3d scaled rapala DT 16

Two thumbs up!!

Are the scales hollow underneath, or did you use some kind of filler/glue?

Thanks Mark.

They are Hollow, this is the first one I have made and as I was placing the foil on the lure, I damaged/semi flattened  some of them. This is going to be another problem to solve. I am thinking maybe what you said, some kind of thick glue. possibly epoxy mixed with sawdust from the band saw. 

Another thing that could happen with it being hollow is that the epoxy may flex enough to crack if I bang it off the a rock. 

Oh well, another sleepless night cause I won't be able to stop thinking about it until I get it solved.

Any ideas, any one?

How about a thin piece of foam rubber John? You might be able to glue it to the foil before you press the scales. Probably have to use epoxy to glue it to the lure so it wouldn't eat the foam backing up. I've glued netting under foil before to get a raised scale pattern and while it was a pain in the rear I did finally get it to work. Only did the one as it didn't seem worth the effort. Foam might be a little tricky as well. If it doesn't want to stay laid down while the glue dries you could wrap it with string or tape until the epoxy cured.

 

Was thinking about how you press the scales. If your having any trouble getting the full detail pressed into the foil you might try placing something like a firm dish sponge over the foil before you press it. That should press the foil down into all the details. That is if you've got room for everything in the press.

 

No doubt you'll get it figured out.

 

Ben

Ben, great minds think alike. A dish sponge is what I am using and it gives full detail. The foam sounds like it might work. I am sure that what ever fixes it, it will be a PIA. Thanks for the suggestion.

John

My pleasure John. I look forward to seeing what you come up with.

Drool!!!!

This might be a case of needing a really hard and thick top coat, like an epoxy or several dips in Solarez, to protect the scales after they're applied.

Hey mark, I apply D2T pretty thick and it gets harder the longer it sets. It has been about 36 hours now since I applied it and I can dent the scales with my thumb nail. Will see what happenss after a week of curing.

It's got to be a fine line between protecting the scales, and losing the 3D effect, I'm sure.

But another coat of epoxy might make it harder, since the first coat probably thinned on the high spots.

A great "creation."   Not a copy. Do see those

 quite often.  

 

A tip of the hat .     

Mark, I think you may be on the right track.  Its been 13 days since I coated the lure. I just now pulled it out and I can still dent the scales with the edge of my thumb nail if I put some pressure on it but not near as easily as I could a couple of days after I first applied the epoxy. I am thinking that maybe a coat of epoxy on the underside of the foil scales actually filling the tiny pockets created by making each scale  while the foil is still laying flat and let it start to set up and get really tacky before applying the foil to the side  of the crank bait. then ket it harden for a few days before doing anything else to the bait. I think I have some old flat sides somewhere that a friend made for me. These would be perfect for testing to see if this would do the job. Second thought, this would probably add enough weight to make a floater into a sinking crank. Will have to give this a try one afternoon this week. Will let you know how it turns out.

 

Braided Line, thanks for the compliment. I do my share of recreating/copying things that I find interesting or like but I always try to make it different or better and in my own way if possible. I suppose that it would be near impossible to make or design a new type of lure that is completely different in every way from that which has already been created. So the best that most of us can do including myself is to take a proven design (IE a crank bait) most likely every contour/shape, or size that could be imagined has most likely been carved or formed in some way at some time or other. Lips/bills? Again size, shape, length, curved/flat, bent. What could I do that has not been done before. I wish I knew, so my goals when I try to make something different is

 

1 st.  To make sure it works as well as and if possible that it performs  better than what is out there.

 

2 nd. To try and make it appeal to the fisherman and stand out in some way from the others which gives it a different or my own signature look.

 

  We can change its action somewhat and its shape and colors but  It is what it is. ----------   A crank bait is a crank bait. Some are just a little purttier. (HillBilly for prettier)  The big thing for me is that I enjoy the challenge.  My 2¢

John

Good idea on applying epoxy to the back side of the foil John. Do you have any Etex? It might be more forgiving, in both working time and amount of flex, than a hard setting epoxy like D2T or BS.

 

Good luck and keep us posted.

 

Ben

Will do, I do not have etex but have seen it at Michaels. If the epoxy doesn't work  then I will go get the etex. Thanks for the suggestion

 

John