robalo01 Posted July 2, 2014 Report Share Posted July 2, 2014 At what point in your build do you cut the groove and instal your bill/lip? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saltwater Posted July 2, 2014 Report Share Posted July 2, 2014 Me? I don't cut a groove. My bill/lip is built into my fiberglass molds. All one piece as it were. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barr5150 Posted July 2, 2014 Report Share Posted July 2, 2014 I build flat sides and cut mine after the last prime coat has dried. Right before paint. If you plan to build round bodied lures I would think you would want to cut the lip slot first while the blank is still square. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RayburnGuy Posted July 2, 2014 Report Share Posted July 2, 2014 If your building flat sided cranks it is really personal choice as to when you cut the lip slot. If your building baits with contoured sides then you need to cut the lip slot while the sides are still flat. This will guarantee that the slot is cut square to the blank. Ben Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobP Posted July 3, 2014 Report Share Posted July 3, 2014 I always cut the lip slot immediately after cutting out the basic lure shape, while everything is still square. I install the lips after painting the lure, before putting on the topcoat. That way, I don't have to tape off the lip before painting. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark poulson Posted July 3, 2014 Report Share Posted July 3, 2014 I always cut the lip slot immediately after cutting out the basic lure shape, while everything is still square. I install the lips after painting the lure, before putting on the topcoat. That way, I don't have to tape off the lip before painting. I do the same, but I install the lips before I paint, and mask them off with blue painters tape. I always screw up the paint when I try to clean out the slot if I don't. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt M Posted July 3, 2014 Report Share Posted July 3, 2014 I do the same as mark and bob. I think I got the idea from them. I install the lip before paint too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silo1688 Posted July 3, 2014 Report Share Posted July 3, 2014 robalo01, It seems you were reading my mind I was just going to ask that same question today! Thanks! --George Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobP Posted July 3, 2014 Report Share Posted July 3, 2014 I hate taping lips on a new bait before painting so I worked out how to avoid it and still get a clean slot in which to glue the lip after painting. Before painting, I fit a scrap piece of lip material into the slot, using a little tape if required to get a snug fit. The scrap piece has a hole drilled in the end and I use locking forceps to hold the baits while painting them, then put a little wire hanger into the drilled hole and hang the baits above my work bench on nails. When I'm finished painting and glue in the lip, I switch the wire hanger to the belly hanger while the glue hardens. Everybody eventually works out a scheme to suit their work environment and bait building methods, this is just mine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woodieb8 Posted July 3, 2014 Report Share Posted July 3, 2014 on baits turned in wood. the lips cut when square stock on a tablesaw. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robalo01 Posted July 3, 2014 Author Report Share Posted July 3, 2014 Stanford lure has a neat jig for cutting the lip slots after the paint. I think it is one of the last steps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tracy G Posted July 3, 2014 Report Share Posted July 3, 2014 I usually cut the slot while the bait is still square, and install it before the epoxy seal coat. It is a pain but I started doing this so I could test swim them before paint and never have changed my ways. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RayburnGuy Posted July 3, 2014 Report Share Posted July 3, 2014 (edited) Stanford lure has a neat jig for cutting the lip slots after the paint. I think it is one of the last steps. The thing about jigs is that they are great when what your putting into the jig is the exact same size and shape every time. When your cutting lure shapes out by hand there are small discrepancies in size and shape so your jig may, or may not, fit each bait properly. If the jig doesn't fit each bait the same way your going to have differences in the finished product. From what I've read about Stanford they probably have a duplicating machine so their lure bodies all come out the same. This would allow the use of jigs for such things as lip slots, hook hangers, etc. just my Ben Edited July 3, 2014 by RayburnGuy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vodkaman Posted July 4, 2014 Report Share Posted July 4, 2014 I cut mine before even shaping. The lip position is on the glued template, enabling me to cut it first. This way there is plenty of wood to hold for this operation requiring fine control. Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
