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| Looking into getting a tool for wire forming that will handle up to .051 wire. Looking at the Bogg's tacklemaker and the Hagen's wire former. Anyone have any recommendations as to which model is best or where I can find one? I want it to make some inline spinners, I've been using round nose pliers, but I saw a guy using one this weekend at the show and now I want one. Thanks. |
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Posts: 279
| I would say a pair of round nose pliers.
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Posts: 1348
Location: Pewaukee, WI | If you intend to make a lot of them (100s) then get a wire forming tool. If your intent is to make up some for yourself and friends then get a knipex round nose pliers and apply the money you'd spend on a wire former to up-grade your tackle.  |
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Posts: 20212
Location: oswego, il | I have a boggs and like it alot. made alot of baits with it. I also have a pair of round nose pliers. The only reason to get a wire former is if you have a straight piece of pre-cut wire that is short enough where you need to save wire length on bending the first loop. If you make a double ten with a 12" wire, it is nice but not totally necessary to make you first loop with the wire former. Then use the round pliers to make the last loop. It takes more wire to make a loop with the round nose pliers. |
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Posts: 38
Location: Iowa City, Iowa | Duluth Trading Co. has an inexpensive wire forming tool worth considering, if one does not want to spend bubba bucks. |
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Posts: 35
Location: Apple Valley, MN | The best wire former is probably a Haggens and will cost you over $150 to get setup for .051. Boggs is a great tool as well, but has some length limitations and you need different components for each size wire. Best thing you can do is invest in a good pair of Knipex round nosed pliers and buy your wire pre-looped from one of many tackle suppliers (Stamina, Moors, Janns, etc).
I use pre-looped wire on all my stuff and just build it backwards so the nice loop is in front, and my "not nearly as perfect" loop is hidden under the skirt. |
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Posts: 665
Location: Twin Cities, MN | If doing some for just yourself, I agree, this is the best one out there, mine have been great.
Knipex round nose pliers
Pal |
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Posts: 203
Location: Germantown, WI | I just make a few bucktails for myself and a couple of family members. I agree that spending a lot of money on a Boggs or Hagens seems too much to spend for just a few bucktails. Round Nose Pliers are good. I also use a wire bending jig just like the one mentioned in the post about Duluth Trading Co. I bought mine somewhere else, but it looks the same as the one at Duluth Trading. I use the wire bending jig, some round nose pliers, and a pair of vise-grips to make the loops on my bucktails. If you want a more professional look you could buy the wire that is pre-looped on one end and build backwards, but most of the loops I make are pretty good so I don't bother buying pre-looped wire. |
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| Yeah, I probably won't make that many, so the numbers probably don't add up. The round nose pliers I'm using are just junky ones, but they work o.k. I'll check into the Knipex. That Tacklemaker sure was cool, though. Thanks for the help guys. |
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Posts: 2258
Location: SE, WI. | A VISE, A NAIL BENT AT A 45 DEGREE ANGLE HALF INCH FROM TIP, AND 2 SMALL VISE GRIPS. PRETTY SIMPLE. |
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Posts: 335
Location: Minnesota | I use a chunk of 2x4 with 2 drywall screws drilled into it with only enough width between them for my .051 wire, and the heads of the screws are cut off. I place the wire between the screws and bend to form my loop, finish with a vise grip and a pliers, sometimes by hand if the tag is long enough. I make up to about 50 or so a season and can't justify spending much money on a wire bender when I am doing this partly to save money in the first place. |
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| I bought a Hagen's and had nothing but trouble from day I received it!
The thing wouldn't stay in alignment. I was very disappointed to say the least.
I finally threw it in the corner of my work bench and that's where it stayed.
I finally had a good neighbor friend of mine who's pushing 80 years of age and a retired machinist build me one. I can form .051 and .063 bucktail wires without changing anything he did an excellent job.
The cost to me was some bucktail wires for him to try forming to my liking and the cost of materials to build it. Friends like that are really hard to find.
I told him if he ever wants to go fishing when I'm loading my boat up he can grab one of his poles and jump in the truck with me I'll buy our lunch, the refreshments, and he can use of any of my lures, I owe him that much.
I think I'm going to have a another new fishing partner!
God Bless Him
Scott M.
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Posts: 113
Location: Northwest Wisconsin | Scott M. could you post a pic of the one your using? I'm working at a machine shop and would like to get an idea of what I need to make up one of my own. |
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Posts: 469
Location: MN | I have both Hagen's and Boggs.
Both are good tools as well as my round nose Knipex pliers. 
I use Boggs for smaller Mepp's like bucktails and it works great.
I modified Hagen's to accept 0.62 and it works fine (can't say great). It took some time and wire to get use to it. I only use it when I need something non-standard now. |
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Posts: 1405
Location: Detroit River | I have a Hagen's that I've been using for 2 years & it works great, no problems.
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Posts: 537
Location: Gilberts IL/Rhinelander WI | Round nose pliers and a couple pair of vice grips. I can bend the first loop close enough to only cut off about a quarter inch without a problem. Never used the "wire benders" ,but see no reason to. Over a hundred bucks is a lot of supplies. |
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| I have been using the Hagen's for over ten years now, i even have two on my workbench for quite some time now. One for up to 0.040 and one for 0.050.
Been making bucktails and leaders professionally on them all this time and are very happy with them. |
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| I have been using the Hagen's for over ten years now, i even have two on my workbench for quite some time now. One for up to 0.040 and one for 0.050.
Been making bucktails and leaders professionally on them all this time and are very happy with them. |
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Best wire forming tool