21xdc

Does featherlite sand like wood? Where can I get some? How much does it cost? Does it float like wood? Can I get 1/2 in dowels in it? Do the screweye bite good into it? I'd love to try some. My 13 yr old boy bought me 20 ft of 1/2 dowel for Christmas.. So I'm covered in wood.

I'm not saying that how I do mine is best... It works long enough for me to loose them.. I never have a bait long enough to rot on me. Not sure this is as important as some think. I could make my baits from naked cedar or douglas fir and let nature take it's coarse and I'd still loose it before it rotted.

I don't have a thinning formula. It takes very little acetone to thin. I make it like hot pancake syrup.

I thin my e-tex with acetone (per manufacture reccomendation). When I coat my wood baits, It gets absorbed into the wood. Not just coated. I like the boyancy of wood and want to keep air in my baits.

Some use elmers glue. I use e-tex with good success. Crystal sheen is what I use.

For me, The deeper cup spins in a tighter circle and has less resistance and viberation. I think the flatter blades work best.

I have found that in our smallmouth waters here, That when you put a bigger or thumpier blade on you get alot more blade hits and misses. Even though I use owner hooks and trailer hooks. The best night time bait here is a 3/8 oz single spin #4-5 max and a huge black musky size skirt with alot of bulk. This combo will win most every night tournament here in the right hands. I even started making SB with a #6 treble where the swivel normally goes and put the single colorao up on the shaft/clevis so the blade would spin around the hook. I was catching fish on the blade. But the fish were getting tore up when hooked on the main hook and the treble was ripping slices in their back etc. So I quit that. Thats right... I was freaking guys out when I told them " I make spinnerbaits without swivels"

I just fill the hole over full with this RTV and let dry. Then take a razor blade and cut off flush with the mold. This RTV will shape to the hook etc and pour w/o any flash with all kinds of different hooks. Takes more heat than JBWeld too.

Sounds like you may have a good thing going to me... I think you will loose some detail but you loose some adding paint, scuffing or sanding too.

The old lure called the "Hula Popper" has had a skirted tail for 50+ years. I agree that the skirt is on the bait and not the hook. Looks good to me.

Exhale on the bubbles when they rise in the mixing cup etc... Apply and let the bubbles surface again and exhale on them. The carbon dioxide will pop them. It's not the heat that does it like some think. Read #4 Environmental Technology Inc.

I also use this>>> http://www.tackleunderground.com/forum/wire-baits/15459-thin-wire-hook.html But not if your trying to drill or shape it.

You might try putting some Permatex ultra copper high temp RTV silicone in the area you want to plug up. It will hold up to the heat and flex to allow for the bigger hooks as well. I drill out areas in my molds pretty deep, Then fill in with this stuff and let dry. Then I can use reg and flat eyes and still works great. http://www.permatex.com/products/Automotive/automotive_gasketing/gasket_makers/auto_Permatex_Ultra_Copper_Maximum_Temperature_RTV_Silicone_Gasket_Maker.htm

I have used one of the JB Weld that can tolorate 500*. It has red and black caps and is labled "Marine" It has worked great for me w/o and problems comming loose. I cleaned the area out with acetone real well before applying. Good Luck. J-B Weld Company - MARINE WELD Product Information

I have found that whenever I painted and clearcoated blades, The spinning action was killed. But these were on #4 and #5 willowleafs. I'm sure the bigger blades will have less effect.

I tie all of mine with 22-24 gauge copper craft wire. Two wraps, pull tight and twist. Cut off the tag end and looks great. I have also tied the wire right on top of the collar with good success.

Who needs paint when it looks that good?

For 20 years thats the only jig I used. I used the eagle claw 5/0 L2221 round bend. As soon as mustad came out with the 40-5/0 EWG with a 28-30* leg, I started using them and my bite to catch ratio went down imediatly. I was making a ton of these for others that also had the same results. I had bought them by the thousands and chose not to use them in my personal baits. Just for the guys that requested them until they were almost gone. Now I still have a few. As soon as I went back to a round bend hook, the hook ups were as good as usuall. Owner is the best hook out there with Gamakatsu a close second. I modify all my molds to accept a good hook and size that I want. Nice looking baits.

Great post... I thought the same thing, But never weighed them.... I would not use weight of two different materials thinking the volume would be the same. I use measuring medicine cups as well... It's how you mix them is the key as well. Environmental Technology Inc.

Reflector prism tape, molded and stick on lure eyes for fishing lures Fishing Lure Tape STAMINA QUALITY COMPONENTS Your Complete Source For Fishing Lure Components Does this help any?

:yes:Awesome!!!!!!

http://www.barlowstackle.com/acb/showdetl.cfm?&DID=6&Product_ID=2380&CATID=114 Mustang Wire Products, Inc. - What's New

I have been making them long before do-it. Barlows sells ss hitch hikers that I think you can make work in the reg do-it molds. They are smaller in diameter. I biught my wires from mustang wire co, But you need to buy 30-40K at a time. http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e102/21xdc/Custombaits.jpg http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e102/21xdc/SSShakyHeads003.jpg http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e102/21xdc/SwivelShakyHeads.jpg http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e102/21xdc/SwivelShakyHeads005.jpg http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e102/21xdc/SwivelShakyHeads002.jpg http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e102/21xdc/100_0343-1.jpg http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e102/21xdc/P2270046.jpg http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e102/21xdc/P1010025.jpg Also made these a while back, I like the screw lock better. http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e102/21xdc/Tipupstandupshakyheads005.jpg http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e102/21xdc/Tipupstandupshakyheads004.jpg http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e102/21xdc/Tipupstandupshakyheads003.jpg http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e102/21xdc/Tipupstandupshakyheads001.jpg I hope this helps.

Yep... Barlows no workie right nowie Barlow's Online Directory (New)

"Envirotex Lite Pour on" HIGH GLOSS FINISH One coat equals up to 50 coats of varnish! Low odor, solvent free" Environmental Technology Inc. Bottom left...