Glass blowing custom lures/jigs?

I have been looking for some time at the market for hand blown custom glass baits and there is really only one company doing it and it has yet to become main stream. I am a glass blower by trade for over 10 years and am making a few prototypes to see how they function etc.. if anyone has any information, input, ideas or even wants a custom set up, let me know! I have a fully functional glass studio and am eager to bring to light the benefits of lead free, no paint, non toxic glass lures =)

I think you missed April Fool's by well over a week. 

Seriously, though... I'm having a problem imagining a practical blown glass lure.  Do you have any photos of your prototypes?  I'm guessing they would be expensive and fragile.   

Brian

Ah, you read my mind while I was posting.   How durable are they?  I tend to bash my jigs against rocks all day long.

I was imagining this with hooks....

Ah, you read my mind while I was posting.   How durable are they?  I tend to bash my jigs against rocks all day long.

They are very practical and cost less than a rapala at walmart! I am shooting for anywhere between 2-6$ depending on a number of factors as well as bulk discounts. They are annealed in a kiln and are VERY strong, you can bounce them off rocks all day and will break fish teeth before they ever break themselves! Glass is a very practical and safe material for fishing tackle and that is what I want to bring to light =)

I was imagining this with hooks....

Haha, no, thats a decoration, I make functional tools that double as art

What is the density compared to lead and steel? I.e. How much bigger than lead of the same weight does it need to be?

What is the density compared to lead and steel? I.e. How much bigger than lead of the same weight does it need to be?

 Great question and I will have that answer for you this weekend after I spend some shop time doing weight comparisons

What is the density compared to lead and steel? I.e. How much bigger than lead of the same weight does it need to be?

Glass has a specific weight (so a ratio compared to the same volume of water) of 2.2-5.9 depending on type.  Steel is 7.8 and lead is 11.35.  So, those glass balls will be about half the weight of lead (best case, densist glass option) for the same volume.  Most likely the glass will be 20-25% of the weight for the same volume.

What is the density compared to lead and steel? I.e. How much bigger than lead of the same weight does it need to be?

Glass has a specific weight (so a ratio compared to the same volume of water) of 2.2-5.9 depending on type.  Steel is 7.8 and lead is 11.35.  So, those glass balls will be about half the weight of lead (best case, densist glass option) for the same volume.  Most likely the glass will be 20-25% of the weight for the same volume.

Great bit of information! The great thing about glass is that I can encase small lead weights inside of it to compensate =)

I want those jig heads on owner hooks!  How much for a dozen?

-Mark-

I can see steelhead guys really liking those jigheads for pinkworms and tying up maribou jigs.

This has potential.  Especially for trolled lures. Don't know anything about glass work.  If we sent a design, is it something that can be built? 

I also would be curious given the density mentioned about a custom bead egg. 

I think it has the potential of being a decent medium because of the different way you can get light to come off a glass piece. 

I think they would hold up pretty good. You can bounce a wrist rocket marble off a lot of hard stuff and they don't usually break. They are going a heck of a lot faster that a jig head falling out of the sky on a rock or stump...besides, they have a pretty good cool factor..lol....warf

Ill bet the same thing can be made out of molten steel from scrap and just an oxyacetylene rig.

Have also been thinking about using a lead jig mold with Portland Cement (mortar).