cheapskate Posted September 5, 2011 Report Share Posted September 5, 2011 I noticed a lot of people seem to cast their bills separately and glue them in afterwords or maybe buy them. I am looking to cast the bill and add it on or even better as part or the whole lure. Which material is good for a strong clear bill? Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RayburnGuy Posted September 5, 2011 Report Share Posted September 5, 2011 I think most folks are using Lexan for their clear diving lips. I order mine in a 2' by 2' square and cut out the lips with an abrasive disc on my Dremel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheapskate Posted September 5, 2011 Author Report Share Posted September 5, 2011 I think most folks are using Lexan for their clear diving lips. I order mine in a 2' by 2' square and cut out the lips with an abrasive disc on my Dremel. The bill on the lure I am interested in is pretty complex. I will definitely need to cast it. Thanks though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheapskate Posted September 6, 2011 Author Report Share Posted September 6, 2011 so from what I can tell most people from reading older posts is that most think that clear alumalite, and polyester resin are to brittle to use for bills. Is the epoxy casting resin used for the bodies ok for the bill. I would like to cast the whole thing in one step over the wiring harness. or maybe in a two part hollow mold and then glue the two together. I have read the discussions about the different two part epoxies turning yellow but as far as I can tell that is about top coating. Are the epoxies everyone is using for top coat the same and the 2 part CASTING epoxys? Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hillbilly1 Posted September 7, 2011 Report Share Posted September 7, 2011 Castin'Craft Casting Resin is good and water clear but durability is an issue if your wanting strong and clear clear polyester resin is the way to go but beware the fumes are hazardous I get a twitch every time I look at a can Alumilite all so has a clear casting resin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redg8r Posted September 7, 2011 Report Share Posted September 7, 2011 Short answer is that we're all waiting for a water clear castable plastic that's comparible to high impact thermoplastics used in mass production. Smooth-on came close with a castable urethane, but requires serious ventilation and heated post cure after demolding. Most of us stick with polycarbonate/lexan sheet stock, if compound angles are needed, "Hazmail" made a great writeup here about forming lexan. If you need a compound thickness, you might try a clear polyester resin, but in my personal opinion it's too brittle really depends on the lip/bill itself. Good luck w it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheapskate Posted September 9, 2011 Author Report Share Posted September 9, 2011 I did some research and I think I am going to try the epoxy resin. The poly sounds better accept that it only has a shelf life of 6 months. I have storage issues. Plus I checked out a michaels gift gallery (only option) and they had one can. Considering how many people probably look there for casting supplies it may be 2 years old already. The smell might also bother the roommates. epoxy has a shelf life of over a year or longer. I don't know how quickly I could get a whole can of poly used up especially at 1/8 oz per lure at a time. Thanks for the help! I will let you know if I manage to get 1 lure made first. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheapskate Posted September 9, 2011 Author Report Share Posted September 9, 2011 If anyone knows of a smaller size of ployester (say 1 or 2 oz) trial size let me know! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
