JBlaze

Ben, you are understanding perfectly. I would not do the cutting until the stencil is formed. I am going to try this in the next few days, Will post the results after I get it done. I thought as we get older, that we would have more free/liesure time. I am finding it to be just the opposite. I am really looking forward to retirement. John

Looks like a Mike Bowers bait to me

bsgorilla and kajay, both those ideas sound plausible. I could freehand it on paper scan it into the computer do a mirror image of it. Trace each one onto the stencil material. Using two reference points, place flat stencil material on bait, form and cut. I am not making lite of your suggestions, I hope you know that. I appreciate all input from everyone. It sounds too easy, one thing that comes to mind is....if and or will the stencil deform the image differently on each side as it is heated and stretched over the blank lure and vacuumed. If it does then this would defeat the purpose because they would not be identical. I will have to give this one a try.

Nor do I, I don't have time for that. Maybe I will have to settle for "the much better" and you are right about the bass not seeing both sides and I really do believe the fish don't care. I remember Bandit had a lure called a mistake which had a different color on each side, it was very popular. I suppose, I see the artists works in the galleries and want mine to be as nice looking as theirs. It is just me wanting them to turn out perfect. Thanks Ben, that really makes me feel better about it. I have racked my brain for the last couple of nights trying to figure how to make both sides identical. I think I will quit worrying about it. I could not afford someones setup fees, time and expenses of making one with a laser. John

One more thing, the stuff that I used for stencil material was some clear packaging material that came from something that my wife had bought. It is pretty thick .016 and I wasn't sure that it would form but it did so rather nicely. I will be checking out all clear packaging from now on. These stencils seem to be very durable and should last a long time. My next step is to figure out how to cut identical patterns on each side. If I was splitting a production made bait, and copying it that would not be a problem but my patterns will be my own so I have another learning curve to master. I drew a craw pattern on the side of a crank last night then slipped a stencil over it and cut it out with a heated stencil cutter. After getting it cut I slipped a piece of translucent grocery bag under the cut side of the stencil and and outlined the pattern with a fine point sharpie. next, I moved the piece of grocery bag with outline to the other side of the crank and under the stencil. I could see the outline thru the translucent bag and I trace that onto the other side of the stencil and cut it out with the hot stencil cutter. It was much better than my other attempts but still not 100% identical. As I have said previously, I always do things the hard way. What am I missing? John John

Thanks Joe, I promise not to laugh. anything I can learn from someone else's hard earned experiences is very much appreciated. (outside your skill level?)you should see mine, I have no skill. That is another reason I am wanting to do stencils. Looking forward to seeing what you post. John

Thanks Dave

Ben, You da Man! Today was my day off so I did with my third lid as you did with the plywood. I also sacrificed a crank blank. Worked like a charm. Seems like I always do things the hard way. Your way is much simpler and easier. I still used the heat gun, only took about 15 seconds to form each half. Thanks for sharing your method. Hopefully these two pics will post showing the changes.

For some reason, My pics posted in reverse order on Photo Bucket, and I don't know how to fix it.

I have been reading a lot the past couple of years about Stencil making. I finally decided to give it a try. Just want to give a big thank you to all who have touched on this subject and to show a few pictures of how I made mine, in hopes that it may help someone else. I started with two V-8 juice cans. One of them is used for making the vacuum former and one of them is used to supply me with a second lid (or third if needed) for making the second side of the stencil. I used a heat gun and a shop vac to form the stencils. On my second lid, I got a little sloppy and cut the hole a little to large and it is pulling my stencil material down into the gap around the crankbait. I will have to redo this one and be a little more careful with the cutting. I also still need to learn how to learn how to make my patterns exactly the same on both sides of the stencils. Any suggestions appreciated. John http://s253.photobucket.com/user/JBlaze1952/library/Making%20A%20Stencil

Sorry, I got a little ahead of myself, You must first make this little tool posted in the tutorials by Kelly. It works very well. John http://www.tackleunderground.com/community/index.php?/topic/12037-making-consistent-screw-locks-rev-1-0/

I got a little ahead of myself, you must first make this little tool. It is a tutorial posted by Kelly several years ago and it works very well. John http://www.tackleunderground.com/community/index.php?/topic/12037-making-consistent-screw-locks-rev-1-0/

You could make your own http://s253.photobucket.com/user/JBlaze1952/library/Making%20A%20Starter%20Stud%20Corkscrew

i use a notebook paper punch and cut discs out of aluminum flashing or the sides of a soft drink can

Spokes would be attached to the flat outside of the V-Belt

I like what you are saying. and I think I understand the concept. Would this be similar to what you are talking about. Thanks for sharing. John

Great, glad to see you got your thinking cap on. my idea is also along the lines of Atlastone's idea but is a bench top model. Just need to find time to get on it. John

Pete, keep on "evangelizing" I/we love your ideas. Someone may have half a workshop, Mens Shed or Man Cave to spare. John Dave, I'm with you. I also hope thread picks up the pace again. I have another idea, just haven't had the time to give it a whirl yet. John

I don't remember the other site, I joined Jan of 2007 shortly after I found this site. I think it is the best tackle building site on the web. I have gained/learned much information about tackle building from this site. I also think it has the friendliest and most encouraging group of people on earth. Thanks for everything, Long Live TU. John

Was looking at this video, and thinking this one has potential, might work well with Pete's pool pump and a rectangular column Maybe 6 inches wide x height x little less than the length of your test tank. just my thoughts. rjbass, thanks for sharing. John

LPO has them page 112 in their catalog or online @ http://lurepartsonline.com/Online-Store/Muskie-Bait-Parts/Plug-Belly-Weight-Inserts.html

Pete, If I am correct, your example of the pool pump will have a flow rate of 14400 GPH. That is 11.5 times the flow of the pump I used. I think you're on to something. That is great.

Dave, I hate to admit it but you are probably right. Butttttttttttttt, that Hill Billy tinkerer in me still ain't giving up. Pete, cat't wait to see what you come up with. What kind of GPH does a pool pump have?