BassNator 1 Posted March 8, 2005 Report Share Posted March 8, 2005 Wondering if anybody out there is making a bait similar to Mann's Thinn Mann. If so what kind of Cliff Note Cheat Sheets does anybody have if they have made something similar. Like the internal weight etc. I think I might have to give this design a look see and see if I can create my own. Any help or suggestions would be appreciated! But Im gonna give some 1/2 inch Balsa a try. That sure is a lot thinner than I have used in the past. The only true issue I have with balsa is that my brand new drill bits dont get a clean cut in the wood... it like shreds it instead of cutting it. And any info or help on hole drilling into balsa would be appreciated! Thanks Cody Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
baitmaker2 Posted March 8, 2005 Report Share Posted March 8, 2005 Bass nator I believe you would be happier going with the 1/2 inch balsa instead of the 1/4 or 3/8 , that stuff is too hard to get weighted properly and I don't believe that the thin wood has any advantages over a properly made 1/2 inch thick bait, my personal experience tells me that it is the action and not the thickness that matters most. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skeeter Posted March 8, 2005 Report Share Posted March 8, 2005 Cody, Get some forstner bits to cut your holes. They are made to cut a perfect circular hole. Skeeter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benton B Posted March 8, 2005 Report Share Posted March 8, 2005 Cody, I make baits out of 3/8 stock all the time and those are as easy to weight as any other bait. There is alot less carving time if you use the 3/8 stock. Use the small finess weights 1/16 and 1/8 oz, 3/16" hole will fit both weights. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lure--Prof Posted March 8, 2005 Report Share Posted March 8, 2005 I cut balsa holes with Dremel's carbide burrs...1/32 ounce can make a huge difference in 3/8 balsa flat baits...I also hope no one on this board makes a bait as ugly as the Thin Mann Dean Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
baitmaker2 Posted March 10, 2005 Report Share Posted March 10, 2005 I have made some 3/8 inch baits ( small) and tested them in tank after placing weights in belly , floats great , I am happy with action , glue everything together , paint , seal and clearcoat with epoxy , tank test again , sunk like a rock, I ruined a half dozen baits and wasted countless amount of time , right then I decided that 1/2 inch thick was as thin as I would go from now. I normally try to weight my lures for a slow steady rise instead of a pop to the top like a cork rise. This is my personal experience with the thin wood , I am sure other folks have probably had good results........Prior to this experience I have made some thin baits that did alright, but I guess i must have been living right at the time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
savacs Posted March 10, 2005 Report Share Posted March 10, 2005 I usually make thinn baits, but they don't have a big profile, like youre US lures have(different species of fish). You can remedy some of the problem by using a thinner wire through it. I don't use balsa, but saome lucal wood. Don't know it's name in english. It's harder than that. It has the consistenci of pine, but it does-nt have those big fibres. I-ve made some that have a larger profile that where 0.8cm thin. I could'nt really make them floating. And if i could it wouldn't rise like a thicker one, but with the nose up. Like it was a delfin ready to surface Those ones worked best if i made them suspending. I didn't yet try to make them sinking, but when i do i'll let you know how they work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
