Prototyping Route

[FishBones]

So after almost a year, here are my methods for getting from prototype to production mold. I try to do it as cheaply as I can because when you're running you're own business, it's all plus or minus, and if you keep the minus's down, the plus's add up.

For complicated stuff, i.e. heavily finned and detailed swimbaits etc.

I carve a master from sculpey, single mold in OOMOO, pour, put it in the swimming pool. If I like it, I make several "Perfect" baits, i.e. poured a little tall, trimmed and torch glossed.

After gluing these down, I make a Bondo multi piece production mold. The Sculpey master and original prototype mold go into the safe (the bottom of my mold cabinet lol).

For less complicated or detailed designs.

I use Plastileena oil based non hardening clay, sculpt the master, then make a PoP mold over it, I don't do anything special to the pop mold. For demolding I chill everything a bit in the fridge and stick a shishkebob skewer into the back of the master (the master in this scenario is disposable).

The pop mold in this scenario is also disposable, once demolded, pour a single. The surface will not be shiney, that's ok. Do the pool test, if I like it, make a few more, torch gloss them to get the shine, then Bondo production mold. As you can see in the second method, you really never have a master, so it's not a bad idea to set aside the first Bondo mold as a master.

The first method runs about $100 from start to finish, the second can be done for around $50. I"m no expert, I've only been doing this about 10 months, but this is what works for me. Thanks to you guys for the help and advice.

[Bassun]

I am interested in the prototyping method. To me personally, if I am not making my own designes I am less excited... Pouring worms may be fun, etc. and maybe I could create custom colors; but ulitmately my goal is to design, develop, and fish (maybe one day sale a few) of my own custom lures. You commented that it runs you about $100 from start to finish on a good high detail mold. I'm guessing you are hitting a high cost in the production molds as you are making large molds with a high number of cavities?

[FishBones]

My apologies for the late reply. To answer your question, no, the $100 price tag gets you to prototype mold. A production mold will tack another $100 to $200 onto that. Understand, when I speak of cost, I'm talking about the whole shebang, starting from scratch. That means everything from sandpaper on up.

Here's a basic supply list:

Plastileena clay $10

Sculpey clay $15

sandpaper assortment $10

Gallon of Bondo fiberglass resin $40

Exacto knife $2

Pint OOMOO kit $40 (delivered)

Butane minitorch $15

Add another $20 or so for glue and papertowels etc.

Now if I were to do a production OOMOO mold we're talking $150 a gallon.

[Bassun]

Oh no worries... as I read more on the site and began to learn tid bits I quickly understood there were a lot of little things i wasnt even thinking about.... But thanks for taking the time to follow up! I appreciate it!