auburn fisheries dude Posted April 11, 2006 Report Share Posted April 11, 2006 can anyone tell me what the design of the RTV crankbait mold is designed to do besides cast the crankbait body? and how are wire throughs and ballasts positioned in the mold? can rattle chambers be used? is the finished product durable? links to related topics are also appreciated Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaddoxBay Posted April 11, 2006 Report Share Posted April 11, 2006 I think everything you are asking about is posted on the site. Do a search and you should find everything you need? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Art Brush Posted April 13, 2006 Report Share Posted April 13, 2006 Hi Dude, Welcome to TU . As an introduction to making crankbaits I reccomend this article by Skeeter. It will tell you what to look for in a handmade lure: http://www.tackleunderground.com/board/viewtopic.php?t=3058 Here's a link to the forums search: http://www.tackleunderground.com/board/search.php Try searches in the hardbait forums on words like "foam, featherlite, mold, rtv, wax" these will bring up a plethera of info. The crankbait mold in my tutorial is designed to hold the thruwire on pins suspended inside the mold cavity. A thruwire should always be centered for balance. Ballast placement all depends on lure shape but for the most part they are centered just above the belly hook mount or slightly forward. Again... this is based on lure shape. For more info on ballasts do a search on "xray, x-ray, autopsy, autopsies" Rattles can be fashioned from pen tubes, 22 shell casings, glass chistmas tree lights almost any cylindar. I use bic pen tubes and bb's. here's a link to a post on rattles and foam lures: http://www.tackleunderground.com/board/viewtopic.php?t=7014&highlight=foam+featherlite And a link to Cheeseheads tutorial: http://www.tackleunderground.com/board/kb.php?mode=article&k=10 You can pm me with any q's ya might have. Post pics of your lures when you get a few done and remember to pay it forward to the next newbie. Tight Lines, Shawn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
auburn fisheries dude Posted April 14, 2006 Author Report Share Posted April 14, 2006 thanks, but another stupid question: the pins holding the through wire are just smaller than the diameter of the eyelet in the tutorial, do you adjust the nail size to the eyelet being used or adjust the eyelet size to the nail being used? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Art Brush Posted April 17, 2006 Report Share Posted April 17, 2006 On the prototype the eyelet is slightly larger. Less than 1mm slack. Good eye ... That slack is there to allow non-perfect loops to fit the mold. Though the harnesses are tied on a jig there are variations as they are hand made. If you notice the clay packing around the eyelet at the base is slightly larger. Also to allow for easy harness fit. Even if a user were to make a mold with a tight fiting harness and casts blanks with loose fitting loops the RTV is supple enough to fit the wire and close properly. Shawn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
auburn fisheries dude Posted April 17, 2006 Author Report Share Posted April 17, 2006 thanks for the explanation Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
