10pounder Posted October 19, 2007 Report Share Posted October 19, 2007 I just started dipping my own tubes and I'm having a problem with them bulging in areas rather than a smooth even body. I really don't know the process and obvioulsy I'm getting it wrong. I'm using 1/4 and 5/16 aluminum rods for the dips. If anyone could give me a quick step by step I would really appreciate it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dutchman Posted October 19, 2007 Report Share Posted October 19, 2007 I am having the same problem. Tubeman! Come to the rescue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bojon Posted October 19, 2007 Report Share Posted October 19, 2007 MY BEST GUESS IS THAT YOU ARE HAVING A LUBRICATION PROBLEM.Sorry about the caps.Try this ,first wipe you rods clean,with a paper towel.Then spray the rods very lightly with a Pam type product,then gently dab them with a clean cloth,or paper towel.Too much lubrication and the tubes will sag,too little the tube will be hard to remove from the rod ,and making it look wrinkled.If you are using remelted plastic,then I recommend buying a gallon of #500 from Lurecraft.Remelts from other manufactures rarely work,on tubes,because of additives or fill. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dutchman Posted October 19, 2007 Report Share Posted October 19, 2007 There seems to be a lot of interest in tubes recently. Perhaps a tutorial is in order. Some questions I have: 1. How many times do you dip? 2. How long do you wait until you remove the tubes? 3. I assume that saltwater type plastic - harder- plastic works best for tubes.(not a Q.) Is hotter plastic better than cooler plastic for dipping? How hot? The more you dip the hotter the rods. Do you cool the rods i.e. dip in cold water and wipe dry or do you just keep dipping? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bojon Posted October 19, 2007 Report Share Posted October 19, 2007 I have made thousands of tubes,and have instructed many on how to make them,and how to solve thier problems.I have spent countless hours emailing instructions,so I have decided to write a ebook,that covers every aspect of tube dipping,and how I have been doing it for over 20 years.The biggest problem I have with answering the questions is I have trouble understanding the questions,but I never ignore even one Question . The best I can do on the tempature question is to instruct you to take Four onces of well stired,repeat ,well stired #500 plastic,.Pour this into a 2 cup,Pyrex measuring cup,stir with a tounge depresser,or a large craft stick.Leave this stick REPEAT LEAVE THIS STICK in the plastic,then set a micro wave timer to at least 3 minutes.Stir every 15-to 20seconds.The plastic will thicken,almost to a point that the stick almost wants to stand up.Watch very close now,and stir ,and then heat in small periods till the plastic drips from the stick at the viscosity of maple syrup.Make sure the stick has stayed with in the plastic the entire time,REPEAT the entire time.Now using the stick to allow the plastic to flow from the cup spout to a pan,that has bee lubricated lightly with Pam,then wiped down lightly,the plastic will flow down the stick into the pan.Set aside the cup(not on a cool surface),and stir the plastic that is in the pan.the pan is sitting on a hot plate,with a variable thermostat set barely on low,REPEAT barely on low.Stir gentle for about 10 seconds and the bubbles will dissaper,LEAVE the stick in a far corner of the pan inserted into the plastic were it will act as a heat sick.Now take a aluminum rod,which a wire handle has been bent at 90 deg and fastened with JB WELD to one end.This rod will be lubed with Pam and wiped gently with a paper towel.Too much lub,the plastic will sag on the rod too little and it will be hard to remove,giving the tube a wrinkled look.This rod will be dipped horizontaly into the plastic with a quick dip of less,REPEAT less than a second,turned ,so the rod is nose pointing down,NOW if you want a thicker ,tube dip again,thicker yet? Dip again,and set aside to cool for about 10 to 15 minutes.When cool slide off the rod,and you can repeat.Now cut to length,and slit the tails.Go fishing. There is no way,that there is a easier way for home tube making.Want a multiple dip just space 2 or 3 rods apart on a common shaft.You decide.I prefer one at a time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
printertom Posted October 19, 2007 Report Share Posted October 19, 2007 bojon save the type time for the ebook tell them to do a search i only be on TU for about ten month an you have been through this a few time i am dip really nice tube becasue of you thanks for all the input it save me a great deal of time and money if i send you the money for the ebook ahead of time will it speed up the process any. :-) Thomas Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bojon Posted October 19, 2007 Report Share Posted October 19, 2007 The ebook is coming along just great,I just finshed making a video ,about 15 miutes ago,to show how to make a tail cutter from 28 mm blades.This project is nearing a end.I want it to be the ultimate in Horizontal tube lure making.I have tried to cover all the questions I have been asked over the years in great detail.Remember this is all done by a amature who types with one finger. A kind gentleman has been helping to put it in a proper format.He lives about 2 thousand miles away,so we are at the mercy of the mail system.I have been copyrighting the material as I go along.So the end will be rather quick.I'm checking the spelling,and wording and it is about ready to return to North Carolina,along with a couple more videos. THANKS ,for the nice words about my help,but cash ahead will not work to speed things up. It is always nice to hear when someone makes some tubes under my direction.One gentleman went into it in a big way,for muskie fishing.Go to redoctoberbaits and take a look.Josh is a fine person,and a heck of a muskie fisherman. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
printertom Posted October 20, 2007 Report Share Posted October 20, 2007 yea i didn't think that the money was going to help but you don't know if you don't ask right. Hey My family own a small commerical printshop and my wife is the proof reader and designer i'm press operator and anything else thats got get done on the production end if you would like i could put a few on paper for you free of charge its least i could do for all the help you have gave to everyone on this site. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bojon Posted October 20, 2007 Report Share Posted October 20, 2007 Printertom,what a fantastic offer.I may take you up on it.I planned on putting the book on paper,if and when,I got revenue from the ebook.I don't know how many copies could be sold,because the market for fisherman making there own tubes,I'm guessing ,is rather small.But so far it looks like at least 50 people are interested in the Ebook.This project went from a photo lesson for free on TU,to a ebook,and now maybe on paper. HOW NICE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN!!!!I have been taking still photos all along,so the transition to paper would be easy. Thanks again Tom.I will keep you posted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
