.dsaavedra. Posted July 12, 2008 Report Share Posted July 12, 2008 when putting in hardware (mainly hook eyes and line ties) that requires you to cut out a groove on the inside of both halves of wood, how do you line up the grooves so you know exactly where to cut? on my swimbait i kinda eyeballed it, and it was a P.I.T.A. to do. on future baits, i want to speed up this process so the bait is much neater inside (like it really matters ) and mainly so its easier to do. my only idea would be to put in the hardware and then squeeze the halves together in a vise to make indentations as to where the hardware will lay. any better ideas? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobP Posted July 13, 2008 Report Share Posted July 13, 2008 I generally feel the whole thru-wire process is a giant PITA and don't do it except on soft balsa. But I do have some soft balsa, so watchagonnado? As far as ballast cavities, if you're using an integrated ballast/belly hanger, I don't think it matters how you make the cavity since it shows anyway - just drill it out after gluing the bait back together. If you want to hide ballast, I fit a cavity in one side, then paint around it with a little acrylic paint and press the halves together to mark the other side. For the wire frame, I shape it on one half, outline it with a Sharpie and use a nail set to indent the balsa. Press the halves together and indent any areas that are shiny from the wire frame on the other half. If you squeeze it in a vise, it will deform the side of a soft balsa bait. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.dsaavedra. Posted July 13, 2008 Author Report Share Posted July 13, 2008 ok thanks. i thought of using wet paint to get a mirror image on the other side. i wont be using balsa, im using basswood, so i think i will be alright squeezing it with a vise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
