Pouring Soft Plastic Over Weights And Hooks

[MuskyHunter]

Ok. I have not seen any topics on this. I was wanting to pre rig some swimbaits with lead weights and hooks. Most of the aluminum molds do not account for this. I was wanting to know if anyone does this or has any suggestions on how to do this.

Thanks in advance.

[pirkfan]

Ok. I have not seen any topics on this. I was wanting to pre rig some swimbaits with lead weights and hooks. Most of the aluminum molds do not account for this. I was wanting to know if anyone does this or has any suggestions on how to do this.

Thanks in advance.

The molds I've done this in are the top pour two part molds. I made up a contraption to hold the hook eye and barb where I wanted it, out of wire. I used hooks with weight molded onto them using the Do-it weighted hook mold. I powder coated the weighted portion to prevent chemical interaction between the raw lead and the plastic. They worked pretty well, and when the bait got too torn up, the weighted hook was easy to remove.

The other thing I did was modify the position of the insert in the Basstackle supershad mold so the hollow body extended almost to the nose of the bait. I can then quick load them like a tube bait with a Do-It TX Tapered Tube Skirt Jig. I did melt a little hole through the top of the swimbait with hot wire at the position where the hook would come out of the bait. This let me load the jig just like they are used in a tube skirt, pushing the nose of the jig through the hole and then forward to the nose of the bait. It's easy then to use your thumbnail to force the eye of the jig through the plastic nose of the bait (if that makes any sense).

http://i1037.photobucket.com/albums/a456/pirkfan/IMGP3186.jpg

[MuskyHunter]

The molds I've done this in are the top pour two part molds. I made up a contraption to hold the hook eye and barb where I wanted it, out of wire. I used hooks with weight molded onto them using the Do-it weighted hook mold. I powder coated the weighted portion to prevent chemical interaction between the raw lead and the plastic. They worked pretty well, and when the bait got too torn up, the weighted hook was easy to remove.

The other thing I did was modify the position of the insert in the Basstackle supershad mold so the hollow body extended almost to the nose of the bait. I can then quick load them like a tube bait with a Do-It TX Tapered Tube Skirt Jig. I did melt a little hole through the top of the swimbait with hot wire at the position where the hook would come out of the bait. This let me load the jig just like they are used in a tube skirt, pushing the nose of the jig through the hole and then forward to the nose of the bait. It's easy then to use your thumbnail to force the eye of the jig through the plastic nose of the bait (if that makes any sense).

http://i1037.photobu...an/IMGP3186.jpg

OK. That helps. If I had a longer swim bait that would need a treble hook coming out of the bottom, how would you rig this?

[smallmouthaholic]

Ok. I have not seen any topics on this. I was wanting to pre rig some swimbaits with lead weights and hooks. Most of the aluminum molds do not account for this. I was wanting to know if anyone does this or has any suggestions on how to do this.

Thanks in advance.

I did this plenty of times w/ RTV silicone molds using 1/8 oz. football jigs and a Do-it 1/4 and 3/8 oz. darter heads when extra weight was needed. You'll get very little flashing if you make a sharp,clean incision all the way through the RTV for the eye of the hook and the hook point . I used a 3/8 oz. Do-it darter head w/ the bottom flattened and a Mustad 4/0 32746br hook. You position the jig in an inverted position with the eye of the hook just inside the silicone mold but not flat against the bottom so that your plastic encases the weighted hook

The mold-

The weighted darter head-

Positioned in the mold for pouring-

The finished product-

[MuskyHunter]

I did this plenty of times w/ RTV silicone molds using 1/8 oz. football jigs and a Do-it 1/4 and 3/8 oz. darter heads when extra weight was needed. You'll get very little flashing if you make a sharp,clean incision all the way through the RTV for the eye of the hook and the hook point . I used a 3/8 oz. Do-it darter head w/ the bottom flattened and a Mustad 4/0 32746br hook. You position the jig in an inverted position with the eye of the hook just inside the silicone mold but not flat against the bottom so that your plastic encases the weighted hook

The mold-

The weighted darter head-

Positioned in the mold for pouring-

The finished product-

Thanks for the tips. The pictures explain alot.

[smallmouthaholic]

Thanks for the tips. The pictures explain alot.

My pleasure!

[Delw]

Ok. I have not seen any topics on this. I was wanting to pre rig some swimbaits with lead weights and hooks. Most of the aluminum molds do not account for this. I was wanting to know if anyone does this or has any suggestions on how to do this.

Thanks in advance.

get a dremal tool and cut out a pocket for the hook to hold, or send it to someone to cut a hook pocket out, its very simple to do both ways, if your a hack like me with a dremel then cut an opening in each side of where you want the hook to go alot bigger than the harness/ jig/hook.

then fill it up with bondo or something with your hook in there cloase the mold and let it cure.

if you have an open top and the hook needs to come out of the top the simplest way is to use a paper clip to steady the hook and hold it center.

Delw

[MuskyHunter]

get a dremal tool and cut out a pocket for the hook to hold, or send it to someone to cut a hook pocket out, its very simple to do both ways, if your a hack like me with a dremel then cut an opening in each side of where you want the hook to go alot bigger than the harness/ jig/hook.

then fill it up with bondo or something with your hook in there cloase the mold and let it cure.

if you have an open top and the hook needs to come out of the top the simplest way is to use a paper clip to steady the hook and hold it center.

Delw

Thanks Del

[toadfrog]

What type of mold are you planning on using. Pic would help . Sometimes I can come up with a wacky solution. Probably won't be mass production effective but usually works to some degree.

[MuskyHunter]

What type of mold are you planning on using. Pic would help . Sometimes I can come up with a wacky solution. Probably won't be mass production effective but usually works to some degree.

I don't have the molds yet. That is part of the problem for me. I was just trying to get some ideas. I was planning on getting a 4" and 5" swimbait that I could rig with a large hook on top and a trailer treble hook. I was planning on wrapping the rig in hologram film paper and doing some painting to them. I may have to get creative with some lead or braze the trailer treble connection to the main hook. I attached the concept I am trying to do. Sorry for the bad drawing.

[toadfrog]

I don't have the molds yet. That is part of the problem for me. I was just trying to get some ideas. I was planning on getting a 4" and 5" swimbait that I could rig with a large hook on top and a trailer treble hook. I was planning on wrapping the rig in hologram film paper and doing some painting to them. I may have to get creative with some lead or braze the trailer treble connection to the main hook. I attached the concept I am trying to do. Sorry for the bad drawing.

OK, got the gist of the whole thing. I think an Rtv hand pour would be a start. Use a standard weighted swim bait hook , slide a paper clip through the eye to hold it out of the mold . slip a swivel onto the shank of the hook let it lay down in the mold. Use a dowel rod or something to hold the point of the hook out of the mold. Then when its poured you should bee able to pop the swivel out of the plastic for treble attachment. Just a thought to help get your gears turning.

[JSC]

With an open mold ... Pour Plastic then add the wtd hook & etc. then top this off if necessary.

JSC

[MuskyHunter]

Thanks everyone for your replies. I think I have a good idea on how to do the open pour molds. On the Aluminum molds, I want to make sure I know for sure what I want before I go grinding or milling the split line of the mold. I may reopen this topic when I have a better understanding of what I want...Thanks again.

[jesse1378]

ok i got it... you ready

i attached a pick of my swimbait molds. i have not done this yet, but i will soon.

1)pick your jig head.

2)hold the head in the mold so it looks like what you want.

3) use a paperclip through the eyelet to hold the head where you want it.

4) run a pencil or dowel rod under the barb area of the hook to get the angle you want.

5) pour away

for the bottom to attach the stinger....

you could a small coffee stirrer straw to poke a hole to the hook, or if that's not big enought maby something about the size od a .22 cal shell that will give you some room to the hook, shouldn't effect the action or looks and keep the swivel/o-ring in the body of the bait so it doesnt snag on anything. might have to play with this tonight and see what i can come up with. i dont hink i have any big jig heads so the sizes might be off, but the theory will be the same.

Edited December 28, 2010 by jesse1378