breaking-in

[DanielMcCotter]

Hey,

I am trying to get my feet wet in the soft plastic lure making community.

Does anyone have any good suggestions.

I don't want one piece/flat sided molds.

I have a Lure-Craft cataloge and am in the process of finding some basics I nees.

Should I buy everything seperately right off the bat or should I go with a kit for begginers like Del-Mart's Stik Bait or Drop-Shot kits?

[Vodkaman]

A kit is a good idea. You get everything you need in one package. Also, if you then decide that you don't like it, then you haven't done too much damage to the wallet. This is just one mans opinion, from one that doesn't even do plastics.

You should PM Drof99, He is about a week ahead of you and has just started with a kit. He is probably the best person to advise you at this time. Maybe Drof99 is reading this and would care to comment.

A warning to you both. Bait building or pouring is highly addictive. There are ten step programs available, but none have proven successful so far. Even my shrink is now buiilding crank baits and is sueing me. So be warned.

By the way, 'home' does not cut it as a location. It can be very helpful to know where you live. We don't need your address, just the county or country will do.

Dave

Edited October 15, 2008 by Vodkaman

[daveh]

just get your credit card out and buy buy buy. you will do it anyway in the long run.lol i started with a one piece mold from lure craft and melted a bunch of old plastics. but a lot of guys don`t recomend it but it worked for me. there is nothing wrong with one piece molds have caught a bunch of bass on lures from one piece. my first mold was a 6in slug-go mold. a friend of mine luvs them.i poured him some a couple of weeks ago and he caught a 8lb 2oz bass on the one i poured for him. good luck on what ever you decide.

[Richard Prager]

Should I buy everything seperately right off the bat or should I go with a kit for begginers like Del-Mart's Stik Bait or Drop-Shot kits?

Either way is fine. I bought Del's Stick Kit when I first started. It's a great starting point. Have fun and you've been warned about this addiction. Read as many of the past threads as you can.....then read them again. There is a wealth of information on this site that will literally save you months if not years of trial and error!

Here is an old post of mine.......fictional but highly possible!

Hi,

This is Richard. I'm writing from rehab. With these intensive therapy sessions, they say I am making great progress and should be home in a few more weeks. I have to keep this short because I'm not allowed on this site anymore. If they catch me, they consider it a relapse and will keep me here another 3 months. They sent someone to my shop to clean out my molds and supplies ( I hid all the good stuff) as this is a program of total abstinence. I think I got them fooled and will making my new shop in the basement, well hidden. I think if I limit myself to 2 molds and basic colors/flake, I'll be ok. I hear them coming, I've got to go!

[rsinyard]

Either way is fine. I bought Del's Stick Kit when I first started. It's a great starting point. Have fun and you've been warned about this addiction. Read as many of the past threads as you can.....then read them again. There is a wealth of information on this site that will literally save you months if not years of trial and error!

Here is an old post of mine.......fictional but highly possible!

Hi,

This is Richard. I'm writing from rehab. With these intensive therapy sessions, they say I am making great progress and should be home in a few more weeks. I have to keep this short because I'm not allowed on this site anymore. If they catch me, they consider it a relapse and will keep me here another 3 months. They sent someone to my shop to clean out my molds and supplies ( I hid all the good stuff) as this is a program of total abstinence. I think I got them fooled and will making my new shop in the basement, well hidden. I think if I limit myself to 2 molds and basic colors/flake, I'll be ok. I hear them coming, I've got to go!

I am glad to see your rehab worked out great for you. Now I don't feel so bad that the wife left me and took my dog. Wait a minute. I just had a revelation. The wife is gone and I still have all my lure making supplies...... Lure making party at my house tonight....

[Zbass]

Daniel,

A kit is a great way to start. Keep in mind that it is going to take some time and practice to get it down. I've been doing it for a little over four years and am still learning daily.

The people on this site are top notch. Been there, done that, got the scars. Ask away, but try the search feature also. There is more info here than you can read all winter.

I haven't had to go to rehab and my wife trims the baits so it can be a "family" affair. Just wait until you wack a fish on something you made. That is when the threat of rehab will start.

Welcome to the sickness

Zbass

[JSC]

U got a lot of good help .... plenty on this site and Dels ..

My on open .. flat sided molds ... don't knock them till you try them ................. U can do more with a open 1 pc mold as far as color combinations go (colored tails .. laminates & etc) .. little more "touch" in pouring is required which will help U even more with a 2 pc mold ..... using a one pc helps U see some of these things that happens to the plastic .... and they CATCH FISH as well as 2 pc molds.

Attached is Pic of a 2# on a 10.5 Dels Curtail 1 pc mold.

(caught quite a few more mostly small and did not set the hook good in a 5#+ that I lost on the 2nd jump)

JSC

[drof99]

Sorry I didn't see your post earlier. I just bought stick kit from Del. Shipping takes a bit so be patient. In the mean time start reading all you can on the old posts here. You'll pick up alot. I read all the "help, what am I doing wrong posts". My baits turned out well. I've got picks posted here. I am like you and prefer the 2 piece molds. They just look better in my opinion. I also bought a one piece chunk mold. These are harder to pour in my opinion. They take a very steady hand. You also have to know when to stop or the bait won't look right. Like some of the others have said it seems addictive. I'm on-call right now at work and haven't had time to pour as much as I'd like. I'm using the microwave to heat mine. If you buy a 2 piece mold be sure and pour down the center or just off to one side. I also heated my mold in the oven before using. I used to recipe off Dels site for the stiks. I cut everything in half for my first time. The important thing is to not pour fast. You have to give the plastic time to get into the mold. If you cover the funnel part up at all and the mold is not full then your done. The worms won't come out right. I really didn't have this problem because I've been doing a ton of reading here. I haven't even had my stuff that long and I placed another order with Del yesterday. I've got a large color set coming and a 5" tube mold. Good luck, be patient. I highly recommend Del for your starter kit. I even messed up my order the first time and left Del a message. Just a phone call was all it took to make everything right. He even took the time to do a little teaching over the phone.

[Smallie]

Hey,

I am trying to get my feet wet in the soft plastic lure making community.

Does anyone have any good suggestions.

I don't want one piece/flat sided molds.

I have a Lure-Craft cataloge and am in the process of finding some basics I nees.

Should I buy everything seperately right off the bat or should I go with a kit for begginers like Del-Mart's Stik Bait or Drop-Shot kits?

If you are serious about getting into this, the first thing you should do is slow down. Become a TU club member so you have full access to this site and then start reading.

At the top of the soft plastics forum are three stickies. The don'ts for newbies will stop you from wasting your time and money. The cook book will give you some insite into what colorants to buy. The best plastic poll has some interesting posts about what the guys experiences have been with the different plastics available.

Next, read the tutorials and once you have a list of questions, use the search function to review lots of old posts that address the typical questions raised by everyone who has started this hobby.

After doing these things, you will be ready to make a good start into what has already been correctly described as an addicting hobby.

[outdooradvantage]

Depending on what you want to pour, a kit is the way to go. Del's kit includes everything you need to get started. I started with a stick kit and been hooked ever since. You can always add more molds witch I'm sire you will. Good luck and any questions feel free to ask. Jeff........................