LittleMac
03-24-2003, 12:19 PM
Making Tube Rattles
Cut a drinking straw into approximately 1 inch sections. Take one section and press end closed with a pair of side cutters allowing about 1/16 inch protrude…..melt this end with a candle and hold a few seconds while cooling.
Now insert two E beads (available at Wally Mart and JoAnn’s Fabrics) into the straw section and seal the other end the same way. Now, using your thumbnail, buckle each end of the straw section so now you should have a small pillow shape of sorts with small pointed legs for corners. This buckling allows the beads to keep from wedging and also allows you to lock the rattle in the tube as explained in the next paragraph.
Rigging….I like to use a half of a number 5 split shot inserted first into the tube, then the rattle…..when the rattle is in place, pinch the rattle on the back end to spread the little legs which will dig into the sides of the tube. Be sure not to flatten the rattle entirely so the beads will still be free. After locking, I use a 2/0 or 3/0 Extra Wide Gap Hook rigged texposed with the point bent out and over a little for better hookups.
A note: Be sure to get the solid color E beads as they are made of glass….some of the fancier transparent ones may be plastic. The glass work the best.
Make some shorter, one bead rattles, for shorter lures as they work nearly as well.
Cut a drinking straw into approximately 1 inch sections. Take one section and press end closed with a pair of side cutters allowing about 1/16 inch protrude…..melt this end with a candle and hold a few seconds while cooling.
Now insert two E beads (available at Wally Mart and JoAnn’s Fabrics) into the straw section and seal the other end the same way. Now, using your thumbnail, buckle each end of the straw section so now you should have a small pillow shape of sorts with small pointed legs for corners. This buckling allows the beads to keep from wedging and also allows you to lock the rattle in the tube as explained in the next paragraph.
Rigging….I like to use a half of a number 5 split shot inserted first into the tube, then the rattle…..when the rattle is in place, pinch the rattle on the back end to spread the little legs which will dig into the sides of the tube. Be sure not to flatten the rattle entirely so the beads will still be free. After locking, I use a 2/0 or 3/0 Extra Wide Gap Hook rigged texposed with the point bent out and over a little for better hookups.
A note: Be sure to get the solid color E beads as they are made of glass….some of the fancier transparent ones may be plastic. The glass work the best.
Make some shorter, one bead rattles, for shorter lures as they work nearly as well.