j27

HA HA HA HA!!!!!!, Thats true, but right now we have about 8 inches snow and ice and I don't think I could get the boat in the water. If it was'nt for that I'd be out there. The bite is just a little better in spring. I do feel sorry for you guys up north, this kind of weather sucks.

I'm new to this too and just went through that same issues. Just liked to share that I've been experimenting with Evirotex Lite and D2T. My expereince with the e-tex was a little better than D2t. First of all, you don't have to worry about thinning it and your working time is longer. E-tex takes longer to cure but worth the wait. Couldn't tell any difference in the end results though. Good luck!!! IS IT SPRING TIME YET ???

Thanks for the compliment.Thanks to TU, I'm getting better each time I make a new batch of cranks. Your method sounds alot like mine with just a few differences but basically the same. The though wire construction is definatelly the way to go. I've been using 19 gauge ( I think thats .039 ) from Ace Hardware. I'd like to go a tad smaller though just to make it easyer to install, maybe something like .031 or .035. I'm glad you shared your wire size. I was going to start a new topic on that subject. I also use 5 min epoxy but would like to go to something strait out of a bottle like gorilla glue. Their are some new glues that clam that is as strong as epoxy. Would I be waisting my time and $$$ on this or just stick with the 5 min epoxy? That might be another thread to start later. Back to my original question, if you and maybe a few others are using this wood,same method of sealing and the 2 peace construction glued with 5 min epoxy then I'm assuming I'm good to go ?

Thanks for all the info.The cranks I'm making are 2 3/4 in long medium divers mainly for bass. I'm sealing them with propianate. Is this the extensive enough reinforcement that you was talking about ,BobP? I dip them about 5 to 7 times until I get a good smooth shell before painting. If so , I guess I'm ok for now . I have enough of the soft stuff to make about 20 more baits. I will look again for the harder stuff in meantime. The cranks that I've made so far do have a great action, a thumping feel and I'll start fishing with them next month. Here is some pics. Thanks again for all the input.

Hello, I'm new at this ,6 months or so, I've made about 20 baits so far and I'm hooked. I was reading through some forums and read something about some harder balsa. I've been getting mine at Hobby Lobby and been working good so far. But if there is a better way, I would like to use it. The forum read that the balsa at H Lobby was mainly for making airplanes and was softer. So, I started a search for this harder balsa with no luck. I thought balsa was balsa.Did I misunderstand this or does this exist? And where do you get it? Thanks for all the help ! J

Sorry, I put this in the wrong forum. Please excuse me.

Hello, I'm new at this ,6 months or so, I've made about 20 baits so far and I'm hooked. I was reading through some forums and read something about some harder balsa. I've been getting mine at Hobby Lobby and been working good so far. But if there is a better way, I would like to use it. The forum read that the balsa at H Lobby was mainly for making airplanes and was softer. So, I started a search for this harder balsa with no luck. I thought balsa was balsa.Did I misunderstand this or does this exist? And where do you get it? Thanks for all the help !

Here is my turner. Its made from a ($25)cheap rottisserie from wallmart, rubber bands, wire hook hangers and some srap wood I had laying around in the shop. I'm new to lure making and don't know if it makes a difference witch way you rotate. I've only used this one time, I just finished it a few days ago and did ok I guess. I did have to apply a second coat to some of them because some small craters that formed but that may be normal for top coating, I dont know. I have a few mods Im going to do, like replace the wooden dowel with threaded rod. This should let me stretch it out and make it stonger for more lures.

Thanks paskeeter, was looking for a web site to order it, the local hobby stores around here don't have it. I did find it in an Ace hardware in the small syringes. I coated about 5 baits the other day and loved how it goes on. The only thing is the very small imperfections ( little bubbles and raised spots). I've sanded some of them and recoated. Does these tiny bubbles cause any problems or sould I not worry about them and just go ahead with the painting.? Thanks and Merry Christmas!!! J27

I would like to try it, let me know when I can get some.

Thanks to everyone, I've got some from Lowes today. I feel like an idiot, I didn't know what it was used for. As for the D2T,I thought there was something special about it. I'm guessing any 30 min epoxy will work?

Thanks guys, I only tried walgreens and an Ingles drug store. I'm going into town today and check cvs and some hardware stores.

Just wondering where you find denatured alcohol. Went on a quest today to get some with no luck. Looked in a couple of drug stores and all I could find is the 70% rubbing and the 91% Isopryle ( not sure how to spell that). I finally found some D2T ( that took a long time ) and wanted to thin it to seal balsa. I've read alot of the older forums on this subject and the denatured seems to be the way to go. Also, where is everyone getting the Devcon 2 Ton in the 9 oz.? Any help would be very much appreciated. Happy Holidays, John

Matt, I have just used the same air brush as I spray my paints and I use lacquer thinner to clean it with. This worked just find for me, but I took it apart and soaked the components to make sure. I'm learning myself.

A small minnow net from a live bait store works good for me. Just lay it around the bait and clamp it at the bottom. Good Luck!