I bought some painted 1/64 oz jig head and I cannot get the paint out of the eyes so I can tie my line on.  I thought they would be perfect for things like wax worms, the 1" gulp minnow and such, except I cannot get to the line tie.  Any ideas?

I usually use another jig to clean the eye out :  this will dull the barb on the jig you use to clean the eye out so you will need to touch it up before you use it  or mark it so you know it is for cleaning the eye out of another jig head.

Pick up a cheap dental instrument at Harbor Freight and grind the tip to a sharp point. Being stainless steel it will not dull significantly for some time. That will easily poke through the painted jig eye.

This is what I always use. A little easier to manage and not stick a hook through your finger.

http://www.basspro.com/Bass-Pro-Sho...uct/13376/

I didn't check pater47's link, but commercial jig eye cleaners are available at a very modest cost at most tackle outlets, including Wal-Mart, and everyone has one of those nearby! I think mine set me back all of about $2

Yes, the jig eye cleaners PegsGuy is referring to looks a lot like toenail clippers, except with a "tooth" where the blade usually is.

I usually just use another hook/jighead or even a pen or sometimes a toothpick. Just whatever you have lying around with a point on it, give it a whirl and figure out what works and is easily found in your house.

Exacto knife, sewing needle, dental pick, anything sharp as previously stated.

JustDave

Gee Dave, with your history does your wife still let you play with sharp things? Me not withstanding, of course!
Glad to see you're still on here what with so many deserters. Still looking forward to January. Anything happening between now and then?

As for the original post- I made a small pick from a piece of stainless welding rod to dig out backlashes (see pater47's post) and it will also poke your eyes out! :-)

I bought a Mustad tool with lots of little things on it, even a "fishhook" pick. I ended up using the little awl or birds nest helper and putting the eyes on the edge of a board and just drilling them out with a left and right twisting motion. there was a lot of paint and I have 20 of them but the eyes are now clear and I can use the jigs. I will get one of the dedecated tools, probably the next time I make it to Vegas and can go to the Bass Pro shop, my local wally world didn't have them.

Prober,
Shhh, my parole officer is on this board.

JustDave

Chinook and Coho with the rain, Steelhead Thankgiving.

Posted By prober on 06 Oct 2012 01:17 PM
Gee Dave, with your history does your wife still let you play with sharp things? Me not withstanding, of course!
Glad to see you're still on here what with so many deserters. Still looking forward to January. Anything happening between now and then?

As for the original post- I made a small pick from a piece of stainless welding rod to dig out backlashes (see pater47's post) and it will also poke your eyes out! :-)

Deserters? More like the NAFC has done it's best to run off the members!

I also use the jig method but before I try to push the jig through I twist my needle nose pliers over the eye. This seems to loosen the paint so the hook on the other jig goes through easier. I even used the line clippers in a pinch to loosen it for. I've used the commercial ones for the larger jigs but it doesn't always work on the smaller ones for crappies bluegills or ice fishing. I am still trying to figure out an easier way when I do I'll let someone know here lol

I atrien crushing the paint around the hook eyes with pliers, not much luck. It may of helped but there were only a couple in the other new batch that were any more difficult and that may have been because I was tired.