brushape Posted December 28, 2015 Report Share Posted December 28, 2015 I did a search but I didn't find the answer to my specific question, When I've made balsa baits, I have put the thru wire in, put polymer clay on top of the thru wire and fired them in the oven to set the clay. Afterward i use runny super glue to seal the bait. My question is should I be sealing the bait before adding the the thru wire also? It seems like a good idea but I do want to something unnecessary. Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Musky Glenn Posted December 28, 2015 Report Share Posted December 28, 2015 I don't guess you can seal to much, but looks like one good seal coat should do the trick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brushape Posted December 29, 2015 Author Report Share Posted December 29, 2015 Would you seal before after adding the thru wire? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobP Posted December 29, 2015 Report Share Posted December 29, 2015 I seal/undercoat wood baits after all the hardware (except the lip) is installed. That includes balsa baits. It would be hard for me to split a balsa bait to lay in a through-wire after coating it with epoxy, which I use as an undercoating. Also, I want every little bit of the bait to be sealed before painting it. And I don't see any need to seal twice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vodkaman Posted December 29, 2015 Report Share Posted December 29, 2015 (edited) Firstly, I don't understand the polymer clay bit, what is the purpose of this. Sealing is probably the wrong word, as there is no sealing going on here. It all depends on how the two halves were created: 1 - Split block - I would not apply any treatment, as this would prevent the two halves matching exactly. 2 - Flat - I would apply runny CA glue to both surfaces. Drill several shallow 2mm dia holes, say 3mm deep. Glue the halves together with epoxy, working it into the holes. This would help prevent the two halves splitting apart, any shock (shear) would be transmitted to both halves. 3 - When I build two halves from flat stock, I through drill and pin them together with 3mm dia bamboo sate sticks at three locations. The sticks guarantee alignment and help with shear. I would still treat as method No2. Sealing is probably the wrong word, as there is no sealing going on here. Like Bob stated, the sealing is done after the hardware is assembled and the halves are glued together. Dave Edited December 29, 2015 by Vodkaman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brushape Posted December 29, 2015 Author Report Share Posted December 29, 2015 Since the baits are one piece not split, it creates quite a gap where I am installing the thru wire. I just use the polymer clay for filler and it adds some weight to the bait. The little bit of weight it adds seems to be evenly distributed. I am just doing this as a hobby and I will defer to those with way more wisdom than I have. Hopefully someday I will be a little wiser. Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vodkaman Posted December 29, 2015 Report Share Posted December 29, 2015 Ah, I see what you are doing now. I have built a lot of lures like this, preferring not to split the wood. I fix the wire in place with a few drops of CA glue, to stop it moving around. I give the slot a good soaking with runny CA glue (superglue), to fix the surface of the fluffy balsa, to give a good key for the filler. I fill the slot with regular polyester based car filler (Bondo). This cures fast and sands down very nicely. Some use epoxy glue to fill the slot. For me, the epoxy is not as easy to shape off, being much harder in texture. The baking of the polymer clay would probably work, but just seams to be asking for future problems with shrinkage and over drying the balsa. I can imaging a crack developing along the center as the wood expands, as moisture gets back into the wood, AND IT WILL. Coatings are only water resistant, there is no such thing as a waterproof coating, it is just a matter of time. Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brushape Posted December 29, 2015 Author Report Share Posted December 29, 2015 Dave - thanks for your input. I am not wedded to the the polymer clay thing. I had the clay on hand and I thought it would work. I like your idea with bondo even better. Next time I am in a store i will pick some up to try it. Do you think I could use wood filler also? Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vodkaman Posted December 29, 2015 Report Share Posted December 29, 2015 Wood filler would work, but my experience is that it is much slower and may present problems later. Wood filler needs air to cure, so deep down in the harness slot, it may take days or weeks or may never cure. The possibility of de-gassing while slow curing could cause problems. I don't know for sure, just thinking and anticipating. Bondo is a two part chemical reaction and so guaranteed for the lot to cure and fast. Dave 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Travis Posted December 29, 2015 Report Share Posted December 29, 2015 Glue up with Devcon 5 minute or similar and you take care of filling and glue up in one motion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
