Sonny.Barile

Well.......Here is my first attemp. I found a peice of 1" x 2" pine in my garage. I dont have much in the way of tools so I had to make do. I dont have a vice so a 3" c-clamp had to do. I roughed out the side profile with an electrig jig saw. The rest was done with a 1" wide rasp and a 1/4" wide file. I didnt even have any sandpaper so I stole the peice that was in my sanding block. It was already used medium grit. I think its time to hit the hardware store. This didnt take very long.....about 20 minutes. If I had a belt sander I could probably do it in about 5. I would like an honest oppinion. Is this any good for a first attempt at the wood working part?

I have been watching all of these guys for years. Most of the shows are just advertisements. Although Bill does have sponsored products, he actually teaches you something. I have watched hours of Hank Parker and Shaw Grigsby not even knowing what the water temp or depth was of where they were fishing. Bill's show gives you the info you need to apply what he is showing you. Most of the Salt Water stuff is just as bad........There is another good show on but I dont know the guys whole name. It is Larry something or other......I caught an episode yesterday and he was showing you how to mold your own soft platics. Very informative........

You guys arent kidding.................I discovered this site about a week ago and have not thought about anything else since. Wife is looking lonely (LOL).............I have spent every waking moment thinking about what type and how..........I bought some polymer clay figuring I could make a mold. I also got a leftover scrap of balsa from a school project my daughter did last year. I never carved anything before so I decided to experiment. I didnt do half bad. I have a real sharp knife but it probably isnt the right type. With a little help from a file and some sand paper I was able to round it out nice. With that under my belt I think I am ready to do some carving. I will be going to the craft store today and obtaining some more balsa. Do you guys usually carve or rasp out the shapes? Or both? Is the typical lure made whole and then drilled or is it two sides glued together? Someone please answer quickly cause I really need to get started today........Im going crazy in my house.....fishing doesnt start up here for at least another month or so.......

Anyone know the approximate quantity of 3 inch shads a person could get from a pint or quart of the soft plastic resin? I want to get some from a supplier and Im not sure what I need.

Folks You can get rid of any discoloration in poly using two simple methods. If you have a blurred effect on the poly, just put it in a small container with one drop of cyanoacrolate (crazy glue) Do not put the glue on the part, just next to it. Leave it somewhere warm for a while and it should do the trick. Warm does not mean in the oven! 70 or 80 degrees f. is fine. The vapor reacts with the polycarbonate. Also, if you have a smoked surface (usually matted or whitish in color) it can be treated by buffing with scotchbrite. If you dont have scotchbrite, just get a new sponge from your kitchen. The type that has the rough plastic scouring material on one side. That stuff is esentially "scotch brite". If the poly was turned on a lathe, and is heavily smoked, just put a little baking soda or even white toothe paste on the scotch brite for the first bit of polishing. Hope this is helpfull..............

Smitty.....The reason I asked is that I worked there about ten years ago. I spent my coffee breaks outside smoking with the hvac guys. One of them was an avid fisherman and and we would trade off stories. His boss was the hvac co. owners son. RJ....they would mention a Smitty when they were talking. Just figured it might coencindentaly be you. Andrea.........those are wicked cool...........

You ever do anywork at ASCO in Florham Park?

Are you south or north? Im up in Secaucus......I fish the Hackensack River and Raritan Bay..........Stripers Blues and Fluke......... You do lathe work..........Are you a machinist?

Thanks Smitty.......BTW I am also a salt water striper guy. I live in NJ....which has a great spring and fall run of stripers...........Seems I am always wishing the lures I buy were just a little bit different. I pondered the thought of trying to build some of my own......and ended up here.......I have a couple of diferent designs in my head and also a few materials I would like to try. I will post pics just as soon as I get something worth looking at......Again....Thanks for the help........

Cant you just pinch a small splitshot (splitshod?) on the hook shank where you want it?

Just a note..........(from a newbie) Storm lures are poured soft plastic and they contain lead weights. I have had left over bags that I stored for the winter then used in the spring. They dont seem to degrade where the weight is. They do however become brittle at the flexible tail. That I think is due to the plastic itself................... I hope this is helpfull.............. Sonny

Smitty919.......how do you distribute your weight in these wood guys pictured below? (if you dont mind me asking)

Hi....Im new to the site. I have the bug to build some lures...so I started poking my nose into this and some other sites to increase my "learnabilty". I noticed the wicked looking top water squids posted by StriperCrazy. I am familiar with the angled head variety, but what about the bullet headed one? What kind of action does that provide? Does it splash when pulled?