PM »
I use an old salt hook.

Put hook point through eye and spin the jig and hook opposite directions. Usually gets out all the paint

No need for fancy stuff.

A saltwater hook in a tiny tungsten jig eye?  :o
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Offline kpd145

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Re: Cleaning tiny Tungsten eyes?
« Reply #21 on: Jan 22, 2020, 08:52 AM »
A saltwater hook in a tiny tungsten jig eye?  :o

Yup. I just use the tip of the bigger salt hook to clean out the eyelet.

I dont see the need to buy a specific tool to clean out jig eyes.

Its pointy, fits in the eyelet, cleans it out pretty well.

Ive never had an issue using it
"Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out and loudly proclaiming, "Wow! What a RIDE!"--Hunter S. Thompson

Offline Coachkwj

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Re: Cleaning tiny Tungsten eyes?
« Reply #22 on: Feb 07, 2020, 12:02 PM »
I just use an old worm hook or whatever. Always some hooks laying around. Take a look at Acme Professional Grade jigs. Great colors, no paint in the eyes and good price for pack of 2.
Don't fall in. Unless it's a big one.

Offline kasilofchrisn

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Re: Cleaning tiny Tungsten eyes?
« Reply #23 on: Feb 07, 2020, 09:33 PM »
Yup. I just use the tip of the bigger salt hook to clean out the eyelet.

I dont see the need to buy a specific tool to clean out jig eyes.

Its pointy, fits in the eyelet, cleans it out pretty well.

Ive never had an issue using it
I tried this last month while making some jigs.
And I was honestly surprised at how poorly the saltwater hook worked.
I believe it was a 6/0 or 8/0 Eagle Claw hook.
Switched to a 4/o or 5/0 freshwater hook and it was much better.
This was removing uncured paint before going into the oven to cure.
The Eagle Claw saltwater hook had less taper to the point than the Eagle Claw freshwater hook.
Granted the way I powder paint these there's seldom one that needs cleaning but the 1/48. Oz and similar sizes do occasionally get some paint in there as they're just so small and harder to work with.
But if the saltwater hook works for you then keep using it.
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Offline icedude999

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Re: Cleaning tiny Tungsten eyes?
« Reply #24 on: Mar 15, 2020, 10:54 AM »
I use a hook to break it out.

Offline ran7ger

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Re: Cleaning tiny Tungsten eyes?
« Reply #25 on: Mar 15, 2020, 03:59 PM »
I just got some from Big Sky Jigs and Flies. Eyes full of paint and 3 of the eyes opened while trying to clean them.......never again. Terrible quality control.

 that's disappointing.  i've ordered from them 3 times and been very impressed with quality and value.

Offline hnd

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Re: Cleaning tiny Tungsten eyes?
« Reply #26 on: Sep 21, 2020, 11:34 AM »
I have a small jig head i use for cleaning them out.  But i'm now to apoint where i'll gladly pay and extra buck a jig to get it with a clean eye. 

Offline bassandgills1

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Re: Cleaning tiny Tungsten eyes?
« Reply #27 on: Jan 27, 2021, 02:49 PM »
like someone below I use an old set of nail clippers and an old hook. I try to do all mine before I get on the ice, nothing worse then loosing  a hot jig to a pickerel and wasting time trying to get a new one tied on.

Offline ice dawg

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Re: Cleaning tiny Tungsten eyes?
« Reply #28 on: Jan 27, 2021, 03:07 PM »
I usually use an old pocket knife and a small stiff wire or paper clip on them before they go in a jig box. I also try to buy them without paint in the eye.
It seems to go from zero to hero all some have to do is lie.

Offline dkfry

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Re: Cleaning tiny Tungsten eyes?
« Reply #29 on: Feb 01, 2021, 04:34 PM »
I usually cut the paint off of each side with a small Tajima box cutter knife with the snap off blades I have and then use a hook or needle to clear the center of the eye. I found some paint to be brittle and can chip off easily, especially epoxy if I just jam something through the eye without cutting first.

 



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