toadfrog

If you ever get a chance to see one of those work . Be prepared to see an amazing piece of equipment . They can do almost anything except have babies .

Looks like your already headed down our slippery slope between the twilight zone and the outer limits . So welcome to the one place where you can get into more than you ever wanted to . Learn more than you needed and lie to the wife about how much the stuff in those boxes cost .

Lots of tutorials in the archives so your gonna be busy . Lets see some lure pics . Welcome .

This is just my preference for buck tail length . On most jig type ties whether on a spinnerbait or jig I never make the tail past the bend of the hook longer than the shank of the hook .For trebles The tail will not exceed the overall lenght of the hook from eye to bend . If that makes any sense . Sometimes I don't .

I use the heaviest split ring I can depending on the type and size of the bait . Only because I fish a lot of water with pit falls like stumps ,rocks and other gotcha's

I use rod winding thread 3/0 or ( E I believe) for jigs 1/4 ounce and up then epoxy coat the threads .

The most versatile tool is the worth Pro . Check out you tube .Every wire former is on there . I wish back in the day I had went with the upgrades but I only do wierd stuff which puts me in a peculiar situation . Try finding a bender for .090 ss wire . LOL I have a Twist Tech ,Haggens which is basically a Boggs ,a Herters which is basically a Cabelas . Couple of those junk hand benders ect. If you plan on doing trout to musky and salt water best set your hat to buy all the adaptions because you just can't go from a trout lure to a musky without changing and adapting for wire size .I personally never buy a tool that has one function and can't be upgraded . That is if I can help it .So I'm in the end going to have to say the Boggs is your best bang for the buck Unless you want to drop a several hundred or more . Yes I think I'd go with the B &D get the C later . Now that's just me keep in mind I'm not normal .

I would use clam shell packaging . But if you are set on using bags I never use less than 4 mil. for lures .

The twist Tech has a large lure advantage over the Boggs But the Boggs is easier to use to make trout size spinners . I found the little finger that turns and actually forms the wire on the twist Teck to be something of a pain in the rear . That is only my oppinion .It's a lot in what you get used to . Both tools are durable and both will do the job . No matter which tool you get you just as well get the upgrades . You will in the end have a need of them .

Nice job . The forms look really good.

I HATE COLD . It's so cold I saw two rats warming there hands over a pile of cow plop down at the barn .

Go injection up front . Unless you have a specific market for hand pours . Next pic a taeget fish . Then order your starter kit for that fish .Learn all the tricks involving that bait . Move to your next mold .

Care to elaborate a little . Did you mean a 6" grub impregnated with a treble .

Use your wife's eye shadow for colorant . It does have a mica base suitable for coloring plastic or clear powder paint . Beware the advice of the toad . I am well known for creating angry wives . LOL

Think mark meant regular silicone used for caulk . Now I've made about every mistake you can make in tackle short of getting myself killed .Hi temp red silicone formulated for gasket types of material will render a mold almost useless until painstaking , time consuming cleaning work is done .I always powder my molds as a precaution when using something potentially could damage one . My molds are almost like my kids . I'm careful with them .

X2 what cadman said . Hate that mold . Smoke that sucker every pour . Keep it black as the ace of spades .Then have an exorcist on speed dial cause within 4 hrs your family is going to think you are posessed by an angry demon .

Epoxy coat the ones you have and then find another source for the next ones .

If you try that be dang sure you dust your mold with talc powder or you may never get it apart . Silicone will bond even to glass . Even if you put it in under pressure I believe it is to thick to fill appendages uniformly . More than likely trap air in wierd places too .

Leave that dang salt out and your bait will last longer . LOL

I put an eye and a treble hook in a wind up bath tub toy gold fish once for my son when he was six . Cast it out and let it swim in circles . It was a hoot and he did get some bass on it . He is 35 now hasn't forgot it .

I apply strictly for presentation purposes .The no. of strands on a skirt are there only to give you an idea of the bulk you can expect when purchasing them .

You can use the pop no real problems if you cure it . Let it air dry in a warm room a couple days .Then put it in the oven for 2 hrs at 200 degrees . let it cool to touch ,put it back crank up the heat all the way leave that puppy 4 hrs .You can add graphite , cement , titanium powder other stuff . But it will work fine as is till you get your method down pat .

I have a lot of friends that over the years have helped me reach out to people with disabilities of one kind or another . To those of you who have . I thank you from the bottom of my haert . Of all these people I want folks to know that in the last year Chuck and Paulette Allred of Lake Side Baits have gone above and beyond the call of duty not once but several times . My undying gratitude goes to these fine folks . You have not only touched my life but allowed me the honor of paying it forward to others . Thank you LPO ,members TU and LSbaits MERRY CHRISTMAS.

I use ceramic because it keeps the plastic hot longer . It won't as a rule blow up if you sit it on a cold surface by mistake . It is cheaper than pyrex . It comes in more shapes and sizes than you can imagine . You can get it made to your specs at ceramic shops . Even divided cups if the shop is experienced .Last but not least the bubble problem seems less . My self I don't give a hoot about bubbles and niether do the fish . The people that use my lures do'nt care if the odd one has some bubbles .I've repeatedly noticed that soon as you turn your hobby into a business it stops being about art and the fun of it .A lot of people stop trying to think outside the box and just settle for the norm . There are some creative minds on this site and some cool dudes .Bet a nickle that somebody comes up with the answer to the problems with plastisols .