FuzzyGrub

You are the God of Plastisol!!! Fantastic work, which is just an every day thing for you.

I have been doing it only for a couple of seasons. In fact, just packed up all my stuff, and now the focus is to get on the water. I can answer all or most of questions. It might help to narrow it down to start with the couple of bait styles that you use the most often. The other key decission is how much money are you willing to spend for the "feet wet" stage. You can find some pics by drilling down in this link: My Tackle Making There are numerous baits I've made that are not posted. In your opinion what is the best way to aquire the materials? For plastisol, colors, glitters, additives, etc, I buy only new. Once you decide on baits and molds, probably would buy from same supplier to save on shipping. Just buy plastisol? Need to know type of baits. Need to choose between Soft, med, and hard. Also, floating, neutral or sinking. Some of those come from picking the hardness, but certain brands have different qualities. A good starting point may be medium, along with buying some softner and hardner. Melt down old plastics? Yes you can do that, but need some new plastisol and heat stabilizer to mix in. Need to seperate out certain bait types, and you will be limited to opaque colors. Good to do practice with. I generaly make jig trailers with remelts. Do you make your own molds or do you buy them? I have made POP and resin molds, but mainly use 2 piece alum, with some rtv 1 piece. I have purchase some new, but about 2/3's used. Are there bothersome fumes? Yes. Fumes very from brand and heating method. You need a vapor mask ($30 @lowes), safety gloves, ventilation, etc. Do you feel they work as good as storebought baits? For the most part, yes, but depends on the bait/mold. BTW, I'm only 40 minutes from you. While I poured my last batch last weekened, if you have other questions you can IM, or if you are still on the fence by next winter, you can come inhale some fumes.

I added a couple of photos to the end of that linked page. If you have questions, don't hesitate to ask.

I am running IE8 with W7 but never saw the issue before. Screen res is 1920 X 1080, and that is max. That has not changed for the last year.

FWIW: I had that error this AM from my home pc running W7. I'll collect more info if it happens again.

The bolts for those rods are 1/4" X 4.5", and 5/16" X 4.5" shoulderbolts with the heads cut off. You can go a little longer (5"), but was originally choosen for horizontal dipping in a pan. The handles are made with coat hangers, and wrapped around rod and sandwhiched between the nuts/washers. Small brads are in the 2x4 that the rod handles slip over. They need to hang near verticle. I have since made some verticle dipping rods, styled after the type you can buy from Lurecraft. I have made three racks of each diameter rod. Four rods per rack, and to fit in a 2 cup pyrex. The holder also doubles as a height gauge to how far to dip when just doing the layers for the head. I plan to test them this evening and dip some black tubes. I'll add some pictures to the link above if successful.

Those little bait caster Bass Resource icons seem to be taking over many of my IE windows and tabs. As I write this, I have one in my Ebay and iBoats tab. Anybody else have this issue? I have never seen that before, but not sure if it is not just an issue with my PC/Win7.

I made some yesterday, using the dipping method. 1st time tubes and happy with them. Tube Making

Nice baits. I haven't used buzz baits to any great deal in a few years. Just here and there kind of use. I probably throw them more when I know there are pike/muskie in the water. Planning to break that habit this summer season. Especially for some night time bass action. Black baits at night, the fishermans delight!

There are a few ways to make them: - Rod dipping - Single pour molds - Injection molds The 1st two require a tail cutter. The latest injection molds have mandrels that also form the legs. I plan to try some via the rod dipping method, before my fishing season starts. I have rods and tail cutter made up. Bojon over at TU has provided a ton of info on this method.

The tails were put on after the jig has tied w/wire. I used 1/2 of a rubber skirt band with a few strands of the "wide" type skirt material I had. That band pushes up against the skirt and helps flair it. Most of those swimming jigs are made with just two silicone tabs, plus the streamer. The streamer, I think, helps with a representation of a latteral line. It can be quickly removed or shortened, if a swimming type trailer is wanted. I use the 1/2 band even on the jigs without the streamer.

I think it is because there are many species that are commonly grouped as "bluegills". Lots of variation in nature, and even more in our interpretation of it.

Nice jigs! The best part is yet to come... the first fish on a jig you made yourself.

I missed this thread before. Great looking jig. Ted, you are the master of multi-color jig heads, and with a skirt to match.

Thanks for the comments, guys. I do fish from heavily stained rivers to crystal clear lakes, but I'm sure there are more colors there than the fish will want. I had the most fun, trying a sunfish combo of three colors. I do have a bunch of finesse style to do yet, and a handful of spinnerbaits.

Last year, I purchased a number of unfinished jig heads from Cadman. I finally got around to painting and tieing. They include grass, snootie, and poison tail jigs. This should be enough to throw for this season to see what I like and don't. Warning: No fancy multi-colored jig heads! Grass Jigs: Poison Tail Jigs: Snooties: Also did some Brush Jigs:

They are sold at Wal-mart and other places. A bottom valve and motorized stirer are added. Search on Bear's Bait website, he sells the parts.

I considered one of those, but given the small diff in price went with the Lee pot. Concerns I had: - Holding mold in one hand and holding a heavy (with lead) handhold pot in the other. - Pour control from spout, especially with any slag build up.

I hand pour and hand inject. Guys that are making more volumes of baits tend to use presto pots converted for plastic pouring. I haven't seen allot using the Lee plastic pot.

Cabela's still have some for $50.

I am a newbie with mine. I have only poured about 500 jigs over two times. I am happy with it, and its simple operation. I am not sure why I waited so long to start pouring my own lead. Most of the complaints I've heard of are related to dripping. I had a little of that happen, but just put a metal pan under it. While it holds plenty of lead for my uses, it is a little tight with the valve assembly for getting the crud off the top. I am sure there is a better way to do that or better utensil to do it with.

Bondo brand fiberglass resin can be purchased in most auto part stores. It is about $40 for a gallon and includes tubes of hardner. You don't want bondo body putty.

My experience is that curly tails need an injector to come out right. It is a bit tough doing in pop or esin to get a good seam seal. The added pressure of the injector can cause allot of seam flash. As the mold heats up, it might pour better. Also having some vent lines on the tail and tail tip to allow the air out, might help. You also have to keep adding plastic to the sprue as it cools and contracts, otherwise you endup with hollow noses.

I cut my used plastics up into small pieces. I remove all powerbait or plastics like that. If you have allot of salt impregnated plastics, you might want to do them seperate. If they have swelled from moisture, you want to discard them. Water and hot plastic do not mix. I fill a pyrex cup about 2/3 with the used plastic pieces. Add a swish of new plastic and mix. Should have a light coating on all pieces. Add some heat stabilizer and mix again. I heat in microwave and stir every 20-30 seconds. It will go through a very gooey stage before getting back to liquid. Keep stirring. Once liquidfied, add color. On used plastics, I generally use an opaque color like Green Pumpkin or Black. Stir well. I use "reuse" plastic for test pours, jig trailers, grubs, and such. ie plastics that are not critical if they float or sink. Hope this helps.

Preferably, someone such as a teenager or other with limited means. I am giving away 16 resin molds (just pay the shipping). See the Flea Market listing. http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1298743629