Here are a few White Cedar and Balsa deep divers.   These will cover the water from 10-18 feet.

Boy when you said deep divers you weren't kiddin'!  Excellent work!  Those are the paint jobs I'm after.  I fish mainly shad patterns, and I'm huge on the spot of blue on the gill plate.  I'm painting a few as we speak that are getting a shot of blue on the gills.  

Awesome work, Marty!   For those that don't know....Big M subs are killin' machines.   8-)

Is that flat sided bait on the bottom a new design?  

BTW - - BEAUTIFUL paint jobs!

String, I'm always impressed with your eye for detail.   The bottom two baits are new flatsides.   I would not put these baits in with the Big-M Subs.   These are 2.5 inches long or less and weigh in 1/2oz or less.    

I'm trying to build a smaller body that will reach 20 feet.   A super deep diving finess crank.

These are 2.5 inches long or less and weigh in 1/2oz or less.    

I'm trying to build a smaller body that will reach 20 feet.   A super deep diving finess crank.

Oooh....that's something I've been hoping you would mess with!!!!   Love the profile you went with as well - - I'm betting that design is gonna be murder (I didn't realize from the pic how small it was!)  

How do you like the white cedar?  Is it much different than red?  

White cedar is da bomb for building deep divers.   I carves and sands much better than western red cedar.    The only problem is finding a source to purchase boards finished to the sizes I need.

String do those baits peak your interest

String do those baits peak your interest

Indeed!  

what kind of material are your lips made out of?

what kind of material are your lips made out of?

It looks like G-10 Garolite (aka Circuit Board)

Hookem is correct g-10 and g-11, you can purchase sheets of this stuff at MCMASTER-CARR.

That what I thought it was.. but wasnt sure..  Thanks!

ive looked at many of your lures and are amazed at the paint patterns,  i would like to know if any of your lures are for sale?

thanks

Thanks for all of the kind words guys.   If ya'll don't mind looking I'll keep posting the pics.

Big M, your cranks have inspired me. I have been thinking of designing my own cranks and jerks. Can you give me, and anyone else interested, a summary of tools/materials needed, as well as some literature and advice?

Scroll saw, drill press, carving knife, sand paper (100,150,320) That will get the baits to the point of sealing.

I learned most everything by reading the net and trial/error with a lot of the error part. I been building cranks for 5yrs and the first 2yrs were spent learning. Now I did make bait that ran well and caught fish but those did not look like the baits I'm making now.

My first suggestion is pic a couple of your fav. cranks and go to a copy machine. Make some profile copies of the baits and start trying to reproduce them exactly. That way you have the master in hand while working on your version. Balsa wood is by far the easiest to use for carving and weighting.

Make sure to cut the lip slot first while the wood is still square and then cut the bait out. Measure and make the center line around the entire bait (wheeled marking gauge) works great for this. Now drill out the hole for balast, line tie, and hook hangers. Mark how wide you want the bait on top and bottom and then start carving (exacto wood carving knife and some extra blades).

I would start with some flatsided baits made from 1/2 stock. Those are the easiest to carve and finish.

20gauge stainless steel wire, lip material (garolite/polycarbonate), balast weight (worm sinkers/egg sinkers, finess weights).

Thanks for the wisdom. BTW, GREAT looking cranks. If you ever sell any, let me know!