jm Posted June 22, 2005 Report Share Posted June 22, 2005 Reproduced a Zipper type worm with ultracal 30. The mold has coating defects which allowed worm oil to get under the coating and stain it dark. It also developed a crack down the middle, which I think was probably started when I removed the master through a slot much smaller than the finished (carved out) one. I was able to make a plastisol (lurecraft 502) master mold and make ten new molds before that ripped. I chose this one for a first try because it looked like it would be difficult to do. Worms, twisters, jerkbaits, etc should be easy in comparison. I am going to make a set of mold forms, some 3/4 in high, and some 1 inch high. A master mold is made by gluing down a bait or a modeling clay model to a sheet of butcher paper, putting a 3/4 in frame over it, and pouring the plaster in. A Master mold negative is made by putting the master mold face up in a tight fitting 1 in frame and pouring either plastisol, or for a more permanent one, silicone. Molds will be made by putting the master negative, which is basically a 1/4 inch sheet plus the lure, into a 1 in frame and pouring plaster into it. There will be a flash where the plaster gets between the master and the frame, but it should be easy to trim off. Whatcha think? jm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jm Posted June 22, 2005 Author Report Share Posted June 22, 2005 BTW, This color is M-F motor oil. I texas rigged one and threw it into the garbage behind the lily pads in 3 feet of water, and then got mad at myself when the 12 lb line parted at the hook. Rigged up heavier and hauled a couple of 2 pounders out of the same cover in a half hour and lost a few more. T-rigged, I worked it through lily pads, sandweeds, and flooded cattails with ease. When it got down through the cover into the water, it was always at risk of being eaten. Whatta thrill. in MN a 6 pounder is a lunker, and a 9 pounder will shatter the state record. When this is poured in real soft plastic with a little salt and flavor, the fish seem to hang on and try to carry it home with them. jm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
texasbass1 Posted June 22, 2005 Report Share Posted June 22, 2005 Nice looking bait, I pour the 4" split tail and have caught LB close to 5 lbs and had a 4 lb 12oz Smallie (which is huge for Texas) I like the mold too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Travis Posted June 22, 2005 Report Share Posted June 22, 2005 Looks good. I made one just like it only made a two worm zipper mold. I still need to go the extra distance and make a series of molds just haven't gotten around to it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jm Posted June 30, 2005 Author Report Share Posted June 30, 2005 The second generation duplicates aren't quite as good. For one thing, the build up of coating caused the fins to get too thin to pull out of the mold easily after a multi color pour, and also they don't fill as well as they should. Single colors do fine most of the time. I consider the experiment a success, though. I learned a lot, and also learned what I don't know. I'll try vacuum degassing the mud next time, using an old milking machine vacuum pump. I have to determine where the vapor pressure line is between getting the air out, and making the water boil at room temperature. Maybe a vibration/vacuum setup. Perhaps also a soft rubber mixing bowl so that I can get the air out. I need to find a thinner coating for the master mold. Maybe none at all. More cavities per mold. Robotics, perhaps pouring multiple colors at once. Tequilla Sunrise, here I come. Eventually it'll have to be all aluminum molds. jm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senkosam Posted July 1, 2005 Report Share Posted July 1, 2005 Nice job. Practice make perfect when it comes to moldmaking and pouring, especially fine detail lures. It took me three attempts to get a good Beaver mold and to pour thin paddles, but it was worth it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
