Wayupnorth36

I never want to fool around with bristles, so I use the cheapo sponge brushes, you can pay a lot for them at a hardware store, or keep your eyes open and you can find deals on them in walmart and other places for a dozen or 20 or so for a buck or two. They don't collect dust or lose hairs. I use etex, and don't seem to have any trouble with dust or anything.

Really great, thorough tutorial. Thanks for sharing some of your secrets. Alex

For putting a treble in the middle of the bait, most guys put a split ring on the wire shaft between a couple of beads, and attach another split ring and treble to that.

@ Mr. J -- I used poplar about 6-7 years ago when I first started making musky baits (crudely, though, using a kitchen knife for carving, not sealing them) and I liked how light it is and easy to work. For the last 3-4 years I've had a nice supply of oak and maple, and it is tougher to shape, and likes to split on the router if i'm not careful enough, but I like the toughness.

Mark I can't quite picture this groove on the head that you mentioned, would you mind posting a pic? Thanks Alex

Dean Great beer commercial reference. It emboldened me to go up to the cooks and ask for the foil and the manufacturer. But when I got up to the counter, the cook couldn't hear me, so I grabbed a piece of foil, grabbed my skirt so I wouldn't trip, and ran. Anyhow, here's a couple pics of the stuff. It comes in 8" x 10" sheets, appx. It is the same toughness and reflectivity as aluminum foil. It's folded in the middle, has diamond impressions throughout, but also some diagonal-running marks that are less desirable, and some fold marks as well, but it may serve some purpose, especially with the ingenuity and creativity that I've seen displayed on this site already. The manufacturer is Sysco out of Houston, TX. Hope this helps. Alex

Mark - Some company still makes a foil that has a scale type pattern on it, I saw it in the kitchen of a cafeteria the other day, but I couldn't quite see the name on the package :(I was too embarassed to ask them the name of the foil manufacturer, and also to wash the grease off of the piece of foil that came with my patty melt.But the next time that I am there, I will grow a pair and find out who the manufacturer of that foil is.Alex

i haven't been airbrushing that long (4 or 5 months) but I use Createx paints, and any acrylic from walmart or hobby lobby. The difference that I have noticed so far is that it is hard to shoot a fine line with the cheaper paints. i use krylon white for a primer, and top it with etex. 76gator - could you post some of those taxidermy sites you mentioned? I'd be interested in looking at some other types of paint. Thanks, Alex

Since I haven't got the years of experience that other guys on this site have, I was trying to get at the longevity of poplar lures. Is there any difference in longevity between woods once they are properly sealed and topcoated?

Regular old Elmer's wood glue is pretty darn strong, and Gorilla Glue is good too.

Has anyone had any problems with poplar lure bodies? So far I have used mostly oak and maple for musky lures, but I have a lot of poplar, aspen and birch saved up to use. But a friend of mine told me that poplar isn't very durable. He has never made baits from it, though. I wouldn't have thought that it would matter too much once you seal it and coat it with a few coats of your favorite topcoat. I've seen a lot of lures in the gallery that have been made out of poplar, has anyone had any durability issues with those lures?

When I saw "wall of shame" I was excited that someone else would be willing to show off their less-than-perfect lures. I have LOTS of failures, and I love the chance for some good self-deprecating humor. But when I saw your lousy excuse for a wall of shame, I was too ashamed to share mine. I keep them all to remind me of some of the progress that I've made, but after seeing your "failures"... well, I better get back to painting, so my failures can look that good. One of these days though, when I get the time, I'll post some pictures of failed concept lures and body designs. I'd be interested to see failed designs from other "lure visionaries.":sauced:

If you have a Dremel, it usually comes with a polishing wheel and a small container of brick red polishing compound. This won't restore your Lexan to perfect clarity, but it will get you pretty close.

I got the 2006 GF from Airbrush City, and then a couple months later I got a top-notch Badger airbrush, both have same specs and features. So far the only difference that I've noticed is that the badger needles are a little more stout, and the badger trigger is more comfortable if you are using it for long periods. As far as performance, the badger is DEFINITELY less finicky about getting clogged with paints like pearls and metal flake paints. Other than that, I'm still too much of an airbrush rookie to notice a difference yet. Hope that helps. Alex

I do all of my woodworking out in the garage, and all of my painting and clearing in the laundry room in the basement. Nice to keep the sawdust away from the E-tex and paint.

I didn't get a chance to vote because I am an over the road truck driver, and sometimes don't have internet access for a week at a time, or more, sometimes til i get home. But whenever I do, you can be sure that I check this website thoroughly, even if I don't post a lot, because I feel that I've still got more to learn than to give at this point. Fee or no fee, this site has my full support, cuz it's a great place for the best info and some creative minds and senses of humor. Thanks to all who make it great! Alex

Jamie great post about the lure with the pic of you and your son. What a great, sentimental bait that must have been! On the practical side, too, you never know what might motivate a fish to bite. I once fished one of my uncle's lures, a musky glider that he liked to call "Mr. Ugly" that my cousin had taken to art class for a project and had painted, well, I guess the best comparison would be to a tie-dyed T-shirt. It was swirly, kind of, and didn't look like ANYTHING in nature, but I caught a musky on it, and that wasn't the first one that it had caught. Anyhow, from one newbie airbrusher to another, good work! Alex

I buy "torsion straightened" ss wire. Is this the same wire that you are all talking about, or are you using unstraightened? I use the torsion straightened stuff for spinner shafts, or whatever I want to be straight, and got some other ss wire for whatever else. The torsion straightened stuff is about a buck higher in price, but springs right off the roll.

ROTARY TOOL. (I use a Dremel, but Sears has one too, I guess it doesn't matter which) For drilling, sanding, detailing, routing, etc... Don't know what I'd do without it.