Mattlures Posted November 27, 2008 Report Share Posted November 27, 2008 I am actualy having a little fun making baits again. Got burnt out on soft baits so I figured I would make some hard ones. Hard baits are easy and fun to make, at least for now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
borderbasser Posted November 27, 2008 Report Share Posted November 27, 2008 Hey Matt, your hardbaits are really top notch. I know they are going to be a big hit. They have inspired me to make some bluegill baits of my own. They are very similar to yours, but are larger and not quite the detail of yours. I just don't have the patience for it. Congrats on a fantastic product. TJ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vodkaman Posted November 27, 2008 Report Share Posted November 27, 2008 Nice job Mattlures. What material did you cast the bodies with? I'm guessing RTV for the mold, with that ventral fin arrangement. The original has incredible detail. I can't tell if it is painted of photo finish. What ever it is, it is impressive. What made you go with the lip on the last one? How do they swim? Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
21xdc Posted November 27, 2008 Report Share Posted November 27, 2008 Nice work! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snax Posted November 27, 2008 Report Share Posted November 27, 2008 Absolutely incredible Matt!!!! I have so many questions! It looks like you you molded them from an actual fish! Do you hand carve the bodies from wood before creating a mold? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lockjaw Posted November 27, 2008 Report Share Posted November 27, 2008 I've got a bunch of your soft baits, they are just killer. I was kind of wondering if you were ever going to play around with hard baits...wonder no more Awesome job! Did you actually hand carve all the scales on the master? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boomah21 Posted November 28, 2008 Report Share Posted November 28, 2008 Looks amazing...so when are they for sale? I keep checking your site and all i get is coming soon lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mattlures Posted November 28, 2008 Author Report Share Posted November 28, 2008 Thanks guys. They are of course painted. No photo finish. You cant get the reflective pearls and depth with photo finishing. Plus it would be difficult to wrap the photo around all the conteurs.The baits are made from my own custom mix of resins. The original is all hand carved. If you have ever tried to mold a real fish, especialy a small one you would quickly realize, you loose most of the detail. Yes I did each scale by hand. It takes forever but You only have to make 1 perfect master. I put the bill on one just for something different. They come in floating, sinking, and a billed floater. The action is different in the 2 floaters but I havent decided which one I like best. For now they are all availible but I will probably discontinue the billed bait because its a little harder to make. I do use silicone molds but they suck. I can only get about 20 pieces per mold. I have to keep making new molds. The molds are also very complex so it makes it more of a pain. It is fun for now though. I have a bunch of new hard baits I am working on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boomah21 Posted November 28, 2008 Report Share Posted November 28, 2008 so they are already available? Where? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mattlures Posted November 28, 2008 Author Report Share Posted November 28, 2008 I sold out of some of the colors right away but I do have some left. I dont think I am supossed to say how much, where, when etc. I think that would be spamming . If you look they are easy to find Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
diemai Posted November 28, 2008 Report Share Posted November 28, 2008 @ Mattlures What an effort.......but such a great , unbeliveable realistic result ! It's kinda magic:yes: ! Hats off to you ! Greetz:yay: , diemai Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Husky Posted November 28, 2008 Report Share Posted November 28, 2008 Thanks guys. They are of course painted. No photo finish. You cant get the reflective pearls and depth with photo finishing. Plus it would be difficult to wrap the photo around all the conteurs.The baits are made from my own custom mix of resins. The original is all hand carved. If you have ever tried to mold a real fish, especialy a small one you would quickly realize, you loose most of the detail. Yes I did each scale by hand. It takes forever but You only have to make 1 perfect master. I put the bill on one just for something different. They come in floating, sinking, and a billed floater. The action is different in the 2 floaters but I havent decided which one I like best. For now they are all availible but I will probably discontinue the billed bait because its a little harder to make. I do use silicone molds but they suck. I can only get about 20 pieces per mold. I have to keep making new molds. The molds are also very complex so it makes it more of a pain. It is fun for now though. I have a bunch of new hard baits I am working on. JMHO, but you could save yourself a lot of work and time by making a "Mother Mold" out of POP. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tigger Posted November 28, 2008 Report Share Posted November 28, 2008 (edited) Matt those are INCREDIBLE lures! You NAILED the color patterns also! Matt I am suprised that you can only get 20 or so lures from the RTV mold. Is the expansion of the microballons stressing the mold? Or are the fine details of the mold wearing out? Fantastic job! John Edited November 28, 2008 by Tigger Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mattlures Posted November 28, 2008 Author Report Share Posted November 28, 2008 PoP would not work for any part of the process I use. I have masters but the mold need to be continualy remade. No stressing of the molds, but a breakdown in the silicone do to the resins. A smooth casting with no undercts is not very damaging to silicone. A bait that is entirely covered in detail and undercuts will wear out silicone realy fast. I have a few ideas that should double the amout of pieces I get from my molds but I will still need to replace them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Husky Posted November 28, 2008 Report Share Posted November 28, 2008 (edited) PoP would not work for any part of the process I use. I have masters but the mold need to be continualy remade. No stressing of the molds, but a breakdown in the silicone do to the resins. A smooth casting with no undercts is not very damaging to silicone. A bait that is entirely covered in detail and undercuts will wear out silicone realy fast. I have a few ideas that should double the amout of pieces I get from my molds but I will still need to replace them. Out of curiosity, which Resin are you using? My Smooth-on, 28 Shore molds have stood up to many more castings than 20, casting Shopmaninc.coms Urethane Resin. When I said " Mother Mold" I meant a POP mold of your Silicone mold. Just Box in a mold half, Cavity up, and fill it with POP. When it cures, you can pour your silicone into it and you'll have an exact duplicate of the original. Just be sure to use a light glossy coat on the POP mold before casting the silicone. Here are a batch of Candy molds I made, the orange casting was used for the master. You can see part of the master @ the upper left. Edited November 28, 2008 by Husky Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mattlures Posted November 29, 2008 Author Report Share Posted November 29, 2008 Husky I know that the guys making similar baits have about the same life in thier molds that I am getting. I am using a platinum cure Sil from smooth on. I think its smooth sill. As far as mother molds go, unfortunatly on this particular style of molds I cant make a normal mother mold. I have kinda of partial mother molds. The molds are complicated but effecient. I will try other resins but I am satisfied with my blend. I wish I could mother mold them, Then it would be easy and fast. I apreciate the suggestions though. In most situations a mother mold would make great sence. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A-Mac Posted November 29, 2008 Report Share Posted November 29, 2008 All I can say is wow. Now those are some bluegill baits. Not only some of the best details on a mold I've ever seen, but some of the wildest paint schemes out there. Amazing work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark poulson Posted November 30, 2008 Report Share Posted November 30, 2008 All I can say is wow. Now those are some bluegill baits. Not only some of the best details on a mold I've ever seen, but some of the wildest paint schemes out there. Amazing work. I agree. Absolutely amazing, both the carving, and the paint schemes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kellure Posted December 3, 2008 Report Share Posted December 3, 2008 Those are wicked looking lures, exceptional crafting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snax Posted December 3, 2008 Report Share Posted December 3, 2008 Back to the drawing board I go! :censored:lol Those raised the bar yet again!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RiverMan Posted December 3, 2008 Report Share Posted December 3, 2008 I'm surprised that you can only get 20 from each mold also. I was told by the smoothon folks that I could expect about 100 pieces from each mold but have yet to test one that far. Jed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CreekMonster Posted December 3, 2008 Report Share Posted December 3, 2008 One word, "WOW". I know its short, but wow pretty much sums it up. Great work man. Hat's off to ya! Jay Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MR KNOW IT ALL KIND OF Posted December 3, 2008 Report Share Posted December 3, 2008 Nice work Matt! Killer detail... The Rookie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mattlures Posted December 3, 2008 Author Report Share Posted December 3, 2008 Thanks again fellas Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
