Making Fishing Lures: Basic Tools Required - Part 1

Lets start with the basics, you need a clean solidneeded is a hacksaw that is used for cutting
work surface such as a bench, table, or desk, youmetal and other hard materials such as plastics.
will need a vise which will hold the various lures forThere are many types of hacksaws on the
drilling, filing, bending, and other operations. Almostmarket, but the adjustable frame with a pistol
any bench vise of good size will serve thegrip is best. You will also need several kinds of
purpose. Unless you have a permanentblades to use with the hacksaw. These blades
workbench, this vise doesn't have to be fastenedhave from 14 to 32 teeth to the inch and come
to the table or desk until needed.in all-hard or flexible tempers. Each type is best
A small anvil is also useful if you plan to makefor a certain job, depending on the metal or
many metal lures or parts for such lures. It ismaterial you are cutting. If you have one or two
used for cutting, bending, punching, and riveting.blades of each kind you'll be prepared for any
However, if you get a big bench vise of thecutting job.
machinist's or utility type you can use the anvilSome kind of drill is needed for drilling holes in
surface found on such vises. Or you can use awood and metal. If you have a home workshop
small block of iron with a smooth surface as awith a drill press you can use it for most of the
makeshift anvil.work to be done. It is especially useful when
A hammer, of course, is a basic tool for any kinddrilling holes in metal. A portable electric drill is also
of work, and for making fishing lures, about twoa big aid when drilling, metal, especially if you have
or three hammers will suffice. If you already haveto drill many holes. However, when making fishing
a claw hammer, you can use it for manylures most drilling is done in wood or softer metals
lure-making jobs. However, you should also get atsuch as brass and copper. Here an ordinary hand
least one ball peen or machinist's hammer whichdrill will serve the purpose. Such a hand drill will
can be used for shaping metal, driving punches,usually take drills up to ¼ in. in diameter.
cold chisels, and other uses. A 12-ounce ball peenWhen buying a hand drill it's a good idea to get
hammer is a good size for all-round work. Anotherthe best you can get. A cheap hand drill may not
type of hammer which is good to have is awork properly or will soon break or wear out.
soft-faced hammer. These are made of plastic orYou also need a set of twist drills to use with an
have rawhide, fiber or lead faces. The soft-facedelectric or hand drill. For the drill press or electric
hammer is used for bending and shaping metaldrill you will need a set of high-speed drills. The
and leaves no tool marks. A wooden mallet is alsohigh-speed drills can be used for fast drilling
needed if you plan to shape your own metalwithout losing their temper. For drilling wood or
spoons or spinners.soft metals, carbon drills which are cheaper than
At least two saws will be needed. If you alreadyhigh speed drills can be used. You should get a
have a hand saw, it can be used for working withcomplete set of drills up to about ¼ in. in
wood. Since most lures are small, however, adiameter. The smaller sizes are the ones you will
back saw which has a thin blade and fine teeth isuse most often. It's a good idea to buy two or
even better than a large hand saw with coarsethree twist drills of the same size in the smaller
teeth for accurate cutting. The other saw which issizes so that if you break one you'll have a spare.