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bluefin- just done a search, you should find an answer in here : http://www.tackleunderground.com/community/index.php?app=core&module=search&do=search&fromMainBar=1 I live in Australia and most of our poppers are a lot smaller than you probably want - For larger poppers, broom handle/dowel and a lathe seem to be the way to go there. Hope this helps. Pete

I just noticed I don't have a 'location' either, looks like Gerry has pinched my identity!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.Pete

Sorry - must have had small pox or something, BUT the other lures in the box did not catch it. Anyway the fix was, re-coat it. pete

Angus- yes, takes me a while to hook on, BUT I found it eventually!!!!!!!!!!!!!! J - I have used some of this PVC board (known in Australia as ‘Expanded PVC Board’ or ‘PVC Celuka Foam Board’) . Pros are: I have found as the other guys have said, “it works just like wood” but without the grain and is perfect for Bream lures or other toothy fish as it does not suck up water when punctured- takes pint o.K., likes epoxy for ‘hangers’ and ‘screw eyes’ - it’s tougher than Cedar - I have satisfactorily laminated halves with ‘Plumbers Pipe Glue’. Cons are: It is VERY buoyant and will need a lot more ‘ballast’ than usual, unless you are using it for ‘poppers’ (for which it is near perfect). If you use electric sanders it tends to ball up the surface which makes it hard to finish. Clear finishing (IMO) for toothy fish, needs to be a bit softer than hard epoxies as it tends to chip off. An old friend of mine on here (‘Coley’) sent me some thin sheets to play with which is excellent as it has very small air cells (denser) and on small lures finishes near perfectly, the PVC I have found here is a bit coarser and harder to finish on small lures, but the size you are talking about would be no problem. It seems the thinner the sheet the denser the PVC is!!!!!!! Where do you get it??? I am not sure where you live (it helps if you add your location in your 'profile') - BUT- go to your local plastic supplier (Perspex, lexan etc) and ask for Celuka board, or Sign Writers/ display type people, they use it to mount large photos for billboards - comes in 2.4 X 1.2 sheets @ 6 - 25mm thick. I have a small amount of 18mm here, if you laminate 2 pieces and you get 36mm which should be wide enough for your purposes. Send me min sizes and I will send you some pieces to try. See it here: http://allstarplastics.com.au/pvc.htm Pete

I have but only in patches!!! - Inadequate mixing of the epoxy, BUT I think it was more than likely mixing unequal volumes of epoxy (D2T).Pete

Gee Mike you started at the hard end of lure making here, nice job, and to have it swim too is a real credit to you - I think I made 4 before I got it near right.. Pete

HUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUMMMMMMMMM- Yummy , I just had a look at their website, there is some good gear there- and amazing variety of cutting tools and sanders, can't wait to get back over there and do some shopping. Pete

In my recent, and what seems never ending search for a efficient dust mask, I came across this - food for thought: http://www.ubeaut.com.au/badwood.htm Pete

Great idea Stryker, I can think of a few applications for your gladwrap thing - I am not sure if anyone has mentioned it , but there is a very good Tutorial by Jerry (RedG8r) "TU 2010 Vacuum forming" - here: http://www.ustream.tv/user/tuwebcast/videos Pete

Thanks Dean- I ordered one express freight on Tuesday (3 days back) and it still has not arrived, I would have been better off ordering it from U.S They have a 4 micron filter and are washable, which I liked - I just measured my neck and ordered that size (16 -18). I will let you know how it goes, if it ever gets here.Pete

Thanks Phil, I have one of these, great for spraying but is a sweat box after 1/2 an hour of sanding, so then the saw dust sticks all over my face, Nice Look!!! Dave I will PM you about your FF mask?? Pete

Thanks Dave, I have an enclosed graphite mask but it gets a bit sweaty in there, especially in the Summer, also use the P1 masks and they leak around my big hooter allowing dust to enter and clog it up - Looks like I might have to spend the big $ on and fan forced wood turners mask, if this ' dust be gone' does not work - or give up wood!!!!!!!!!! Thanks again Pete

I'm looking for a better dust mask- was going to buy one of those pressurised / full helmet thingos, but they are $450 here. Has anyone used one of these 'Dust Be Gone ' masks, if so , Pros/ cons??? https://carrolls.sitesuite.net.au/shop/category/protective-safety-wear Thanks in advance .Pete????

Go out to your local hardware store and find something cheap with a clear plastic cover and cardboard sheet back - you know the ones that drive you crazy when you are trying to get the staples out, or the ones that are welded all round and you need a sabre saw to open them up, these are blister packs, the plastic is heated and shrunk down around the article inside - Find something flat like a roller tray and you will have a nice flat sheet of plastic, that will form with heat. I'm sure you guys would have a million places where you can just go in and buy a sheet of this stuff, but not living there I would not have a clue. Pete

It used to be close but with all the rain you guys get there Clinton is probably in it by now:eek:. Pete

Jig - try making a full stencil rather than one for each side. Get some old blister pack and fold it over a bait blank, then heat with a heat gun while stretching the plastic around the blank, meeting at the bottom, then, cursing your blistered fingers, let it (stencil) cool and cut out your pattern. pete

Pikester- I have not had the pleasure of working Bass Wood, but when I was over there I did have the pleasure of feeling it, nice even grain and very light. I could not buy any because on my return, Australian Customs would have arrested me, then nailed me to the plank and floated me back. We are paranoid here (for good reason) about importing wood worms and borers, that would eat their way across the country like everything else we have snuck in over the centuries. Saying that I would like to get hold of a lump, and I dare say I could probably buy some here somewhere. Here is a link to a site with all your timbers and their properties - as you can see Bass Wood is 4 times the density of Balsa, but there are apparently a lot of grades in Balsa. Pete http://www.csudh.edu...mdata/woods.htm

I have not made balsa lures for years, but when I did I vacuumed them in what we call 'Airoplane Dope' here, which is probably what Kosta is talking about, "Celluloid" in acetone . I have vacuumed my later lures in Prop a few times and it seems O.K but the wood I use now is a lot harder than balsa and really does not need hardening. There is a 'How To' here- Post #39: http://www.stripersonline.com/surftalk/showthread.php?p=3862497&highlight=Vacuum#post3862497 I am wondering about breathing and using your finger to push CA glue around as a sealer, I thought it had cyanide in it???????? Oh yes, I still have some of those old lures (about 25yo) which were dipped in Dope and don't bother using it, it breaks down and cracks, breaking the paint and clear over it - Try Propionate, should be much better then 'Dope' - BUT, you can't trick me, I am not going to get into that "Epoxies V Prop" thing . Pete

Dieter- the UV Polycarbonate they sell here is for the protection of anyone sitting under it (sunburn is a big problem here) rather than to protect the plastic structure - I assume the plastic there is the same, but probably better quality:angry:, so I would be saving the $15 and buying the cheap stuff. Also used in windows to stop furniture/curtains etc fading, and on pictures to stop the paint/photos from fading. Pete

Good on you TW, good to see someone having a go - it looks like you know what you are doing but watch out you don't get molten aluminium in the face (wet sand) I used to do it for a living years back. >pete

Gene- They have been selling them here for a few years, never owned one (have a Min - kota) but know a few guys that do and no problems that I have heard. Check out these LOCAL forums, there should be a lot of info on them, also some on the new Min Kota's, which are giving no end of trouble down here with the GPS bit, seems we are upside down here. Pete http://www.breammaster.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=27 http://www.sweetwaterfishing.com.au/Forum/