bojon

Senkosam,that is a fine looking bait!!!

The stick will not cause bubbles in the Pyrex cup that will LAST.I pour the plastic down the stick into the dipping pan,and when I make a few slow stiring motions all the bubbles will vanish.I use purchaced craft sticks that are very dry to start with,and during the Micro Wave heating process I use a gentle stirring motion through the plastic and the stick stays in the cup.I think this drives out the remaining moisture.There will be bubbles in the plastic before you pour down the stick into the pan.They will go away with a GENTLE stirring.Bubbles have never been a problem.For a while I was trying to dip tubes with bubbles in them,this was very hard to do.Don't use a stick from the back yard,I doubt if it would work,this is why I used a brass rod for awile.The thin craft stick is the way to go.I think the heatsink action of the stick is important(sorry I don't know why).If you get bubbles you probably have moisture in the stick,so leave it in the corner of the dipping pan.You will be using a very low temp in the pot.My setting on the hot plate is barely on warm.I use a Munsey Buffet Range that I got at Wal Mart ,years ago.

The ends are cut square on most of my dipping rods,but some of my large ones(1/2 inch and over) are slightly rounded.I think the square ends do best,because the rounded tends to cool too pointed for my liking.Remember the rounded end is created by the excess plastic flowing downward as it cools.A couple of halpful hints is to dip quickly,and sometimes I move the rod slightly sideways when it is sumerged,I started doing this to help to keep the salt and glittein suspension,and this swirling action seems to make a better tube.Also when you prepar the plastic in the micro wave,put in a wooden craft stick,and leave it in the Pyrex cup all thru the cycle,even when the plastic is transfered to the heating pan on the hot plate.I use a very low heat on the hot plate,and I keep the stick in the plastic to stir with and act as a heat sink.You will know that the heat is too high as soon as you see the first wisp of smoke,vapor ,rising.It is very rare this happens at the temp I dip.If you use the same stick thruout the dipping process you will see that the end of the stick takes on a darkened color.I used to use a brass rod to stir in the pan,or whatever stick was handy.This rod in the plastic is what turned me on to dipping a tube,because when I pulled it out of the plastic and cooled it,and pulled the hardened tube shaped waste.The light bulb went on..Remember to dip quick,and move the rod to the cooling positon quickly.You will know you are doing it right when you will see a trail of plastic from pot to the 90 deg cooling platform.This waste will look like spider web of plastic(accordingly to the neihbor kid).Remember all of this waste should be falling from the dipped tube from pot to cooling ,can be reclaimed by removing it from the wax paper you placed under the work area.There is very little waste when using this process.REMEMBER the more plastic that flows to the downward side of the rod,the rounder and neater the the tube front end will be.The whole process from tube dip to cooling platform should take no more than than three seconds.Also the tubes will cool quickly and when doing small lots they can be removed without too much wasted time. Sorry about the long post. Bojon

I use a metalic blue powder added to clear that has fine copper glitter.The very small amount of blue turns the clear to a pinkish blue in the outdoor lite.Indoors it really looks clear.One of my favorite colors.My girl friend named it CORAL PINK.This might give you a idea at what it looks like to her. For a slight silvery cast to a tube I use a very small amount,repeat a very SMALL amount,of liguid silver dye that is shaken very well IMPORTANT.Indoors it doesn't look much different than clear,but out doors and in the water it looks great.I use this to imitate shad and sometimes I dip a back color of tan,or black.I use no glitter on this one.

I use a wood tounge deppreser,that goes into the plastic before it goes into the Micro Wave,and stays there till the tube dipping is complete.I keep it at one end of the dipping pan,and it seems to act as a heatsink.When stirring I go by look and feel alone,and no longer use my thermometer.

You can use the dyes that we use to color our soft plastic if you put the dye into a small amount of clear PVC cement.You have to be quick and the outside is prefered.Really has a odor to it.I used paper match sticks (used)with the end flared,and Q TIPS as a brush.You won't get great detail but it wont come off.Remember outside and very small amounts.Maybe two kitchen match heads in size.I know you can get a thinner for the glue,but I really don't like the oder,so I gave up on it.The tube lures did really looked good,but too much trouble.

WARM AND COLD WATER.Ice seems more dense,but it floats.All this is beyond me.My math teacher would be ashamed of me.

Willy, Yes I do make some large tubes,the largest was was 8 1/2 inches long by 1 inch inside dia.They were a thick hard pour loaded with salt.A friend in Buffalo made some for himself and sent me the pictures of the muskies he was catching.WOW!! Big fish.I planed on using the large tubes jigging for large lake trout,but haven't tried it as yet.I used a one inch dowel with a hollow center, filled with lead,and a heavy stainless steel wire shaped like the 90 deg bend of a jig hook that was attached to a heavy,long shank hook.A real pain to make but at the same time fun. When I use larger tubes,like up to 1/2 in dia.,I try to use the same size,1/8 th oz egghead with a larger hook.I use short fat tubes most of the time.A couple of years ago the 2 5/8 in by 1/2 dia was the real killer in local waters.This year you can't buy a fish on it.It is hard to get a good balance ratio of 60% body 40% tail when you go so short and fat.They just don't look right.But they do get some nice fish at times. BASSNRANDY Is there a mold for what you call a glider weight?

BASSNRANDY,The glider sounds good.I will have to give it a try.Will it fit into a 1/4 inch dia. hollow of the tube,or will it distort the outline?I am a firm beliver that the weight balance of the jig makes a big difference on how the the tube falls. Has any of the members I instructed on tube making made any tubes???

WOW !!! That is one fine looking tube.Great job !!

I started fishing the fat gitzit back when they first came out,and started making my own tubes soon after.I use tube lures almost exclusively.I doubt if you can fish them wrong and I have tried most methods of fishing the tube,but most are rigged with the jig as you commented.I use the egg shaped head 1/8 oz most of the time.these are molded on Eagle Claw L571 size 1 LASER SHARP hook.The mold is a Do-it model EGJ-6-A I find that the drop and feel of this head to be just right.Using 6 lb Fireline with a good spinnig rod the feel is excellent. I make my own tubes in a bunch of different sizes 1/16 to one inch in diameter,and use the 5/8 jig head at the heavest. You also can use a floating jig to foat it behind a sinker set up tipped with a piece of ightcrawler,or a piece of sucker.

I still haven't figured it out.I even tried a different black and yellow.I wonder if it was the amount of salt,or type,that I used in the past.Went through a bunch of plastic in the last three days at two onces a pop and still haven't got the effect I want.They look good but I can't get the tan edges.Oh well,this is why I enjoy lure making as a hobby.Keeps the gray matter going.

At one time,many years ago, I was pouring tubes that were a fairly dark brown with small gold,and large black glitter.I was using yellow and black dye from Lure Craft to make the brown.When this color had the tail cut the edges of the tube tail were a almost tan color.Really looked good and caught a lot of fish.Lost the formula and haven't been able to duplicate it.I could sure use some help guys.

Delw,Have you heard of anyone doing well with this tube?

Soft Pro glue works very good.Better and faster than most methods.Remember to use a very small amount.Has peformed beyond anything I have tried.

I always lightly spray the the pouring cup inside,and the pouring lip on the outside,then wipe it gently with a cloth.Seems to work better and makes it easy to keep clean.A small amount of plastic poured from a little highth will do the trick.

Go to the forum topic 1 week ago titled TUBES....I NEED TO MAKE SOME,Click on the topic,then go to page two,then to page three,down to the redg8r input.Click on the movie.If you are not dead set on verticle dipping,this may be a fast,quick,cheap way.

Sounds like me when I was first trying to come up with a way to dip tubes without using a bunch of plastic.Dipping the way I do is very conservative of plastic.Check out this forum about a week ago that asked the question "I NEED TO MAKE SOME TUBES" and check half way thru to click on and view the mini movie.It will save a thousand words.Two colors are no problem,I have even made rainbow trout colored tubes that had four colors and a inbeded red thread down the side.Tubes don't seperate like most lures.The colors stay put.You can let the first color cool for a couple of hours then dip the second color so you can seperate the tail filements making a double colored tail.Cool effect in the water.

Great article.Makes the gray matter spark.

I also use the micro wave to heat the plastic using a Pyrex measuring cup,then put it in a loaf pan that on the hot plate.Try this:when you put the raw plastic in the measuring cup before putting it in the microwave,insert a wooden craft stick(tounge suppreser),into the plastic.leave it in the cup as you heat and stir the plastic.When the plastic is ready use the stick to pour the plastic into the(PRE HEATED)loaf pan.Then keep the stick in the pan of plastic to gentley stir the plastic.I use the dipping rod to gently swirl the rod thru the plastic.When you bring the rod out of the plastic let it drip for a second in a far corner.It helps to spray lube the pan,and the pyrex before use,and wipe it in with a cloth.The rods should also be sprayed and wiped.I use garlic Pam,or Kroger brand.Once you get your temp set on the hot plate,mark it with a permenant marker.If the hot plate is dedicated to tube lure dipping you should never have to change it.(around med setting)The tubes are dipped in rather cool temp,relitivity speaking,and if you got the temp right you will have very little oder or fumes.Use wax paper under the drip zone and tube cooling area,and clean up is a snap,and all of this plastic can be reused.Tubes can be made with very little waste.Example: as the plastic in the pan gets low ,just tilt the pan to one side so you have enough plastic to cover the rod.If you are useing a lot of salt you might want to keep the last few for your own use.They are fragile and tear up easy because of the salt content.They are great,but you would have mad fishermen when it is one tube,one fish....Like a senko.SORRY ABOUT THE LONG POST. BOJON

Nice setups! Like I had at one time.Now I store all my stuff in a storage room and bring it in and set up on a card table.Doesn't take as long as it sounds.

kEEP ME POSTED ON YOUR PROGRESS.GOOD LUCK.

The wire handle is attached to the solid aluminum rod by drillig a hole in one end then glueing the wire handle into that end using JB weld.The most important thing is to MAKE SURE you have a 90 degree bend.You can use aluminum,brass,any metal tube in the small sizes and seal one end and bend the whole thing in a 90 deg,or insert the wire handle and glue it in with JB weld also.I use paper to stuff the ends for about a 1/4 inch before glueing.Don't use JB weld KWICK,use the origanal formula.I have used a lot of different dipping rods,but have settled on this list:Really small sizes use wire,Next size alum tube,with ends sealed,and the most common,alum rod,When I get to the larger sizes I use copper tubing like they use for plumbing.This is for one inch or larger dia tubes.One guy I helped was going to make 2 1/2 inch dia tubes,and we decided that electrical conduit would work.I don't know if he was successful.I never heard.

Swampbaits,nice looking color.That is a keeper.

First of all thanks redg8r!!! For posting the short movies and the excellent editing.I wish I could do the editing. To the many members that contacted me by email watch this movie and feel free to ask any questions.I do need a email address in order to send the info.