bojon Posted February 9, 2008 Report Share Posted February 9, 2008 Excellent idea! Does the press cost a lot? Seems like it would do a great job.How many can you cut in a minute? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squigster Posted February 10, 2008 Author Report Share Posted February 10, 2008 Well, I put the new tool together for the tube cutter. It works pretty good but it tears up the tails a little on single dip tails. I used the #10 washers as spacers and lubed the heck out of the blades with worm oil. It seems to work better on double dipped tails because the plastic is thicker I guess and wont rip as easy. I may look into spacing the blades a hair wider just because it binds the plastic a little too much when you roll it. My brother machined steel handles 1/4" dia. smaller than the blades and made each about 6 inches long but it is much easier to cut them due to the added weight and using two hands vs. the way I had it. Thanks Bojon for all your help and everyone else for their suggestions. I really apprciate it. I would post a pic of the tool but I still cannot figure out how to shrink the file size for the TU requirement. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garneau Baits Posted February 10, 2008 Report Share Posted February 10, 2008 Squigster, Just to let you now my "HD" tails are dipped 3 times. I personally like a thicker tail.... I would stick with 2 at least. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garneau Baits Posted February 11, 2008 Report Share Posted February 11, 2008 bojon, I found a used one for $100 bucks.a 3ton arbor press is much more than that new. I haven't started production yet im waiting on my dippers to be made so i don't have a piece rate yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tubeman Posted February 12, 2008 Report Share Posted February 12, 2008 Here's a link to buy an Arbour Press. Its the best one we have bought so far and the cheapest ! http://www.bosstoolsusa.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWCATS&Category=516 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garneau Baits Posted February 12, 2008 Report Share Posted February 12, 2008 Mike, Man that is cheap!!!!! and they ship it for free? you say the quality is fine? Are you cutting your tails in the same manner that i explained? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squigster Posted February 12, 2008 Author Report Share Posted February 12, 2008 How well does the arbor press work for cutting tails? Are most of you guys using a blade board? On another note, what type of pot / cup are you using to dip tubes? I have been heating my plastic in the microwave and then pouring it into a stainless steel martini shaker that sits on a hot plate. The thing I am noticing is that my tubes are inconsistent in thickness. I guess as the plastic cools a little the tubes become thicker. Some are fatter than others. If I jack up the temp too much it burns the salt/plastic in the bottom of the cup. I try to stir regularly but it still happens. I try to time all my dips the same. Meaning, I dont leave any in any longer than another one. I just dip the rod and pull it right back out. Any comments or suggestions would be appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bojon Posted February 12, 2008 Report Share Posted February 12, 2008 Thanks guys.I see how it would work.I thought about making a cutter out of a aluminum can compacter.I bought one at Harbor Frieght,but wasn't allowed to set it up in my apartment.Boy do I miss my house in the country.This press looks like it is free standing and would be quiet.I like looking into new methods.Thanks again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squigster Posted February 12, 2008 Author Report Share Posted February 12, 2008 I thought about taking the tube cutter Lurecraft sells and drilling a hole in the back, threading a rod into it and putting it in a drill press with a self healing mat. I dont know if you would get enough downwards pressure or not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squigster Posted February 13, 2008 Author Report Share Posted February 13, 2008 I figured out some of my problems I think. One, I was not double dipping the entire tube so if I did single dips for the tails, the plastic would rip when I tried to cut it and it was too thin for my taste. The other one was I was not cutting the tails long enough and I was using Pam on the rotary cutter blades which sort of held the cut tails together making them stiff and straight. I was making baits with no salt in them so the plastic tails just stuck to each other and were stiff. I resolved this by shaking off the excess Pam and rubbing the tails in salt that I had spread out in a pan. This helps the tails seperate whcih make them a whole lot better looking. Last night I double dipped the entire tube and cut the tails longer and they turned out real nice. I may still look into the Arbor Press for a little more speed plus I keep getting my fingers cut with the rotary blades. I do have another question though. What are you guys using as a pot/cup to dip in, and how do you maintain a level deep enough for say 50 tubes? Obviously every time you dip the plastic level drops and after about 15 - 20 tubes with a martini shaker, I lose too much plastic and I have to make some more top top it off. Also heat is lost and needs reheated. Is there a certain kind of pot/cooker that holds the heat evenly? Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garneau Baits Posted February 13, 2008 Report Share Posted February 13, 2008 go here if you want a good pot. im buy 2 12 quart pots from them today $530 each http://www.ritehete.com/stainlesssteelpots.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uncleskippy Posted February 13, 2008 Report Share Posted February 13, 2008 Went to Harbor Freight Tools yesterday and saw a 1/2 ton Arbour Press for less than $32.00. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bojon Posted February 13, 2008 Report Share Posted February 13, 2008 When using the arbor press,how many tubes do you cut per minute?For instance,a four inch tube.Less than $40 bucks really sounds good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garneau Baits Posted February 14, 2008 Report Share Posted February 14, 2008 Im not cutting a bunch yet im waiting on my pot's. Tubeman will have to answer that ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tman2 Posted March 24, 2008 Report Share Posted March 24, 2008 OK, I've seen the video, but my brain is inside a box it can't get out of. If you dip horizontally, how do you prevent extra plastic from getting on the tail end of the tube? Maybe your using softer plastic and it doesn't matter that you have multiple dips on it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bojon Posted March 24, 2008 Report Share Posted March 24, 2008 If you are dipping horizontaly,and then hanging the rods downward,at a 90 degrees,with the end the nose of the tube,at the lowest point,the nose(front) should be slightly thicker than the tail.Not so thin as to be a problem like you are having.Are you using LC formula #500,extra strength?How much salt are you adding?Are you using remelts of old plastic?The junk(addatives)in the remelts may be causing your problem.What kind off tail cutter are you using?If it is a rotary blade cutter are your blades wobbeling?Shaft worn? I have helped a lot of people make tube lures,and have yet to hear of the problem you are having.You are not doing something not quite right.Rethink the questions I have asked and find out where your process differs. Maybe another member has run into this problem,and we can both learn. HELP ANYONE!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
