Weedless Jig Molds
Y-GUARDS
 Plastic Y-Guards are easy to use inserts in weedless jig making.
They are made in different sizes. It is important that the Y-Guard
size designated for each model is used. The simplest way to use a
Do-it Mold designed for Y-Guards is to simply cast the Y-Guard into
the jig head along with the hook. The molten lead will melt the plastic
only slightly before it hardens in the cavity. Always place the base
of the Y-Guard as far into the cavity as possible without interfering
with the hook. This will insure that the Y-Guard will be securely
locked in place. Some models are furnished with special insert pins
(base hole pins) for those who prefer to epoxy the Y-Guard into the
head after the lure has been completed. To mold the base hole, the
pins must be positioned in the mold and cast in the lure in place
of the Y-Guard. The reusable base hole pins are then removed carefully
with pliers. Caution: Use pliers to remove the pin, do not use fingers!
The point of the hook will be much too close to the pin and injury
could result.
Y-Guards can be epoxied into the hole left by the pin. Some prefer
to do this after the lure is completely finished. Molds designed
for the YG-1 Y-Guard share a 1/8” base diameter with the FG-30
type sizes of fiberguard insert. FG-30 Fiberguards can be molded
or epoxied in place of YG-1 type Y-Guards. The fiberguards should
be trimmed with sharp scissors to the length desired.
FIBERGUARDS
 Fiberguards are nylon strands fused together at one end for ease
of use. They should be trimmed to length after the lure is completed.
Fiberguards are made in several base and strand diameters to affect
the stiffness of the weedguard. Each mold specifies the type of
weedguard that is required.
Three base diameters of fiberguard units are commonly available,
the FG-30, the FG-40, and the FG-9 style. The FG-30 type fiberguard
unit is the most popular fiberguard style because it is available
in a variety of stiffness and it shares the same 1/8” base
diameter as the YG-1 Y-Guard. The heavy duty unit is the FG-40 fiberguard.
It is composed of the maximum fiber strands and is 5/32” in
diameter at the base. The FG-40 is fairly stiff weedguard and is
usually best on the largest lures or in the heaviest cover. The FG-9
fiberguard is a light duty 1/16” diameter weedguard best suited
for small crappie jigs. None of the base diameter styles of fiberguard,
(FG-9, FG-30, FG-40) are interchangeable with another, so make sure
that you use the one your mold designates.
FG-30 and FG-40 size fiberguards can be installed in two ways; cast
in or glued in. FG-9 Fiberguards can only be cast in place. The cast
in method is the simplest. Just insert the fiberguard in the mold
after the hook. Make sure that the fiberguard is in the cavity as
far as possible, touching the shank of the hook where possible. When
molten lead contacts the plastic, it will melt it only slightly and
fuse it firmly in place.
The glue in process requires a hole to be
formed in the lure during the molding process with a special base
hole pin. Several reusable steel pins are furnished with the fiberguard
molds using FG-30 or FG-40 sizes, and additional base hole pins can
be purchased separately. The pin is simply substituted for the fiberguard
during the casting process. When the lure is cool, the pin is removed
leaving a base hole for glue in installation.
 Caution: Use pliers
to remove the pins, do not use your fingers! The point of the hook
will be much too close and an injury could result. The fiberguard
can be epoxied into the hole as soon as the lead cools, however,
some prefer to postpone this step until after the rest of the lure
is completed.
Important: One more step before the lure is finished.
Fiberguards are furnished extra long so they can be trimmed to the
desired length. A sharp scissors will work fine for this task. |
