ominousone

Ok, I haven't done this but I thought when I did finally start to dip some jigs in powder paint I knew what most people were doing.... Anyway this was my impression, could you put jigs in the toaster oven that you were going to cure in after to heat it? Then dip in fluid bed, or jar if you don't have a fluid bed. Then hang off of normal toaster rack in toaster oven that is turned upside down to cure.(I guess toaster oven would have to be upside down for both parts of the process. Anyway maybe I"m way off base.

Amazing looking bait. I tie feathered trebles, but nothing good enough to put on a bait that looks that nice. I bet that with the skills that you show making crankbaits and such, that you'd bust out some sweet trebles in a very short time if you tried it. Sorry I can't help but I bet that there's a bunch on this board that make some high end stuff to suit that bait.

I love your work area. I"m trying to come up with a nice clean neat system for organization and easy working and that looks like what I'm trying to do right there. Where did you get those little totes that are on the desk? They look handy. Anyway looks great. Also, what type of lures do you make other than flies? Your equipment looks different than what I'm using. Thanks for sharing. -Mat

got a nice chatterbait, spinnerbait, and feathered treble from dink today. All very nice. I asked earlier about a round 2. Anyone have any input?

is this thing going to continue? Are we only doing one round? I know that dink and I have already sent our items and are eagerly awaiting them from our postoffices. After that I know that it's going to be like christmas is over, I'd like another round or to even trade with all parties that have been on here. So is there going to be round 2? 3? more? Thanks and I'll be looking forward to hearing everyone's experiences -Mat

If he pours his own jigs, he could be epoxy'n them in after tying. That'd be what I do.

great to know, I love using regular things to solve my fishing insanity.

wanna know how I use a whip finisher.... first you open your window, Next chuck that badboy as far as you can, lastly never look back. I tie a series of half hitches instead. I'm left handed and had an old timer try to show me how to use the whip finisher upside down backwards crooked style, and he ended up saying to me, look I can't do this with you anymore. It was quite comical. Maybe I'm just not good at following instructions, but when I looked at the instructions on that thing it made me want to jump off a bridge.

about lurecraft's fully round molds.... First off I will say that I love lurecraft's service, selection, and in general there molds. However I must say that I found there fully round senko's a real pain to pour and I also got burned the worst I have ever been with plastic trying to pour a fully round senko. That being said, it did pour after I got the hang of it, it didn't look as nice as aluminum, but if you are really careful it may be the mold for you. I'm just saying be careful. The mold looks like a tube (cylindrical) and it has a air vent at the bottom. Plastic will come out of the air vent...hence my burnt hand ( I spilled a little through it, jumped and then poured a stream onto my hand). Maybe it's just dumb luck that this happened to me. Again I will repeat, order from lurecraft, they are great people, have great stuff, amazing selection, quick shipping, all of the things you would want in a seller, just please use caution with these particular molds.

I love the idea and would love a slot if there is one available. I hope that i can make something that people like. Will def put the extra mile in to try.

If you reheat, you may either want to add heat stabilizer or some fresh plastic. I add some plastic to my old baits and that works just fine. Also as stated earlier, make sure the plastic is super dry as moisture will make the plastic bubble, pop, and explode all over burning you and anything in your way.

for the pyrex cup I'd buy a 2 cup pyrex or anchor cup. A 1 cup is nice too for small quantities, when doing different collored tails, tips, veins or what have you.

I have used 4 parts plastic to 2 parts salt to 1(or a little less) bit softener. My baits come out soft with a ton of action. They do tear easily, but I just don't care. I can make more for penny's and I seem to do better each time.

ok here's the skinny... www.lurecraft.com www.del-mart.com www.bobstackleshack.com www.shawncollinscustoms.com lurecraft will get you rtv one-sided molds which are great for baits that you don't mind having a flat side (which there are a lot of, like flukes, jig trailers, craws, stuff like that use your imagination). There service is great, people are fantastic and great to deal with. Also, they have a lot of other luremaking supplies including plastic, glitter, salt, and supplies for other aspects of tacklemaking Del-mart, del has the best starter kits going that have an aluminum mold, gallon of plastic, glitter, salt, and softener... amazing deal on that. Aluminum molds are the bomb. Del makes really nice stuff, and if you check to make sure that the mold you desire is in stock the shipping is quick, as aluminum mold making takes time and all aluminum mold makers can easily get backed up. Bob's is prefered by some over del-mart, to me it's like mcdonalds or burger king... some like one better some like the other. I have heard really great things coming from people who have ordered from bob recently and I have also heard that if you contact him he has some very desirable molds that haven't made it onto the website yet. Shawncollins- need some special bait made up? This guy busts them out and pretty quick from what I have been hearing. (I'm still kind of new to this but from what I can tell, he seems like the new kid on the block to aluminum mold making, but is making some outragous stuff that is very highly recommended by those in the know) All of the companies I mentioned are great resources and you may find one that suits your tastes more that another, but all are valuable in one way or another, and I hope that I didn't plug one more than another. Also this website is very good, but www.tackleunderground.com is gonna give you guys more than my hands will type.

When I started making stick baits was what I wanted to do most so I researched and ended up buying a stick mold kit from del-mart. He sells a kit with an aluminum mold (you can't beat aluminum molds for ease of pouring, quality results, they're where its at), a gallon of plastic, some softener, some glitter, and some colors. This really is the way. You could try from other sources, but for stick baits this is gonna get you everything you need to start for around 100bucks (I think, it's been a while). You can probably make a 100 bucks worth of the name brand version with that kit, and they will have just as much action (or hopefully more), and you won't mind when a pickeral snags one.

Are those handles wooden? If so, I would like to know how they feel in the hand, and what not. My father turns wood all the time and I would love to see what he could do.

After start up, this hobby saves some money. However when you first start you are going to want lots of things (at least I did). I have found that I enjoy this as much as I do fishing. I know I'm probably in the minority saying that but I do, I find it relaxing and the more I have done it the more I enjoy it. I get a kick out figuring out new baits, colors, salt ratio's and what have you. So basically take this hobby as you would any, as something that's gonna cost something, give something, and entertain you as well.

Some ideas that you can do... Stir stir and restir your plastic really well Consider what type of plastic you are using, I think I remember reading that one of the platic manufacturers has been putting out crappy plastic (don't remember which) I thought I had more ideas but guess not

I dropped him an email and he got back to me the day he returned from vacation. (he was on vacation for about 10 days ending on 8/30). I guess you could call him, but in his email he sent me pictures of the mold I asked about (about 5 pics and they were detailed and high quality)

shawns website is: http://www.shawncollinscustoms.com/

I have del's and it's darn close. I think if it says fat senko that's a different mold. I believe he has that and the regular one. I'm sure that you will like bob's if you ordered from him as well. Basicallly what I'm telling you is that I don't believe that you can go wrong.

If you melt down plastic that has taken on any water it will do that, it's the plastic exploding. I have found with heavily salted baits, if you melt them down they have to be dried out really well or that will happen. -Mat

for senko's I'd def go with an aluminum mold from either del-mart, bob's tackle shop, or shawn collins customs. I'd call each and see what the total price and an estimate for shipping time (can be weeks sometimes from some of those vendors). For flukes the lurecraft mold is great, I use it and like it and it's only like 10 bucks. I don't pour any grubs so I can't help you there except to tell you, aluminum is the best to work with but it's the most expensive by far. Also lurecraft molds are very nice but are rtv (i think) and that works good except they are all one sided molds which means you have a flat side. Also I find that fully rounded aluminum baits are easier to pour (can't get easier just pour and then top em off)

matt, it was coming out hollow because you weren't overpouring. The plastic shrinks when it cools and hence you end up with the hollow end. YOu really have to add quite a bit of plastic to avoid that.

You make ika's by fusing the skirt on afterward. I dip the bait in molten plastic and press the skirt onto it. Others solder it on. Sorry I know you were looking for a way to make a mold that you can pour in one shot, but from everything that I have read it's not practical.