GB GONE

I've always said..."its not what you know, its who you know". Right Mojo, good buddy, ole pal !!! Bass Pro doesn't have a plastic lure in the place that you can't make better Mojo...show him your stuff!!! The baits you sent me were top notch!!!! Jim

njbass: If you coat the mold cavity with Devcon 2 ton, you will not have that problem nor will you need any worm oil in the cavity. I usually coat mine 2 times if the mold has little spots or just once if its not a complicated mold. You can get Devcon 2 ton at Wally world for less than 3 bucks. Acetone can be used (sparingly) to thin it out a bit and give you a longer working time. One thing I found is to get some nice brushes if you do it this way and then clean them with acetone when done. If you get cheap brushes you will be trying to get the bristles out of your mold cavity Not fun!!!! Do a search as others use spray paint for engines, etc. Devcon just has worked best for me... Jim

Mark: If you know any BassMaster pros that want some, I'll gladly pour him/her a few hundred !!! Hoping to pour the "wings" tomorrow and get them out Monday!!!

Hey Scott: I poured yesterday in my shed and noticed that I got a lot of moisture (on the part of the pyrex that had no plastic) from the plastic smoke coming in contact with my pyrex cup. Now that its a bit cooler here, I guess the air temperature you are pouring in makes a difference as that moisture would accumulate enough to drip down into my plastic. I have noticed a significant difference now that I store my plastic in a different container than the gallon pail. I'm thinking that the lids don't seal great (especially since the last gallon had a plastic bag tied around it and was moist with plastic) and moisture is getting in. I'm storing mine in a dispensing (has a spigot) jar made for tea or coolaid. I don't see the bubbles I saw with my last gallon and it is easy to fill my pyrex cups. Jim

I tried it for the same thing...what a mess!!!!! Maybe you can do it better but it was just to much to try to squirt out a little in each spot then put gun aside then pour and then maybe pour another color. Maybe you can get it but I gave up...let me know if you think of another solution. I was inspired by Senkosam's comments and MOJO's baits to use this technique for different eye colors...put glitter in that part of the mold PRIOR to pouring. Its not perfect and it is a pain to put glitter in that little spot (I did it for a lizard bait) but there is a noticeable eye there. Don't have any pictures right now but I will post one over the weekend for you to see. Jim

Sam: Clear baits definitely have their place. I know guys that use a real light smoke purple with purple/silver/black flake for the table rock shad look. They catch the crap out of them in any plastic (stick, worm, lizard, etc.) bait poured that way Arkansas shiner is a similar story. We could probably take a page from the hard baits guys and pour clear baits with flake that imitate the colors of baits they paint but just use glitter combos. Gives me some ideas... Good info Sam. Jim

After final considerations (and input from my wife, daughter, son, mom and dad), here goes the top five (1 is my choice on down): 1. Ghost Wing from Markell 2. Ghost bug or Ghost fly from Mojo 3. Bass Gnat from LaPala 4. Winger from D.J. 5. Winged Nerd from jaybar Decided I will pour all of you a bag (of 8 or so) for super names...PM me your address if you want them & I'll get some out on Tuesday. Thanks to all for some great names!!!! Might print this list for further "creations"!!! Thanks!! Jim

After final considerations (and input from my wife, daughter, son, mom and dad), here goes the top five (1 is my choice on down): 1. Ghost Wing from Markell 2. Ghost bug or Ghost fly from Mojo 3. Bass Gnat from LaPala 4. Winger from D.J. 5. Winged Nerd from jaybar Decided I will pour all of you a bag (of 5 or 6) for helping out...PM me your address if you want them & I'll get some out on Tuesday. Thanks to all for some great names!!!! Might print this list for further "creations"!!! Thanks!! Jim

Its still there between quote and report, the button isn't visible right now but if you move your pointer over that area and click, it works...I'd bet there a some site updates going on and we are in the middle...

Some candle dyes will work but you need to get the liquid dye not the wax!! The wax makes a mess!!! We have a local cndle making place here and I have found some great pearlized colors. Jim Senkosam is your glitter connection!!!

Most Ebayers are looking for a great deal so price is the biggest issue it seems. Al's worms does great (saw 30 worms close for over $30). Its almost like he has a "cult" following and rightfully so...his baits rock!! I look at it this way. I'm not looking to get rich off Ebay but it does offset the cost of my plastic a little and I'm not just giving them away (as us plastic guys do sooooo often). You get worldwide exposure for just a few cents (you can't beat that price anywhere) and you do get inquiries for more baits after somebody actually gets your product in their hands. All in all, I think its a good venue for exposure but not something to bank your retirement fund on !!! Jim

OK...now what do I do??? There are at least 5 or 6 I'm really digging!!! Guess I'm going to have to decide AND send out a few bags of these !! Another gallon of plastic is in the house courtesy of Del and fedex... :!: I'll let a few more replies come in and then I'll try to decide Thanks for the names!!! Jim

Try lurecraft but ask them for the ones with the wooden handles. Also they come in right or left handed so be sure to specify. I think other sites have them also...some guys just form them out of cans or other pots. My wife found a great measuring set with a spout on each cup however the handles are metal and get hot REAL fast!! The heat even gets you through a good oven mit. :!: Jim

You can do as pop says but just be careful to control the heat. I prefer to transfer my plastic to aluminum cups that I can control the pour better from. Especially if you are pouring a smaller mold or poring a tip, tail, vein, etc. I just get better control of the pour that way. If I'm just pouring one color or have one main color, I will leave the plastic in the pyrex cup and put it on the burner or just re-heat it in the micro. If any plastic drips onto the burner, your gonna get more smoke than you want. I bought this Air Bake cookie sheet to put on the burners to help distribute the heat and prevent the excess plastic from getting to the burner itself. I figured if it could stop my wife from burning cookies (my 4 year old used to ask my wife if she could burn him some chocolate chips ), then it could help me with my plastic!!! Thats just my set up. I'm sure other guys have different and probably better setups but mine works for me for now. Jim

I can't think of anything good..so its up to you guys/gals to figure it out!! Winner will get a bag of them.... Jim[/img]

Tyro (which means beginners or students) fluke!!!!

Hey bassinbad: Make sure you really mix that 5 gallon bucket well. Like use a drill with a paint stirrer on the end. Otherwise you'll get some baits that won't even harden and some that are a lot harder. You might even want to start out with just a gallon. Depending on the size of the bait, 1 gallon will get you 500 or more baits!!! Either way...have fun and post some pics.

Jig man: I've used black grape (about 8-10 drops) per 8oz with about 5-8 drops of strawberry. I don't measure exactly so you may have to play around with it a little but this will get you real close. Jim

Jigmeister: I ended up getting that powder from an Ebay auction. If I had any left I would send you some.. I've either used it myself or sent it on to other TU members to try out. other sites like M-F carry powders but I've never tried theirs out. The powder makes a nice opaque worm with just a little powder!!! Jim

Georgia boys unite!!!! I'm always up for some fishin' and grillin' (As long as my wife sayz OK ) Jim Valdosta, GA

Sweet success!!!! Pour on Jigsisme!!!!!!! Jim

Jigs: One more thing..if you do bake your prototype of it is a hard bait, coat it with Devcon before you try to mold it again. Without it coated the plaster enters all the little pours and essentially bonds with your prototype. Looking forward to seeing your baits when they get done!!!! Jim

Jigs: Just my opinion but I would stay with plaster for now. Its cheaper if things don't work out and the easiest to work with. Try just putting some plaster in the pan and adding water until its soupy but not runny, then add some worms you have laying around into the plaster and wait until it dries. Practice with worms once like that so you have an idea of how long to leave them in before removing. If your prototypes are coated with some sort of release agent (worm oil, pam,etc) they should come out of the plaster regardless of how long you leave them in. I made a mold today using a marble and some other things and left it for about 4 hours. Came back, popped everything out and went to baking the mold.. Don't give up..you'll get it!!! Jim PS Just think about all your learning You'll be the mold master when this is all over!!

Jigs: What are you tyring to make a mold of? Plaster of paris works great for me everytime and yes, metal baking pans are what I use. I've had as much luck glueing the prototype down as I have just pushing the bait into the plaster of paris (flat side up of course). I usually just use worm oil for a release agent or nothing at all. Jim The big advantage to pushing your bait down into the plaster is that when the plaster almost dry but not to hard, you can de-mold your bait easy.

Especially the plaster type..do you have a case or just pile them in a box? Curious as my collection is growing quick. I'm not to concerned about the aluminum but the plaster is, of course, breakable. Jim