Travis

Simply they are too cheap not to just buy one if 3D printing interests you. Easily can get one for sub $500. I think when I bought an Anet A8 for below $ 180. No need to drop any more. Software many free versions that will get the job done. Shouldn't be too difficult to find someone on this site or any site that would work out a deal with you if it interests them. I am sure it is dependent on one's area but 3D printing is very common any more. It can be very easy to find someone to print things for you (the average craft store sells filament at this point). An option, for some, are Maker's clubs. Can join to use their equipment and have access to 3D printers, CNC mills, tools, and various software packages. Typically it doesn't run too much if you are social and like to learn. If you don't join I members may print or cut things out for you for little over the price of materials as some run out of ideas or are looking for something different to do. I plan on having some lips cut out by a coworker if I supply materials. If you have kids or grandkids they likely know many that have printers. Common to see teenagers selling services on Etsy, Craigslist, etc.. to print things for cheap. As far as hazards.... with the amount we will be printing it would be safe to say most here have significantly higher risks they live with daily without worry: overweight, no exercise, etc... That said something to think about and very easy to vent outdoors is so inclined.

Many years ago just used 6 drops of LC root beer with 1/8 tsp of blue highlight to make a generic cinnamon when hand pouring drop shot baits. Have used various other methods to various cinnamon depending on what someone was looking for and dependent on how colorants changed or new colors/companies got into it. Brown pumpkin, transparent brown with opaque white, yellow or red on toothpicktip, scuppernog, MF's cinnamon, etc. I have made recipes for most things and have done a lot of color matching. Typically would get baits from guys out west and wanting to duplicate it in larger profile bait etc.. brand? Most were custom hand pours. Everyone is different in abilities and what they are looking to do.

Frankly if it wasn't for exact copies soft plastics wouldn't be where it is now. No molds, no injection equipment, etc. Anyone that was hand pouring custom lures knows how much things have changed. Knock off baits and knock off colors simply has allowed the hobby to grow.

Reason to dip horizontal.....

Yes that is all there is to it. Once you find the appropriate sized rod you can braze/weld on your handle/hanger.

About any finesse technique (Brewer slider heads, split shoting, etc...) and can be used as a trailer on smaller jigs and spinnerbaits.

Horizontal dipping in a bread pan kept warm on a hot plate.

Can tackle it a few ways but like most things in life people will use different methods. Foredom cylinder shape ball tungsten carbide wood carving burrs.

Most hobbyists aren't painting a lot of baits and only if using for airbrushing don't need much in way of a compressor. I would be most concerned with operating decibels. CFM is easy enough to get when we look at compressors for airbrushes. Much depends on the scale you are doing things also. Small cheaper priced units what I have used for the most part as rarely painting more than a dozen or so baits at a time. If I was painting more often or decided to add a lot of air tools to my shop would just get a large compressor and run a line for airbrushing. I painted cranks with a Craftsman 4 gallon twin tank compressor for years. Extremely loud. It is "heavy" but wheeled and will take up space so if you are going to paint in multiple locations has some downside. I also bought a small airbrush compressor on clearance at Hobby lobby (25 bucks) It is a Fusion F1000. Very quite cycle time frequently but designed to do so. Personally would like it to push a little more CFM but has worked flawlessly for may years now and still going strong. Very small so if you need to be portable very easy to move around. I also have a California Air compressor, California Air Tools CAT-1P1060S, that is a small unit I used with a pin nailer out in the shop but has mainly been used for airbrushing during that time. Very quiet.

A good table sled is a must. Definitely one of those things do it right and woodworking gets a lot easier.

Well this morning walk (5 miles) resulted in a nice ice mustache and on the way back with the change in wind I had a little ice build up on the eyelashes. I thought about this summer I will be walking the same path and it will be almost 100 degrees warmer.

Usually as long as it isn't too windy not a big deal. Keep moving but don't break a sweat. I went hiking last weekend and was 3 ° when I got home and there was around 6 to 8 inches of snow on the ground. You get used to it and next thing you know you are enjoying a 15 °C and thinking this isn't too bad.

https://www.bassmaster.com/tips/top-lures

It is definitely very satisfying to see something you designed and printed. I am still amazed for how cheap one can do it and how accurate and nice even the cheap units are capable of. I am using a AnetA8 I picked up for the kids but video games just too much fun. I had bought it new from a coworker (he ended up giving me a second later when he upgraded) and it has performed very well after all the initial fuss getting it dialed in. Was running the bed temp a little cooler before the last upgrade and figured that was the reason it dislodged. The Ender really took off not too long after I picked up mine and very popular unit in that price range currently. I really have no need for a 3D printer but I have no doubt I will upgrade at some point as not that expensive of a hobby with the huge added bonus the software and thinking/designing things keeps the brain working. Better than watching TV for sure.

I am surprised that someone on GrabCad or similar hasn't already put in hooks. Heck would think that some of the manufactures would have the files available. It is nice beign able to just go to McMaster Carr or similar to download files for projects. Recently using Loc Line for an application and that company has all their parts downloadable. Hmmm... last print I did was 6 hrs in when it dislodged from the base. So had a very clean object about about 4 inches high with a mound of spaghetti on top of it. Love 3D printing

Perhaps... I tend to think it isn't very important to the average Joe that makes lures and not for sure that will really change too much. As younger people get into it will change but they don't use sites like TU.

Through line? Have been a few over the years. The Jenko Fishing Trapline Rip-Knocker Lipless Crankbait is one currently out there.

First you need to be brutally honest with the numbers. Many guys aren't. The time spent, the cost of materials, etc.. all end up disappearing when they think about how much they are making. One also need to look at what they really make at their job including benefits. I will use the average US salary of 38K (I don't consider this as a well paying job). Currently I get health insurance, dental and vision insurance, 10 paid holidays, 4 weeks paid vacation, sick time, short term disability, long term disability, 401 k match, social security, gym membership, life insurance, bonus, and other perks. At one time we also had an ESOP plan that added up to a nice chunk of money after a few years. I work 40 hrs a week. So for me to quit I have to match the effort and total compensation above. Everyone is different just something to include in thinking. For some it wouldn't be as difficult as they may be covered on spouse insurance, don't worry about life insurance, retirement, etc.... Add start up costs, depreciation of equipment, write offs, etc...into the equation. So yes it can be done. Statistically you will not be successful but the more thought and research you put into it the more likely you are to succeed.

Can't take any credit for the frog as simple download. I bought the printer for the kids and well they could care less. All I have designed are different adapters for the shop and few prototypes for projects and purely ends up being just goofing around learning the software, etc...

You can print the bait however you would like to as easy to rotate its position in the software in the 3D field. You will need to add print support for any larger overhangs or 1.5 hrs into print may find you have to start over as the print shifts. The rings aren't bad and wouldn't be transferred through with most top coats but you would visually see it. Here is an example of the finish I might get with printing masters. Some other issues with ghosting through the exterior wall of the print but that is more of an issue with the parameters selected before printing. Nothing too difficult to smooth out and as mentioned can dip in acetone or other products to "melt" a smooth finish if using ABS filament. I have only used PLA (cheap readily available) and what many start out with. Even then different brands of filament are better than others in results.

Excellent point I didn't mention in time. I have a traditional filament printer budget model. Even with all the fidgeting I have done with the printer the print is no way read for mold and requires filling/sanding, dips, etc. to get a moldable master.

Making some good progress. This is something I thought would be fun to make.

I have a 3D printer and have never used it to print a lure body. First I am slow with the software but I can chuck that one out. It gets quicker in time but for the most part I think the lack of instruction/how to for the software is the biggest issue I encounter (Fusion360 free personal use). Essentially have to find videos on You Tube. I make bass cranks that are overall simple in design. Something like a flat sided crank (solid). I can cut out and finish a lot of masters with slight variances in the time it takes to print one to test. I know not as accurate as the 3D printer but in testing find some variables make little difference if you test many lures. Visually when testing them can't tell any difference in action/performance between some variables in shape/design. Now if doing some hollow body work with weight transfer chambers and such we enter an entirely new realm. Changes can easily be made with the software that would be impossible or just a plain nightmare to duplicate/alter by hand. I think many guys have a false sense of what they will end up really doing but that said overall it is a cheap thing to get into and for some can really be a positive. I know several older guys that like woodworking but frankly are limited in regards what they can do in their shop but they can spend a lot of time designing and printing things. Making hose adapters, tool hangers, etc..as a way to still stay involved in the hobby. Ultimately I enjoy making lures. I have been down the road of making masters and molding lures. Becomes like stamping widgets and lacked any enjoyment for me. It reminded of just buying premade blanks and painting them. I don't think I have molded in cranks in over 12 years at this point.

I used to fish a lot. I did this for about 7 or 8 years during the 90's. I ordered 100 counts all the time from places as far cheaper than buying from mom and pops. The number of Texas rigged worms and craws I went through one summer fish lily pads was crazy. Charlie brewer slider worms were another I went through a lot (spotted bass on local small river). I don't see 100 baits as being anything strange at all. I would rather have 100 baits in 4 or 5 colors that 1000's of baits in unlimited colors. Last week during one of the posts on the site I ended up digging through some of the old tackle in my closet and still came across a few 100 count bags of Larew salt craws, tubes, and a small rubber maid tote of zoom lizards.

Only if they have money...