barr5150

The wrinkling I was getting from GST was caused by oil on the surface of the lure. I'm guessing this stuff works the same. Once I started giving my blanks a quick dip in acetone prior to painting the wrinkling stopped.

Just ordered a quart of AC1315. Seems like it dries way quicker than GST. I'll follow up when I get it and get a few cranks dipped.

In regards to GST I'll do my best to help. Is it sandable? I wouldn't know, I haven't had to try. For the drips it's pretty simple. Keep in mind I dip cranks though, not spoons. A few minutes after the bait is dipped I run the tail hook hanger along a paper towel which seems to "wick" off the excess sealer. I usually hang it again for a minute to see if it's done dripping. If it is, I clean the hook hanger holes with a tooth pick and hang it to dry. Now, in regards to spoons, I would be careful wiping the spoon itself against a towel or piece of paper to get rid of the excess. The GST gets into the paint (createx) and makes it soft. If you touch the surface itself on anything before it's dry the paint will come right off. For me I'm not concerned with the paint coming off the rear hook hanger, that will happen with use anyway. I have tried to flip the lure while it's curing but it doesn't work. Basically for me the GST dries before it drips back off the other side causing runs that harden. You could try a lure turner? It might help level things out while it cures?

Another option - https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=715425885191032&set=vb.101617766571850&type=2&theater Not a money saver considering how cheap eyes actually cost but if your looking for something different or specific it might be worth doing.

I like the idea! Good think'n!

I like the idea. Problem is I think the tube at the bottom of the tank is too small to test cranks though. The water at the top of the tank doesn't seem to have a consistent enough flow of water to test cranks accurately. Just my opinion but I tried a few times for something similar a few months back and much like most people on this board said it's not that simple.

No level wind?

I build flat sides and cut mine after the last prime coat has dried. Right before paint. If you plan to build round bodied lures I would think you would want to cut the lip slot first while the blank is still square.

Under the description it says "ivory wood" - http://www.pebblelures.com/2-3-Flat-Sided-Bull-nose-crank-bait-p/cbbn230.htm Never heard of it but I'm gonna look into it.

I use these - http://www.jannsnetcraft.com/crankbait-bills-lure-lips/340210.aspx# On about the same size crank I can get down 10+ feet with this style lip recessed into the bait 1/2" and the line tie a little less then halfway out on the lip. If your looking to run a bit shallower move the line tie closer to the bait or on the bait itself like hawgfan suggested. I would do a test lure first though, these lips might be too long to let you pull from the nose of the bait.

It's really that simple??

I would have lost that bet! Wonder how they classify woods cause that balsa I was messing with last night was so soft I could push a scratch awl completely through it if I wanted to. I'll take your word for it but it doesn't seem right.

BobP - where does cedar come in at on your chart? I think that might be what I compared poplar to when I made the switch. I worked with it when I started awhile back but my lungs didn't like it so I was forced to find an alternative.

I plan to move forward with the couple balsa baits I made last night. I'll see them through to the end to see how they turn out. Overall poplar, in my opinion, is great. I buy the sheets at Lowes. I usually run through everything they have on hand and pick out the lightest stuff. If they only have a few good pieces that's all I buy. The whiter or clearer the better. The boards that have alot of green or yellow in them are too heavy. From the reading I've done poplar is classified as a hard wood, but doesn't really act that way. From what I remember from a buoyancy chart I found poplar wasn't too far off where balsa was.