bojon

There are several ways to cut the tails.Sorta depends on how many you plan to cut during the course of the day.I use two types,A box and rubber mallet type,or a rotary blade cutter.Both do the same job and depends on what your needs are.The rotary is by far more costly.Both are not overly costly if you assemble them yourself. Bojon

I have found the small sponge brushes used by women to apply eye makeup to work as a dry brush method for lures.Use very little paint on the sponge then wipe almost dry on a paper towel and dry brush the color onto the lure.You can get some nice paint jobs this way.Airbrush is the best,but some times you can get by with this method,and save a ton of money.You can get the small sponges at the eye makup counter,and they are low cost,and can be cleaned.

Welcome to the world of make your own lures.You will find all the information you will need at this site.Everyone will go all out to help you succeed.

Great.Really looks well thought out.Great job,great baits.

I really don't know how to put pictures on this site.I have tried,and guys have tried to help.I have a good computer,and cameras,the problem is the gray matter between the ears.There was a brief movie years ago that was posted.It gave the general idea.I would have to burn the photos on a disc,and have some one enter it on this site in my behalf.The problem is to keep it short enough,and informative.I'm still willing to try.I'm not secretive with my info for I've helped hundreds get started.It is a matter of not having the know how to enter the stuff on this site.

WOW!Those are some fine looking tubes.Those are also some of the best colors for smallmouth around here. I know so little about this molding process that this is the really first time I can understand a bit better.Thanks guys!

Sorry having computer trouble this AM.I would like to know how long would it take to make 100 thick tubes,adding time for tail splitting,compared to molding them with tails split.Opening,closing the mold,pouring(injecting)the plastic,cooling the mold,closing,and repeat.Running the molding process through my mind I can't see it being very fast.Will, someone who has tried both, methods what the time difference is.Faster or slower.I have this question come up on a regular basis when guys are asking for help,and I can't give a informative answer.Looking at the molds on this site they are really great.Any help would be appreciated.

The sand comes in many colors,and is very fine.It will settle to the bottom of the lure,but it will have a nice fall to it also.The sand usually doesn't penetrate the surface.I normally pour a bit on the cool side.I bought my sand from hobby/art stores.

If you are using a open mold,you may want to add scenic sand to the plastic by using a fine pinch and dribble it into the still warm plastic.I done this years ago on regular worms,with good success.At that time I didn't think of salt.This was before salt was being added to lures.

Josh, Wow!!! That was close.Glad you were OK.Did the cup hit anything earlier?I have heard that a even slight bump could cause a failure,at a later point.Wear the protection,and keep the lures rolling.Say Hi to Steve.

Send your email address to kocron@comcast.net and I will send some photos and info.Look them over and then decide if you what to get into making tubes.Alot of people that I have helped are doing quite well.Check out the latest copy of Infisherman on Redoctober Muskie tubes.

I like that mold.Looks like a good project for me to try.Thanks Jim.

If you have a lot of money,and time,you can mold them with the tails split,and maybe a bit better looking tube will result,but you spend a lot more for the molds,and injectors.If you want to make a bunch quicker,in one or up to three colors,you may want to dip rods into the hot plastic,and split the tails in another step.It will be a lot cheaper than molding,and I think if you sit down to make a hundred,you will make them faster,and with less plastic.If you are going to make them for your own use,this is the way to go.You can make a batch of tubes in a test color with as little as two ounces of plastic.Hard to beat the cost savings,but will be more work on your part.I have more time than money,so I'm stuck dipping.My humble opinon!

The eyes make a lure look better to the fisherman,and make him more confident,but I have always felt that a fantastic beautiful realistic looking lure paint job doesn't by its self catch more fish.How would you explain pure white being one of my favorite fish catching colors.What about all those treble hooks hanging there.Not very realistic,but I have caught tons of fish with them.When I was young everyone would hide the hook in the bait when bait fishing,not me I used a oversize hook,and made sure the point was exposed.Rarely missed a fish.Did the bait look natural.Who knows?It never looked natural to me,but the fish could care less.I always figure fish are really dumb,and work on instinct.Food,or reaction rules its life.If fish were that picky in selecting what they eat,they would all starve.If they weren't dumb I'd never catch one.

George,Send me a PM with your email address,and I will send some photos of what I use.Simple,and effective. Ron

Turning them makes good sense.I never used a heat gun,but was looking at the small one at Micro Mart.Thought it may have a finer flow.

You can mold the tubes with the tails finished,or you can dip a rod into the hot plastic vertically,or dip horizontally,but then you have the extra step of splitting the tails.Tubes are very easy to make,and fun.PM me your email address,and I will assist you in getting started.

I have thought about using a small heat gun,but never really tried it.I figured just a bit of heat while being held upright,and still on the rod, might just smooth it down.The tube would look better,but I doubt it would help it fish better.Has anyone used a heat gun for plastics?

I have been using the white glitter for quite awhile for my tube lures,even before it was in the LC catalog.I use the large white,plus a hint of watermellon green to come up with a color tube that is my Son's favorite,I also find that the small plus large in clear is a great color for smallmouth,and trout.