Making spinners?

I've decided to try my hand at making my own spinners.  I've donated enough store-bought spinners to unseen rocks and stumps and even fed a couple of trees.  Enough!

I'm not sure what kind of wire-forming tools I'd need to make inline spinners.  I hope I don't have to make them in bulk, but I'd like to be able to reproduce a design several times with good precision.

Anyone making their own spinners who might offer advice and suggestions?  I'd appreciate anything you might have to say that will kick me further down the road.

There's a spinner making seminar on Monday evening November 17th at Fish Field in Tigard. They are using a tool made & sold by Half Fast. Hope this helps.
Hugh

One good thing about kayak fishing compared to bank fishing, you start finding other people's lost gear more often. Maybe not enough to offset you own losses, though.

There's a spinner making seminar on Monday evening November 17th at Fish Field in Tigard. They are using a tool made & sold by Half Fast. Hope this helps.
Hugh

Thank you, Hugh.  Rats!  I won't be near Tigard, but I'll hunt for the tool.  It's a start!

Kevin

P.S.  It's called a TwisTech wire former.  Just found it.

One good thing about kayak fishing compared to bank fishing, you start finding other people's lost gear more often. Maybe not enough to offset you own losses, though.

Although I am losing fewer when fishing from the kayak, there's definitely not enough lost-and-found gear to make up for my personal losses.  I even have a few spoons that are so valuable to me that I rarely use them.   

I still haven't had the opportunity to attend but it's in my Christmas wish list. They have frequent seminars & announce them on FB.

I still haven't had the opportunity to attend but it's in my Christmas wish list. They have frequent seminars & announce them on FB.

Thank you, I'll watch for them.

Uplandsandpiper did a video.pm him or look for it around here.

I've got a TwistTech and it's a good little device. Just don't expect too much of it; its main purpose is to wrap tight loop ends (and it's limited to pretty small wire.) A good pair of needle nose pliers can do a decent job as well, it just won't look as pretty.

Careful though, it's hard to actually save money going this route. The main bonus is that you can make whatever colors / configurations you want. Plus it's FUN!

i make my own. I dont use a center wire though.  I find that using a good leader line gets better action.  What ever works for you is waht works though.

And for proof of concept

It might could save money.  After I buy the spinners, replace the treble with a siwash hook, and try to tune them, they get a bit more expensive - and sometimes, replacing the treble gives it a totally different action.  Having it run badly is especially aggravating when it's a Panther-Martin spinner that doesn't have a split-ring to attach the hook.

Losing one of my converted spinners is just cause for a lot of sputtering and cussing, and that scares away the fish...
 
I'm hoping it would be no worse than a wash, cost-wise.

I think the idea of using leaders, at least for a test run, is a good place to start, and I won't have to bring another tool into the garage where it will promptly hide itself in the existing pile of tools.

Definitely worth a try, and the proof of concept makes a strong argument in favor of using a leader.  And if making my own doesn't thrill me, at least The Boss can't point at a dusty and unloved wire-former and laugh.

Thank you for digging-out the video and posting it here for me.  I appreciate that you took the time to save me a search.

- Kevin 

There is no rule that says you need to use expensive wire and tools.  Ndogg showed me how to make the Nolken Spinner (pat. pending so I am not at liberty to show you. Sorry). I make mine for salmon trolling by tying on a 2/0-4/0 hook  (egg loop knot or using a split ring/swivel), some bling (beads etc...) and a plastic clevis for your blade of choice to some Big Game mono (30 or 40 lb).  Metal will damage your line. You can make it as long or short as you want.  I like 48 inches. 

After catching numerous salmon with each one, I recycle the materials with new line.

There is no rule that says you need to use expensive wire and tools.  Ndogg showed me how to make the Nolken Spinner (pat. pending so I am not at liberty to show you. Sorry). I make mine for salmon trolling by tying on a 2/0-4/0 hook  (egg loop knot or using a split ring/swivel), some bling (beads etc...) and a plastic clevis for your blade of choice to some Big Game mono (30 or 40 lb).  Metal will damage your line. You can make it as long or short as you want.  I like 48 inches. 

After catching numerous salmon with each one, I recycle the materials with new line.

Well, that's another good tip.  Kudos to Ndogg.  Since Uplandsandpiper's and newprincipal's posts, I started thinking about coated steel leader material but couldn't think of a way to connect blades that wouldn't damage the coating.  There may be a wire former in my future (I have an idea about a different use for it), but I have to give these a try.

I will contact Ndogg when I come up with something.  Don't want to infringe on his pending patent.   

Thank you, all.

I am to cheap to buy a wire bending tool and I wanted something that would not get bent out of shape every few fish so I started making spinners (not my secret spinner) out of Nickle titanium wire (knot to Kinky brand).  The knots look like crap but they hold.  This winter I am going to play with different clevises, the nylon quick change ones are nice, especially on mono, but they only last for a fish or 2 before the blade would fall off.