jrhopkins

thanks Brent. working fine now.

i've finally figured out how to post pictures in the gallery after being absent since the website was redone. the question is; i have to click on everything 3 times to bring anything up. is it the site or a problem with my connection? don't have this problem anywhere else.

Ben, i've got a Duracraft model sp30 i've had for about 35 years. drilled everything from pvc to steel plate with it. belt drive. check ebay. there are some there for cheap.

i've used the Glo Nation powder on some swimbaits. glows like a neon light! what i did was to spray the bait with clear polyurathane, dump the powder on, shake off the excess and let dry. i then sprayed with poly again to lock the powder and then epoxy coated it.

the pvc trim i get at Lowes does have a HARD skin . you will need to trim this off as it is really hard to carve through. i trim my pieces on a tablesaw. you can sand it off with some 80 grit but it will take a while.

ask them if they have pvc exterior trim . my local Lowes sells it but not under the name of Azek. make sure you are not getting vinyl trim as it is hard as a rock. you should be able to mark the cut end with your thumbnail without much problem.

here you go!

Dave, looks like the wood you are using is similar to balsa ( judging from the picture ) and reasonably soft. try this, get a screwdriver approx. the size of the slot you want or something similar. heat it with a propane torch and press it into the wood where you want the slot. you can wiggle it around to enlarge the slot. it may take a couple of heatings. i just tried it on the edge of my work table ( old door, haha ). two heatings and i could get it in about 8mm. john p.s. any luck with the free sample of azek from vintage woodworks?

thanks for the feedback. i thought i remembered some posts quite some time back. got some items to get and they have them. thanks again.

has anyone delt with them lately? i remember some negative comments sometime ago but haven't seen anything on them lately.

not an air brush guy so i can't advise on that. i'm sure others who do use air will give you some tips. i always put the lip in last so i don't get anything on it when i do the clearcoat. i use5 min Devcon which has done well for me.

you have already learned one lesson. test before the finish work! i test everything i make ( well over 500 baits) before i do the final paint, detail, clearcoat, etc. that gives me the chance to do alterations if needed. TEST LIPS: i have a bunch of different lips that i use to test with and when i find the one that works best i cut another like it to use in the bait. you could make some temporary lips using posterboard and tape them in place.

try a larger lip. not as wide and a little deeper. i usually have to try 2-3 different lips in the bait before i do the final finish work. you could cut a different shape lip and attach it to the fixed lip with some double stick tape for a temporary trial. also i find that a floating worm works better for the tail giving more tail movement.

i started making my baits about 6 years ago after buying a " swimbait" made by a well known company ( Strike King ) and was not real impressed with either the action or the finish. i thought. " i can do better than that!". so i started fooling around with carving, painting, materials, etc. to get to the point i am today with my baits. i also do not like lips and i wanted something that would have a more natural swimming motion so i started expiermenting with muliple jointed baits. i would have to vote for action over finish details as i have caught fish on baits that were not finished when i was out testing them. but as long as i have to paint it anyway i try to get them as natural looking as i can. i think that any bait will catch fish under certain circumstances.have caught a bunch of fish with spinnerbaits which look nothing like something a fish would eat ( reaction strike? )i think it comes down to confidence in the bait you are using that will make you stay with it rather than switching to something else that might work better. Dave, thanks for the accolades, always nice to know your work is appreciated

i use pvc for my baits ( no issues with grain ). you might try poplar wood. i used to use it when i first started. carves and sands easy and you won't have the grain issues as with a lot of other wood. also basswood is a popular wood to use.