Kevin Van Dam Forums

I was wondering if any one was modify there do-it molds? The one that i would like to do is the football head jig to run a ewg hook is this hard to do or should i go to a machine shop and have it done

Well, do you have the correct tools? A drill press and a cutting bit, or a mill will get you the cleanest cut and reduce the flashing (excess lead that flows down the shank). BUT it can be done with a dremel tool if you dont mind flashing on the finished product. Some are good enough with the dremel to get it done perfectly, but it takes a steady hand and a lot of time.

Yes it can be done, and many people have done it.

I have a dremel tool and a drill press The molds i wana do is the FBB-3M-AFM hook is a 45 degree flat eye (38109bln ewg) and the FBB-4H-AFM hook is a 91768 28 degree ewg

Changing a 60deg to a 45 could be tricky, I wouldnt do it unless you dont mind the chance of screwing it up beyond repair.

It might be easier to find replacement hooks with the same bend and modify it that way, like the Gamakatsu 2014 EWG, and Eagle Claw L111BP for instance. They are heavy 60 deg EWG that would fit both molds with a little adjustments (maybe none).

Im pouring EWG in my 60 degree football heads. I just shortened the pin that creates the whole for the weed gaurd and tweeked the hook a little so it fits.

I just modified do it mold . football mold. made a stand up football mold with extra large flats. the flats are on a 30 degree angle so the football heads stand up on a 60 degree angle. even the 1/8th oz. stands up like a little trooper . will submit a picture to look at if any one is interested. i work in a tool shop. i have access to alot of high tech machines.  i used a sodick hole pop for the start holes.  the start holes had to be layed out closely. i used them to locate the 5 cavities that would be wired in to the mold to make the 5 flats on the top and 5 on the bottom. the 10 cavities were machined in using a W E D M machine . the holes and cavities were put in, with the mold together so every thing lined up perfectly. then i made the 10 aluminum inserts to fit the 10 cavities that were W E D Med on a 30 degree angle in the mold. i used a parker majestic precision grinder to grind the alumium inserts. i made them alite press fit. i pressed them in until they were perfectly flush with the working sides of the mold.  DO-IT-MOLD: FBB-6-SLA football jig W/SCREW-LOC. thats the mold i modified. i use mustad EWG flat eye jig hooks with a little modification. just made another mold from scratch. using a 3/0 khale hook. i also modified a inchi wacky mold.  the stand up football screw loc mold did’nt take too long to make .the holes took about 30 seconds per hole .some layout time was needed for the cavities . the cavities took about 3 hrs. for 5 cavities top and bottom, total 10. grinding the inserts took another 3 hrs. and a little time to press them in.

http://s1244.photobucket.com/albums/gg561/stonecat1/fishing/?action=view&current=DSCN0305.jpg

Yea shorten the pin with a grinder and use a dremel tool to hog out the hook slot. Just do it a little at a time test fitting the hook until it’s wide and deep enough…..good luck.

Ill be back to pouring later this month. For some reason all of my jigs disappear whenever my brother visits.

twitch - 09 January 2012 03:48 AM

Ill be back to pouring later this month. For some reason all of my jigs disappear whenever my brother visits.

Hhhhhmmmm….lol.

alot of the hook manufactures slashed there inventories in 2011 some of the jig hooks are no longer available. it makes it hard for guys like us who make and modify molds we have to keep changing things around to fit different hooks. mustad 38108 bln 3/0 no longer available also the4/0 and the 5/0 were canceled. eagle claw L111BP 3/0 and4/0 no longer available. I do think the mustads 38108 BLN 4/0 and 5/0 will be back on the shelves later this year.  when I mold my custom terminal tackle i like using heavy wire hooks . at least 1.0 mm or .059 dia. or bigger. grass fishing in the upper chesapeake bay the light wire hooks will torqe and bend on you, if you hook a big largemouth. I will mold light wire hooks for different types of fishing.