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| Can you share any quick and easy tips or methods you use to find the center point/line in baits belly to install the hook hangers. I want to make sure they are all aligned and centered. I think the easiest way will be to make a jig if you are making the same bait over and over, but I am not so I am looking for some advice.
Thanks Jeff
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Posts: 501
Location: S.Wisconsin | I use a height gauge to scribe a shallow line when the sides are still flat. I would guess you could just use a tape measurer and your eyeballs and it should be close enough. This is just what has worked for me |
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Posts: 216
Location: Middletown, Ohio | If I'm making a bait that's say 3/4", I cut a small square of wood that's 3/8" (half of 3/4), then I lay the bait blank on a flat surface along with the small wood square, then I put the point of a pencil on the corner of the small square of wood and slide the contour of the bait along the pencil lead and then I flip the blank over and do the same thing........this way if your measurement wasn't correct, you'll have 2 lines and you can just center the pilot hole between the 2 lines.
Mark |
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| Thanks for your suggestions; this is exactly what I was looking for. I routed the wood already so it wasn’t exactly square. I measured the bottom of the bait to find the center. I then put Fractional Caliper tool on the bait and made a mark on the tool where it lined up with the mark on the center of the bait. I used this as my guide to mark the other spots where the hook hangers needed to be placed, almost like using the height gauge suggestion. I will try the cutting the small square of wood idea too.
Jeff
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Posts: 4266
| Get a center dowel jig. It finds the dead center of everything. They are cheap and you can drill through them or fit a pencil in the smallest hole. There's another tool called a Center It. It just a piece of wood with a peg on each end and a hole in the middle. You set one peg on the left side and one one the right and apply pressure like opening a door knob and the hole sits right in the center of various widths of wood. Check them both out. The Center Dowel jig is a wood lure makers best friend.
Edited by Beaver 1/30/2012 3:18 PM
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Posts: 77
| Thanks Beaver! I will be picking up a Center Dowel Jig ASAP!
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Posts: 360
| I don't have trouble finding center but keeping my drill bit center the whole way through the piece of wood is another story. Anything to help this? |
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Posts: 496
| Landonfish, I dont do many baits but what I do is hold my screw eye up to the bit as I tighten the bit down"same lenght" so the bit only goes as deep as the screw eye . Hope this helps . |
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Posts: 116
| Landonfish - 1/31/2012 10:44 AM
I don't have trouble finding center but keeping my drill bit center the whole way through the piece of wood is another story. Anything to help this?
I was wondering this myself, as I have a few failed attempts. I could rig something up if I had a drill press, but it is difficult to eyeball it with a hand drill and end up center of tail to center of nose. I would be really interested if anybody has a tip on this for thru wire applications. |
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Posts: 360
| Ive seen a few videos on here of drilling the holes then cutting the wood where the holes end up. Mine still seem to find their way out the sides. |
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Posts: 496
| Ah , I answered the wrong thing ....Sorry , I have nothing for ya on that one |
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Posts: 4266
| Landon, with a center dowel jig you drill right through whole thing, clamp and all with lined holes. You can drill through 6" wood with fostner jigs, and I have the scars to prove it.
www.Eagle America.com for a catalog that has center dowel jigs and lots of other things that you'll find to your liking.
Beav |
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Posts: 360
| Thanks ill check it out |
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Center line