Net Man

I use the 3D adhesive eyes on baits that have eye sockets. On baits that do not I use a sticker and paint the black pupil on them. Look at the picture. They look really cool, and a little flash and very easy to do.

OK. I see a lot of good looking bait in the gallery. So how do you guys get the gills painted that look so good? They are sharp and look like a sticker. I use a stencil for mine and they don't look anything like that. What is the secret

How do you guys clear jointed baits with D2T and turn them. The baits wants to flop so how do you keep it straight.

Guys, This is very cool. I did not know if I was on the right track. I will make about 6 baits at a time and from time to time I get some that will not run at all. But I know that I am on the right track and just need keep working on it. Thanks for the imput. I have been using .031" wire. Is this to small? I do make a thru harness but is that nessary? What is the easiest way to put a line tie in the bill for a deep diver?

Hope everyone had a great Thanks Giving. I wanted to compare some notes on building a balsa crankbait. This is how I go about doing it: >I cut out the body and put the 2 halves together with pins. I sand the edges to fine tune the shape. I put a harness in the bait and glue the halves together. Let the glue dry for a day. >I cut the slot for the bill while the sides are flat. Than I start shaping the body to the desired shape. >I drill a hole in the bottom between the bill slot and the hook hanger and add the weight. >I insert the bill and coat the bait with D2T to seal it up. >I test the bait to make sure it will swim true. >If the bait has a good test than I start the painting process What do you guys do that I don't or what do I do the you don't. I am still learning and always looking for a better and easier way to do this. This is where we learn and grow as bait builders so give your thoughts please. Thank you

Do you have pictures of craw fish. I have been looking for craw fish colors to try to copy.

Happy Black Friday!! I am looking for a good craw color combo and pattern. What do you guys have to offer? Thanks

Great news. I have been trying to get some of the top coat for some time now. Put me on the list as well. I will be glad to test too.

Hey guys. I want to start tying my own jigs and SB's. I need some imput on the following: Vise? Thread or wire? How to tie? Where to buy skirt material? And what ever else is helpful to know. I know that you guys will help me. You were all a great help to me with hard baits. Looking forward to what I can learn this time. Thank you

Guys, I found out today the reason that Wal-Mart is not carring D2T any more. Devcon has taken it away from the consumers. But, I have a place to buy it and you guys should check it out. HAGEMEYER NORTH AMERICA Toll Free 800-222-3517 there part number is 355453 and the cost is $4.53 Michael

OK Guys! I have to give it to you. I put a coat of d2t on last night and it worked beautiful. I added 4 drops of thinner and no heat. Mixed it very well and brushed it on and put it on the wheel. Wa La!! I am good to go now. Just got to find another place to buy it now. Thanks Michael:yeah:

I need to find some good fine wire split rings and also I would like to find some of the oval split rings like the ones that come on the Lucky Craft baits. Do you know of a supplier?? Michael

Thanks guys for your help. I will put the information you'll gave to good use. Michael

It is dead own. Take a look at the website and look it up.

I have tried doing this with no heat and the epoxy is so thick that is has a yellow tint. Someone on here told me to heat it a little before mixing. I will do a better job mixing it and try to do it with no heat and thining it down a little. How many coats do you use when thinned? Thanks Michael

I am not having good luck with d2t. I heat it up before I mix it. Then I put a small amount on aluminum foil (enough for 2 baits). I brush it on and than use a hair dryer to smooth it out. After that the bait goes on the drying whell. The next day the bait looks like crap. It is so rough and some time will have sticky spots on it. I have read on this site many different ways to do it but I just can't get a good looking bait. So I need some help Please. Michael

I use lacquar too. I have used bullseye sealer and it works. You can buy it at lowes. Also I have used lacquar sealer. I got it at a local cabinet shop. I have used devcon 2ton also.

The Sexy Shad that I paint is very close to the real thing. This is my paint list: 1)Pearl White body 2)Yellow stripe 3)Very light black scale (This will let the scale lay over the yellow also) 4)light orange belly hook highlight 5)Sexy Blue Back 6)Amber Green Opal flake 7)Black Spot The sexy blue is a mix: Pale Blue, Sivler pigment, Blue to Green Pigment. This gives the bait the blue back but at defferent angles it has a green tint. It looks really good I think. Take a look at my web site and you can see the bait. I call it Pole Dancer. (URL Removed) Michael Steele:wink:

Cool!! Thanks Man

Where did you get the micron pen? I have been using a sharpie (X Fine) and it smears after appling the clear coat.

What type of pins do you guys use to sign your baits?

I use calipers to find the center of the bill and mark it. Then I line that up with the line tie. Just mess around with it and have fun. Let me know how this goes. I came up with some good ones. Also I would water sand the bait with 600 and then you can paint. Mike

Something cool that I have done: Take a bait that has a gill and use a red sharpie marker and make a mark over the gill. Than spray a good layer of clear lacq. over the bait. Hang the bait by the head. As the bait hangs the ink will run giving you a nice blured area behind the gill. It gives a cool look of a bleeding gill. Michael:wink:

I have used the large mesh fabric that Wal-Mart sells and over lap it to make a 3D look. I have had some guys tell me that they love it.

I have ordered a ton of those baits from Jann's and every single one of them have a loose bill. I use a loctite super glue to set them in place and than the top coat will seal the deal. I have never had a problem doing it this way. The bait has a nice action to it and has caught fish. Another thing that I have done is take the standard bill out and replace it with one of the other circuit bills. Go to the next size up and it makes for a nice bait.