Belly Dimples

[ravenlures]

I always seem to have a problem with belly weight dimples that require a lot of filling and sanding. Is there a better way or what do you do to fill them in. I am working with maple wood or cedar at times.

I know you guys out there have the answer.

crazywaynee

[craig beverley]

what do you mean dimples?

[ravenlures]

I call it a dimple. Where I drill the hole for belly weight and fill it seems to sink below the wood leaving a dimple in the body, which I must keep filling and sanding.

wayne

[craig beverley]

I pour the lead into the hole, cap it with epoxy and then fill whats left with wood filler. This stops the lead coming loose during use and gives the filler a solid surface to be applied to. I then sand with 120grit sanding paper with the grain with the sand paper in my hand. No sanding blocks or machines.

[ravenlures]

Thanks Craig but I do it the same way iot just seems that the filler is always below the surface of the lure. Maybe I just have to add more coats to level it off.

Thanks

[craig beverley]

Thanks Craig but I do it the same way iot just seems that the filler is always below the surface of the lure. Maybe I just have to add more coats to level it off.

Thanks

maybe your sanding the filler too much. Sand it till the filler is still feathering the outside of the hole instead of sanding till the filler resembles a perfect circle.

Only happy to offer advice Waynee.

[ravenlures]

Now thats what I am talking about, I you guys come up with a answer. I always sand till it is just the hole showing I will try feathering it, Don't know why I didn't think of that.

Thanks a great deal.

Wayne

[fatfingers]

Now thats what I am talking about, I you guys come up with a answer. I always sand till it is just the hole showing I will try feathering it, Don't know why I didn't think of that.

Thanks a great deal.

Wayne

Try using "plumbers putty" also called plumber's epoxy instead of wood filler. It doesn't shrink and its waterproof.

[Palmetto Balsa]

Yes, Plumbers Putty is the trick.

[luke1wcu]

Just curious if plumber's putty would work to fill in teeth marks on a plastic lure before a repaint...?

[fatfingers]

Just curious if plumber's putty would work to fill in teeth marks on a plastic lure before a repaint...?

Yes, it would. Just put a tiny bit on and let it dry. Sand it smooth and you're good to go.

[mark poulson]

What about Bondo?

[BobP]

Epoxy putty is great stuff - works fast and holds hard but you want to smooth and level it before it cures hard. After it cures, it's harder than wood and is hard to sand without cratering out the softer wood surrounding it (maybe not a problem on large musky baits where you can use a sanding block but it can be a pain on small bass baits). I like the putty for installing weights and integrated belly hangers. Just pop some in the hole (which should be just slightly oversize) and use needle nose pliers to push the belly weight/hanger in. Excess squeezes out and in five minutes you're back to building. I also use it when I'm re-lipping a crankbait and have a slot that's larger than the new lip. I smooth the epoxy with a finger dipped in denatured alcohol. BTW, a tip on integrated belly weights/hangers - roll them between 2 flat files to give them a rough texture and provide the epoxy more surface to grip.