SW Lures

Dremel is a good tool to do this with and the bits you have stated. A exacto knife is another, however the knife has a tendency to slice to far some times because of putting to much pressure to the knife. Very light sand paper or a fingernail file is good for clean up. I'm sure there are many other tools that can be used. Be creative in your tools that you need to make a design. I bought what I'll call micro files to touch up the details of a cut in the stencil. Good luck; Dale

Thank you people, I'll wait to be on the computer to download. Dale

Made my first set this week. Knowing your size to drill that matches the weight you are looking for is a trial and error, at least it was for me. Now I know what depth and diameter makes what weight that I want. To find your weight you want, the wooden mold for your first one, as Dave stated. It's your best bet rather then to do something wrong with a 30-40 dollar mold. Using the wooden one will let you experiment a little with little cost. Dale Edit: A good kitchen scale will help a lot if you haven't already thought about it.

JR my kindle and I are not getting along tonight so I can't quote you. The thinning of super glue interest me. Is acetone the thinning agent? If so what is the working time of it? Thanks Dale

I take it that almost everything is up for discussion. Go to work, come home and get on, then wow......rat pelts. I guess when in Rome......... Dale

Thanks Paul, I'll try that when I'm ready. Dale

With this info my only concern is the wrap of the wire that is made outside of the baits body (the one). Is there a technique to make this better, that I don't know about? A twist of a wire just doesn't look good to me, but this maybe the only way. Dale

Have you ever thought about making a drill bit from a small diameter round stock or something like a welding electrode (rod)? Using this to put a thru wire in, without cutting a lure into. There is one part that I have some reservations about doing this technique. This is the twist of the wire showing outside of the bait. However it is another alternative. I guess you may be able to find a bit of that length. There could also be some good ideas on another style of a tie for the wire. Interested in any ideas here. I have been thinking about this some myself. Dale

I have to state this, after thinking about how I described the carver. I make what I call a prototype. This is done from my imagination and needs that I have or others have. I guess I could duplicate a manufactures product, but that's not my style. I'm at this time working on a gizzard shad bait that will dive to, give or take 25'. I want its colors and shape to imitate the real thing. This is for a trip I make each spring to catch "Rock Fish", Walleye and Smallmouth (trophies, I hope and have). So I'm a hobbyist also but the second to the end of the chain for the use of the bait....a fisherman, fish being the end user. Thanks Dave, that's what I was worried about. I'm about to start testing before it gets cold. I'm going to seal them and give them a trial run soon. I got to decide where to put the weights and how much (Archimedes will help me with the amount). Y'all have help me out greatly. I made the jig for drilling, using foam rubber glued to a hard rubber with texture to hold the lure in place. In time when I have more experience, I will pass your help on. Thank you; Dale

Thanks for all of your idea's. Bob I have been told that I'm an perfectionist. Over the years I found the people to be true. I never get sloppy in my work, I take pride in that. There lies my problem as far as the finish sanding of wooden baits. I see fine ridges in the contour of the lures body. I work to get that one out and I believe I create another. It's driving me nuts. I'm going to go with very fine sand paper and use my hand to maybe conform to the contour of the baits body, as Paul stated. I like the carver, just to get (almost) the same shape every time. After that I go to mainly hand work. I just started setting my shop up and what I'm doing is to get all tools together and anything else I need (jigs) for making baits. As I'm developing a few designs. I wrote some of this just to let y'all know a little about me and where I am at in making baits. Thank all of you again.

Being new to crankbait making, I have came to the conclusion that homemade tools (jigs) can be helpful. I have already made a bill cutting jig, that holds the bait firmly. I'm now looking to make one for drilling tie lines and hanger holes. Can't decide just how yet. I'm not looking to plagiarize anybody's work, just your thoughts of what is needed. Also I have a carving machine which works well, but when it comes to cleaning up the baits, I know that the hand sanding that I'm doing could be done better. I'm trying to get the bait as smooth and natural as I can. I use a miniature wood file set, then a sandpaper stick (glued sandpaper on a flat piece of wood). I do have many power tools, but find hand sanding to be better. Am I correct in your opinions? Thanks for any help and advice. Dale

Hmm, I'm afraid to answer that or question that. lol

Let me start off with saying that I'm new here at TU. So I would like to say hello and I'm learning and enjoying the info given here. When I start something new I try to get as much information as I can. YouTube is a great place to get information. I to have a "workshop" but found that I need more specific tools for this. Amazon is a good vendor to get specific material and tools, but you will find that there are a lot of vendors out there to get materials or tools, one of these I use is jannsnetcraft.com. There is a thread in the forum's that is "pinned" and has many vendors there that I will use in time. I also found that I wanted a "wood carving duplicator", so I made one. It works great, the operator is in a learning curve tho. I hope this helps and I felt this was a good place to jump in; Dale