smallmouthaholic

You shoot the top color darker 1part plastisol) and the lighter belly color 3 parts plastisol.As you know Frank,I use presto pots w/ stirrers so- 2 cups for the top color and 6 cups for the bottom color so I use and run out of plastisol evenly.

Yes-I have one and it works fine. Frank is correct-it is for use w/ the newer shooting star blending block that remains stationary. It is a 3-1 ratio which must be taken into consideration when preparing your plastic for injection.

The runners and sprues in CNC ,hand injection molds consume a great deal of plastic.You can successfully re-use them if you add new plastic and are willing to experiment by adding new and varied colorant w/flake. Cut them up into small pieces before melting again. Mechanical stirring is necessary while re-heating. Solid colors are easy but laminated sprues required cutting in half w/ a knife.You'll have some mixing of colors inside the sprues but separate them and treat the predominant colors individually. White and pearl hues are the toughest to re-use due to heat degradation of the colors.That said,they can be re-used if not overheated w/ the 1st use.

http://www.wtp-inc.com/products/flat-stick-on-eyes/ Click-on products and the 3-d eyes will come up

TOPFLiTE 1994- I never took your post as a bashing or ridicule- just in-experienced dock talk which seems at times to run rampant here @ TU.Unfortunately you won't learn the versatility of various swim-baits and weighted head designs since there's a durability and price issue in your mind.Try somethin' new- whatcha gonna do? Storm swim-bait are ok and relatively in-expensive but fall far short of a versatile swim-bait for all seasons and most certainly-varied structure and weedy situations.Bass metabolism becomes much slower in colder water w/associated barometric changes/ post weather frontal conditions and Storm swim-baits are worthless I.M.O. & experience.So tell me,how much money are you saving after you drive to the lake ,launch your boat and find out the bass want a much slower,sinking swim-bait with excellent snag resistance qualities? Compare the cost and versatility of swim-baits vs. crank-baits- but that's for another discussion.Swim-baits are dirt cheap compared to Lucky Craft $15.00 spinner baits and Mega bass hard body baits. There is no durability issue when a $17.00 L.C. SBJ gets bit off on the 1st cast by a hungry toother . You are most certainly entitled to decide where you spend money on your fishing hobby.

Mesh would not fit inside those thin tails and would negate the action. I've used Storm swim-baits years ago and they sink too fast for shallow water. We hammer bass in pad beds going dormant( just a few stalks and pads remain) in late October using a 3.75" River darter swim-bait rigged weedless w/ a 1/16 oz. flutter head. Most swim-bait would fall lifeless w/ that light weight. I think you need some hands on experience manufacturing soft plastics in custom CNC molds before you make suggestions that simply are not feasible. Stick w/ your Storm baits since price is your main point vs. versatility w/ productive options.

OK- if you like to use Storm live Kickin' shad then stick w/ them. Just don't throw them in trees,ledge rock and weeds w/ that exposed treble hook I manufacture high end swim-baits w/ various ,weighted hooking options for open and snag infested water.I insist on balanced swim-baits that have excellent tail action on the" do-nothing drop" (since that's when most bass hit them) and they must fall w/out rolling over on their side( central balance) Have you priced live shiners plus the cost/ expense and inconvenience to obtain them? I have no intentions of adding internal mesh to my swim-baits since it would stiffen the action and end up costing more time to manufacture.. BTW- Storm baits are made in Japan

Cadman and smalljaw- Good ,honest replies-I enjoyed reading both of them in their entirety.I mentioned that last year was the pilot year for my Bronze-eye Bullet,non-painted spinner bait heads fished in rivers for smallmouth bass. 4 color skirts,quality worth blades / bearings and a bright, WTP recessed 3-d eye.They work in spades for those who don't want to spend $6-7 bucks for a painted spinner bait head.I've painted more 3-color spinner bait heads then I can remember-nor care too. They are a time consuming P.I.A. I think anglers are their own worst enemy @ times forgetting what has worked for years and buying fancy baits looking for the magic bullet bait.

Interesting but I've got to chuckle over the somewhat anality of concern over jig head paint and color.I guess I'm too old and set in my ways but after 35+ years of manufacturing and fishing jigs I firmly beleive in two jig head colors-black and green pumpkin.If you want your painted jig head to last longer,coat them w/ epoxy. Today's multicolored silicone skirts and two-color injected trailers representations do the trick to perfectly emulate crayfish. The hook,weed guard,head design and balance of the completed jig is far more important vs 2-3 colored heads w/ eyes.I do respect those who are willing to make the fancy jig head colors w/ eyes.That said,they simply make no difference in the catch rate. If you want a swim-bait presentation,fish a swim-bait w/ all the lifelike representations available to anglers today. $8.00 for 2 ozs- are they kidding me??!! You can give the best multicolored jig/trailer combo w/ the most sensitive rod /reel and line combos to a mediocre fisherman and he still won't catch fish simply because his presentation techniques and jig experience is lacking.So many younger anglers are putting" the cart in front of the horse."

Nice machine and good video presentation.$4500.00 but no mechanical stirrers which leads to problems that become annoying.

60-90-150- single or double,non-coated wire. It all depends on the resistance you desire and the hook size These cut 150 clean and easily w/o spreading the ends of the 7 strand wire https://agsstainless.com/shoppingcart/Cable-Cutters-for-cable-rail-installation?gclid=CJLts6S

Thanks for the honest answer. Cutting non-coated,7 strand wire is tricky. I'll continue to use my linked cable cutters- they will cut 5-7 wires simultaneously when trimming for precise lengths.

Bingo! You hit the nail squarely on the head. It amounts to some extra spending money and personal satisfaction vs. sitting on your butt watching T.V. I'm not the sharpest knife in the drawer but was a successful contractor w/ 3-5 employees for 30 years. I've been making baits for 11 years-sold to stores and clubs in the past.Now I only do one Expo a year and the rest internet sales. 240 +CNC custom molds-mega bucks there),Components,Shop/Office (including utility and stationary supplies), internet fees and computer expenses,Web-master fees,Domain name protection,video productions,real estate taxes and Pay Pal cost take a major slice out of the pie.Then you pay the quarterly 10% excise tax on gross sales. I have created a small business for custom lures of which there is a limited market place that is willing to pay and appreciates these products. I was always taught to do either quality or quantity since you can't mix both. I have "O" outstanding invoices w/ any of the suppliers I deal with.

Small jaw- Thanks for the reply. I believe you're using plastic coated 7 strand wire-correct? That would be easier to cut vs non-coated 7 strand wire.Non coated wire will separate and mush-out on the ends unless the cutting apparatus is sharp. I too cut a great deal of non-coated wire for my jigs w/the cable pliers I posted. Cutting isn't too bad but double bending the ends over so they stay in the lead head jig is time consuming and hard on your wrist.

Your link didn't open.- Try this one http://www.amazon.com/Jewelers-Wire-Guillotine-Cutter-Tool/dp/B0074AQY2C I wonder if that will cut multi-stranded wire- do you have experience w/ this using the aforementioned wire type w/the linked guillotine cutter?

He has the name" Maniac Custom Lures" registered. You cannot use that name referring to your own custom lures.That said, Maniac would stop most infringement if he had the this symbol ® @ the end of his logo. Once your fictitious Name /Logo is registered and a U.S. trademark granted ,you have exclusive use of that particular name associated w/ your company. That said ,it's always best to consult w/ legal counsel before assuming anything today concerning trademarks and patents. Coca-Coia- Pepsi- etc ring any bells?

You are selling sport fishing tackle. 1-You will need an E.I.N. number from the government( federal identification number) 2-You will need to file and pay the quarterly -10% excise tax on gross sales If you get caught ,the penalties and interest are not pleasant.The I.R. S. will and does investigate small tackle manufacturers and sellers.. You stated you're on Facebook/Instagram so you are already on their radar screen Thank you for wanting to do business properly and pay your taxes. That said, the net profit will really hit home after you legally operate your business and pay your necessary taxes. Do it right and sleep @ night

Why not? Ignore the thread if you find it objectionable.There are folks on here that operate a legitimate business.A trademarked name registered w/ the U.S. Patent and trademark office will be vigorously defended. Registered Trademarks are more affordable to obtain today vs.25+ years ago.It's best to respect the legal rights of those who spend the time and $ to trademark their company name /and or baits.Receiving a cease and desists order from a legal firm over trademark infringement is no laughing matter.

I don't mean to rain on your parade but I hear the same praise all the time but- 1- I still invest $ into the business after11 years of heavy financial commitment 2- Countless hrs. go into my website / videos and of course $ 3- I work 40+ hrs weekly and that will soon become 50-60 hrs- The rivers and lakes here are frozen but early orders keep coming in) 12 hr days will be the norm soon 4- I have to push myself on bad days to keep producing- if I stop ,the business stops Could I support myself w/ the profit ?- NOT A CHANCE! Retirement portfolio and Social Security does that.The business provides me with some extra income to spend on my fresh water fishing adventures.You're young and easily mislead by all the dock talk,hot-air and the gimme crowd w/their hands open and no $ for you.. What ever path you choose, do not ever put your product in a store on consignment. I get plenty of e-mails every spring and some throughout the year from fishermen asking for sponsorship/pro-staff positions. They all start out by saying"I love your Baits"--some even have the nerve to say " I'll make you famous". I ask them all one simple question- " If you love my baits so much why isn't your name on my customer data base ?". The gimme crowd never sleeps and there is a new group of them every year! This is one cutthroat business where aggravation,B.S.,backstabbing and price gouging runs rampant- plus the "under the table crowd". I sincerely wish you good luck ! You're welcome to call me via telephone if you'd like more info on operating a legitimate,small-custom tackle MFG business.

A plumbing business and making custom crank-baits for a living is as different as apples and oranges.A Master Plumber is a respected tradesman.A small lure manufacturing business is good for those nearing or in retirement that have a good business mind and experience.Get a good education and then become established in your career.After you have a nice retirement portfolio built up and are nearing the age of 55,start looking into your lure mfg. as a hobby/business.A sole proprietorship ( w/o employees) works as long as you are healthy and have above average initiative .

Sally Hanson's "Hard as Nails" is the greatest creation since peanut butter and jelly!

I've been doing the exact deal for 20 years

330F or cooler- if you can. The problem arises when you want the plastic to free flow into small appendages w/out over pouring that will require hand trimming and this may require hotter temperatures.What type and shape of lures are you pouring-fresh or salt water? Salt water plastic usually requires hotter plastic on the initial heating and can change color easier if you overheat. You can blend salt-water w/ a medium plastisol for a custom result. If you're just starting out and can afford to spend the $,consider moving into injection w/ CNC precision,2 part aluminum molds. You'll same money,time and aggravation in the long term and have the ability to inject lures w/ small appendages.You'll produce consistent finished product you'll be proud of.

I've been using these for years.They work like a charm. https://agsstainless.com/shoppingcart/Cable-Cutters-for-cable-rail-installation?gclid=CJLts6SCusMCFalj7AodfW4AIw

Spray the spout area w/dropout,flux your lead and then enjoy pouring precise amounts of lead w/ a controlled flow rate. Monitor your lead temps. w/ that pot which will push it over 1000F- to a high of 1200F if left on as the amount of lead decreases in the small pot.