JRammit

U got some nice lookin cranks man! Id like to see how those swim... Ive only made one so far and it failed... Did alot of reading up and got some good advice from another member to get me going on my 2nd shot... Check out the thread "lip size vs depth"

Good luck man! Hope to see it in the gallery soon!

Just by looking at the picture and reading the box, i would agree with jigginpig... No extra weight in this lure.... The nose reminds me of a snow plow and the box says it creates a spray, so i would assume the lure has to be perfectly level at rest to achieve this task... The lack of bouyancy in the smaller rear section is countered by the weight of 2 trebble hooks (+hardware) attatched to the wide front section, i assume thats how it stays level..... Also, it can not spray if it doesn't stay on the surface... I noticed 2 different models, one with the line tie toward the top of the bait, and one with tie in the center.... The top line tie would be ideal to keep it from ever pulling under, IF the bait landed right side up every cast... But if it didnt, the body shape would not allow it to roll over to the correct side......... If i were building it, i would place an ovalised line tie in the center and fish it on a snap swivel, that way no matter which side it lands, your line pull is at an upward angle....... Just thinking out loud, if i got it wrong i will not be offended

That one is before my time, did a quick google... Interesting shape, collector lure apparently, but whats it supposed to do?...... Im new to hard baits, but I like a challenge! Ill take a crack at it if u tell me what ur after Also, take a quick look in the site rules, im sure they have good reason behind all of them, i think i broke a few myself before reading... But there is one about using all caps

New design... Vertical for thicker bodies... Only got one bait before it cracked (was down to my last bit of plaster, ended up too thin) but it was bubble free!... Thanks Travis!

This might sound funny, but on the subject i had to share... I had the same problem open pouring, but then i found a little trick... Maybe just a mental thing for me... When the mold fills up, i lift the cup high in the air as the last drop comes out... Probably looks funny too, but when i dont do it i overfill every time

Mark, maybe it was one of your threads where i got the idea, since PVC doesnt have as wide a selection as wood, drilling holes makes sense in your baits... Vman, thats really good advice on how i should tackle my next project! This one just seemed so simple i didnt think i could screw it up, i was wrong (ha ha!)

Coke can disks??... I was planning on inserting a drinking straw to keep the hole from "caving in" if the wood happens to swell, but i never thought about the air expanding...... I think i found my solution here, thanks BobP for the specs on wood density, i believe my poplar body is heavy enough to perform without any weight added, bouyancy shouldnt be a problem then!

I think helium would make it sound funny

Thats actually how this project of mine is put together, but its poplar on top and bottom.... After all the good advice, i believe poplar is the right material for this bait, i think i just need to lose the lead Interesting idea on the half n half

Man, ive built 6 baits w poplar and only 2 of them float... They are all 3" or less bass baits... I see the big picture now... Thanks!!!

I forgot to mention, the weight in this prototype is not a ballast, it is just to overcome air drag when casting... Another reason i didnt opt for balsa

I read that thread too... Great idea!... Just alot more steps per bait!.... The hardbait world hasnt been kind to me (i dont mean the people, i mean the nuances of construction)... Im use to soft baits, might take me a month to get a mold right, but then i can fill my tacklebox in one night.... Right now im working on the 3rd prototype of the same topwater bait, and when i finally get it right, i still have to build it again and again!..... I know... Im speaking a language that most of u are fluent in!

Advice accepted!... This particular project is not a finicky one, and its close to completion, so ill try my idea on this one rather than starting over... This will be (hopefully) my 1st "successful" hard bait, and i read some advice on an old thread for newbies to stick with one particular wood to better understand changes from one bait to another... Maybe i should have started with something different??... Where does poplar rank among oppinions here?

Or say, if i ever decide to try PVC?

All my hard baits start out as 2 pieces, my hardware is internal, the only holes i have to fill are pin sized locator holes for keys to place my weight cavity... Youre right, the "air pockets" would just be another variable to fine tune, time may be better spent experimenting with different woods/materials... But, if done correctly, could i get the strength advantage of a hard wood with the bouyancy of soft wood?

Thought i saw this in a thread once, did a search and all i came up with was comparisons of different woods..... If balsa is the most buoyant due to its lack of density, thus retaining more air within the grains.... Could one achieve similar properties by drilling "air pockets" inside a hardwood? Im using poplar cause its the most available to me, and im not as farmiliar w balsa... My current project has a slight buoyancy issue, one of these days ill get a scale, but for now im using split shot sinkers since they are somewhat consistant in weight.... 1/8 is too heavy, 1/32 is too light, 1/16 is almost perfect... Body shape and size is more imperative than bouyancy on this project, but if i could have both thad b great! Im gonna try it anyway, but figured we could use something new to talk about

Ha ha! Snoopy... I just realized your pic is sideways like all mine are for some reason..... I was looking at it wrong, i see the bench now

I couldnt find it in a store near me either... I got some Devcon clear from Lowes...... Doesnt say "2 ton" on the package, says "household"... Havnt officially tested it yet, but goes on super clear and feels hard enough...... Any one have input on this stuff??