Mad Eye Posted August 30, 2008 Report Share Posted August 30, 2008 Let me start by saying im a complete newbie in making plastics but have learnt alot since coming to this amazing site. Am really keen in creating my own custom baits. The problem is im having trouble making a master lure. Im making them out of a bakeable plasticine but they never come out "profesional". How do you guys get such simetrical (spelling) lures. I have been using cardboard cut outs for the wings and pushing these is but this warps the shape. Also how do you get the lines on your senkos. I tried using a bolt but since the bottom wasnt flat my mould inclosed itself. Dont just want to be another guy making knock offs. Thanks in advance Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hawghunterbaits Posted August 30, 2008 Report Share Posted August 30, 2008 hey bad eye, Most guys use pop (plaster of paris) to make molds. as far as your master goes some guys including my self make them out of wood but you have to seal them before putting them into pop. The senkos r hard to copy just cause you lose a lot of the detail. I would recomend a aluminum mold from bob's tackle shop or del mart molds p.s. del is a regular on here also. both sell them for around 60 bucks. good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mad Eye Posted August 30, 2008 Author Report Share Posted August 30, 2008 Im using RTV for my moulds. Will have to try wood for my masters. Just need to find a lathe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nova Posted August 31, 2008 Report Share Posted August 31, 2008 You don't necessarily have to have a lathe. Use dowels to make you masters. www.novalures.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MDC Posted September 5, 2008 Report Share Posted September 5, 2008 Get your plasticine as close as possible, bake it, then sand to your final shape Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HJS Posted September 7, 2008 Report Share Posted September 7, 2008 (edited) Mad Eye - I'd advise starting simple by first making a 1-piece knock-off mold of your favorite lure out of POP. Once mastered then work your way up to making your own masters. Keep in mind that extracting a rigid master from a POP mold can be extremely difficult if not done exactly right. Don't let your rigid master become entombed in the POP. Heres one of my threads from months ago about making masters. Maybe you can get a few pointers. http://www.tackleunderground.com/forum/soft-plastics/13961-2-piece-dwp-sculpy-mandril-pic.html Edited September 7, 2008 by HJS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vodkaman Posted September 7, 2008 Report Share Posted September 7, 2008 Mad eye. I like your attitude, striving to design your own original lure rather than copying another designers work. Although HJS makes a valid point about starting simple and build up some experience, I would encourage you to stick with plan A. you will gain all the experience you need to produce impressive lures, much quicker. The down side is, that you will have to cope with a few disappointments on the journey. The last thing I want is for you to sling the bag of PoP and broken masters in the bin and march down to the local tackle shop to buy another bag of senkos. If you can handle a few problems, then plan A is best. Your question regarding professional looking lures with details, is all down to craftsmanship, which comes with great care and practice. The master that you make is going to produce hundreds or even many thousands of clones, so it is worth taking the time to get it right. Even if it means starting over a few times. To get a shiny finish, a coat of D2T epoxy or some similar product will do the job, as suggested by Hawghunterbaits. I suggest that you don Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kajan Posted September 7, 2008 Report Share Posted September 7, 2008 Mad Eye, like VOdkaman said, you need to be able to remove the Plug, or Master Lure from mold. If you look at my thread about pans http://www.tackleunderground.com/forum/homebrew-tools/14227-pans.html you will see 2 holes in the bottom of the pan. I screw the plug, or if you want to call it Master Lure into the bottom of pan, pour your RTV, when cured, unscrew screws, remove mold with Plug in it, and reinsert screws and use pliars to pull plug out of mold. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nova Posted September 8, 2008 Report Share Posted September 8, 2008 Right on the money Dave; good explaination. If you want to get to the roof you have to get on the fiirst rung of the ladder and go from there. In other words; don't expect to produce a pro lure the first time out. You are going to have many many attempts before you get one that you really like; but each one before that will teach you something if you listen to them. You will get frustrated and you will get angry at yourself; but if you really want to make those lures, you'll keep going. If you do keep going, one day all your work will be rewarded. www.novalures.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mad Eye Posted September 9, 2008 Author Report Share Posted September 9, 2008 Thanks alot guys for your help. Being doing a bit of experimenting with using clear nail polish to make smooth fish master. The master is now smooth but for some reason my masters arnt seeting properly in the RTV i bought. Everywhere else sets but where the master is remains sticky so when i pull out the master it leaves a resedue making for a very rough finish (this is after letting it set for 2 day). Tried making masters using screws and screwing paddle tails into the pointy end (makes a long slender worm with a paddle tail). This set properly. So now im organising to use someones lathe and going to make masters out of metal. Biggest problem is i have used most of my RTV which cost $75aud (you seem to get it cheaper in the USA) I its worth buying more RTV or can i get profesional molds out of POP. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
longhorn Posted September 9, 2008 Report Share Posted September 9, 2008 Another way of making masters which I've had success with is carving the master out of wax, then making a POP mold by placing it down in the wet plaster from the top. When the POP sets the mold is then put in the oven for drying and the master melts and can be easily removed with no residue left in the mold. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vodkaman Posted September 9, 2008 Report Share Posted September 9, 2008 Sorry your first RTV try did not work out so good. Sounds to me like you either did not mix thoroughly enough or did not get the proportions absolutely correct. Read the instructions for the proportions for your product. Mine was 50:50 by volume. BUT, also had a sticker giving the proportions by weight. This was 100:118. If you have an accurate digital gram scale, this is a much more accurate way of measuring out the proportions. But, use the figures provided, NOT mine! If you have to measure by volume, tall, narrow measuring containers are better than wide, shallow containers. For mixing, I use clear plastic disposable cups. So when mixing, I can visually examine the mix at the bottom of the cup, to make sure there are no streaks of unmixed components. After mixing, the result should be smooth and constant in color. Try to work the air bubbles out before pouring. A vacuum will greatly assist this, but I don't own one. Be thorough and fussy about measuring and mixing. Mistakes with this stuff are expensive, as you have discovered. All part of the learning curve. Good luck with your next try. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
