WannabeeFishing

Holy cow. A comb. I've been bald so long, it never occured to me to use one. Those baits look great. Breaking out a few of the teeth is a really cool idea. Gary

This is an Air Eraser from Harbor Freight tools - It's a mini-sandblaster and looks a lot like one made by Paasche. Harbor Freight Tools - Quality Tools at the Lowest Prices Perhaps it would be handy for removing material from hard baits or cleaning up lures for repainting. Gary

Hazmail. The fires in Australia have made the news here. The reports are devastating. We had a number of wildfires here in the Southeast US last summer and on the west coast, but with nowhere near the loss of life. I hope all your family and associates are doing well during all this. Gary

Birdman, actually I'm very interested in seeing the result. Thanks for the post and the photo. I've been considering something similar. I was looking at a design somewhat narrower and perhaps using a couple of bilge pumps to circulate the water. Being in north Georgia, dropping by to pick yours up isn't a viable option for me. Thanks again. Gary

I use a foot operated on/off switch I picked up from Harbor Freight Tools on my airbrush compressor. Frees up my hands for juggling lures. Harbor Freight Tools - Quality Tools at the Lowest Prices I also wondered about those remote light switches from the AS SEEN ON TV infomercials. Handy Switch - The Official Site of AsSeenOnTV.com

His website is Larry Dahlberg's Hunt for Big Fish but it doesn't show any 2009 episodes. I DVR it on Versus on Saturday @ 11:30 am. I'm sure there are other showing. Gary

They might not be your first choice, but Cabelas is closing out the following hooks in their Bargain Cave. Cabela's -- Eagle Claw Lazer Sharp

Larry says he is going to do several luremaking shows. He added the Alumilite products he uses to his estore. HUNT FOR BIG FISH E-STORE

I did a couple web searches. Those are nice looking guns. I had seem them before but didn't realize they were that accurate. Gary

Check www.Smooth-on.com and www.alumilite.com. These products are "the same but different":lol:. Search the forum to read the several threads on the pros and cons of each. Here are a couple to get you started. http://www.tackleunderground.com/forum/hard-baits/15976-casting-pu-featherlite-delicate-parts.html http://www.tackleunderground.com/forum/hard-baits/15915-featherlite-vs-alumilite.html I saw another THFBF episode where Larry carved a swimbait he calls Mr. Wiggley from a chunk of modelers clay and then made a mold and cast a softbait from it. He used a bicycle spoke to make it a spinnerbait. It was a cool show. Gary

Great site. Answers some questions I had but was afraid to ask.

That's most likely overkill for this application. Thanks for the input. One of these days, I want to get one of the copycrafter machines that Sears and other folks sell. Maybe that will have the software to do something similar. Thanks for your input.

If you have a Harbor Freight Tools store close, they have a coupon on their website to get up to 5 per purchase for $1.99 each-in store only. Here's the link. Great Deals!!!

So the simulated wood finish trim boards we find in home stores is made of AZEK?. Besides lures, I'm getting into building rod racks and this looks like a good material to work with. Gary

That's a cool trailer. The site says the DVD is sold out. In "In-Fisherman" also has a tackle making DVD. https://store.intermediaoutdoors.com/shop/ItemDetail.aspx?item=1DIFTCT& Gary

Birdman, first understand I'm new to this whole casting baits thing and am looking for projects to get me started. I haven't decided whether to do a hard or soft version. If I go with a hard bait, I'll probably use something like Featherlite or Smooth-on's heavier product. If I go for a soft bait, I'll use Plastisol or something similar. Either would most likely be a two part mold. Here's a snapshot of the item I'm trying to cast.

Here are a couple of shots of the rig I'm talking about.

I have a pretty detailed half-side (it's actually a refrigerator magnet) replica of a bream. It's a good size to make a mold for a small swimbait, but it's only one side of the fish. Does anyone have a technique to reverse the image to make a mold for the other side? Gary

I have one suggestion to add to Hookup's nail clipper idea. I picked up a couple of the cheap retractable clip-on namebadge holders from my company. I put the nail clippers on the retractor and keep it clipped to my life jacket - yes, I admit it - I am one of those people that wear their lifejackets. Gary

David, thank you for taking the extra time to help me get started. Thanks to everyone else that responded also. Gary

David, I worry about the eyes pulling out too. Most of the plastic blanks I order have figure '8's imbedded to give them some structure. For screw-in eyelets, is coating the threads withe D2T prior to screwing them in sufficient or do you drill an oversize hole and make a epoxy "plug"? thanks Gary

OUCH!!!!!!!!! Best of luck with the surgery. They can do wonders. My prayers go out that you recover quickly. Gary

Wow, I struck a well of information here. I'm going to take a chance and ask one more question. Are the materials (Featherlite or Aluminite) solid enough to hold screw-in hookeyes, or should I plan on an internal wire frame to keep everything from pulling out? Thanks again...

Wait long enough and everything will come back in style again. These handles were all the rage about 10 - 15 years ago. I got rid of all my rods with rubber pistol grip handles because they wouldn't fit in the vertical rod holders on my CC boat. Oddly enough, I just bought a 7' 11" Okuma swimbait rod that has a 15" grip and they put a partial cork pistol grip at the end, so I may have the same issue again. The butt section of the rod 'un-telescopes' into the handle to give a collapsed length under 7 feet so it fits in the back of the truck. Gary