Pouring your own baits

[gnewski5]

I wanted to start a new thread so poorboys tube thread didn't get too far off topic.

emeryj, i'm with Revtro on this. I would love to start pouring my own baits. How did you get started? Where do you get your supplies ? ( molds, plastic, scent, color, ect...). Are your molds injection type (2 pieced closed) where the baits are round like a senco, or poured (1 piece open) where your baits have a flat bottom like a Zoom centipeed? How many cavities does each mold have?

The reason for all the questions is I am in the tool and die field and have access to cnc equiptment. It would be real easy to machine up a few different molds to try. I just don't even know where to begin to get supplies to even begin this project.

Thanks for any info, gnewski

[jcheetam]

If you're looking for some molds, check out this guy:

www.del-mart.com/

He has some really nice stuff, AND he takes special orders.

[emeryj]

gnew and revtro,

I'm probably giving up what is possibly a chance to make a little extra money this year, but if it gives me a chance to make some new friends, I'm all for it. I have had LOTS of people interested in my Senko knock offs.

I promise you one thing...I will not hold anything back, I'll tell you guys everything I know about this stuff, I'm not going to be one of those guys that thinks everything is a big secret. All I ask is that everybody else does the same favor for me.

I don't know where to start... first of all, They look EXACTLY like a Senko.

The guy I buy everything from used to be in the aerospace industry, he is a genius with a CNC machine, and just to let you know, I really feel it's better to buy from him versus try to do it yourself. He already has the programming done and has made all the mistakes and scrapped all the aluminum that anybody else would have trying to perfect the mold. One four cavity two piece mold is right around $50.

One of the best values is the kits that are sold on the website. The kit includes everything you need to make a few hundred senkos for $93.00.

Plastic, color, glitter, salt, softner and a mold. Also included is worm oil, that stuff, I found out the hard way, is for keeping your plastics from sticking together when you bag them up. It's NOT a scent additive like I thought.

I have already figured out a lot of the little "gotcha's" in pouring these things. Although I have not used a microwave yet... I found that a hot plate is a very good way of heating the plastic. The owner even agreed that the hot plate will not scortch the plastic as easily as the microwave. It's best to use a thermometer for a while until you feel comfortable with the settings on the hot plate.

I am currently working on a jig for making my own tubes and just last night I made my own mold for pouring gobies.

The plastic I use is very soft and lasts longer than the Yamamotos, the owner told me that Mr. Yamamoto uses a different plastic than the one he sells on his website, for the simple reason Gary Yamamoto only wants his baits to last for only one or two fish, then you have to get another one out. JOB SECURITY

I tell ya, when you start looking at the website, one of the first things you'll think is the possibilities are endless... and they are!!!

These people are some of the nicest people you'll want to talk to, and they will help you with any problems you might have.

I will also be more than happy to get any of you started in pouring your own plastics. Just send me a message, or if you want, I can even show you how to do it, if you want to make a trip to Jackson.

These people also run a message board and an internet store, I have recently been helping them get the bugs out of their new shopping cart they just added to their website so that they can now take credit card information on line. I do know for a fact that they take internet security VERY seriously and can verify that your information is extremely safe when ordering.

You must register seperatly for each the message board and the shopping cart.

If you do order something... PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE tell them that you heard about it from me... Josh Clark.

Okay... go to www.Del-mart.com for all your soft plastic needs.

$100 will get you started, I spent another $35 for a hot plate, thermometer, pan, and some measuring devices.

Good luck and let me know how things are going.

Josh

[gnewski5]

Jeff and Josh,

Thanks for the info. Great site.

I think i'll take your advice Josh, and order that stik kit. From the looks of some of those pictures, his molds look to be top of the line. 93 bucks, 3 colors, 3 colors of glitter and a gal. of plastic, you should get quite a few baits out of that to get started. (I'll need quite a few the way I go thru them).

I,ll make sure I tell them I got the info from you.

Thank you for being so open. That isn't the norm now a days. Maybe one day I can return the favor. Heck, I might even see you on the water. We fish the hole state of Michigan, Big and small water.

You can contact me thru www.bass-finaddicts.com in the 'forum"

Thanks again Greg Wisniewski

[Revtro]

Guys, great info! Thanks for all the help. I too think I'm going to try the kit to get started. What kind of hot plate should I get? Also, can these molds be used in a microwave if they're aluminum? I know MBell makes his own baits in a microwave. How does that work for you Matt? The hotplate idea sounds a whole lot less messy to me, so I'm really interested in giving that a try.

Gnewski, you said you're in the tool and dye field? Would you ever consider designing a mold to pour 1/4, 3/8, and 1/2 tube heads in one mold? Maybe a couple of each at the same time? Some of the molds I've seen have one size or one each of many sizes. But these are the 3 sizes I use most. I have a bunch of lead someone gave me so I want to try that this off season as well.

Josh, what do you do to get your stick baits to have the same kind of weight as the Yamamoto? Many of the imitators I've used don't cast as well because they're not as dense. Tiki and Culprit seem to be closest, but don't have the color options of the Yamamoto. Most of the others are either too light, too stiff, or break apart too easily like the Senkos.

I'm really excited to give this a try this year. Anything to keep me busy when I can't fish. Too bad I live on the East side of the state or I'd take you up on your offer to watch you pour. Thanks for being willing to answer questions and give us some guidance.

[jcheetam]

Here's a really good resource for not only pouring plastics, but any type of lure making:

www.tackleunderground.com/

I went through a stage last year where I wanted to start pouring my own soft plastics and carving balsa crankbaits, and ran across Tackle Underground while doing research. It's a cool site for getting ideas and sharing what other people are doing.

[gnewski5]

jcheetam, thanks again, anouther nice site.

Revtro, yes I have. But thats all it's been ,is just thoughts. I throw mostly 3/8 oz. But go to 1/2 or 3/4 oz. when i'm on the river. Depending on what and where i'm fishing. I have found that most of the molds are 1 cavity of 10 different sizes. I would like to have a mold be 1 size, 10 cavities. I like the tube jigs with the rattle's molded right next to the hook shank with a "band" of lead. I need to find someone that supplies that type of rattle. Once I do, I want to design a mold to accept that rattle, but with a heavier band holding the rattle on. (I get a little upset after 2 or 3 casts bouncing off of the rocks on the bottom and the d**n rattle is gone). And would like it to be able to accept a couple of different hook sizes. ( say 2/0, 3/0, and 5/0).

I would also like to make a mushroom type jig mold also. I mostly throw 1/4 oz. but sometimes downsize to 1/8 oz.

I just thought, for the amount of baits I go thru, starting out making something, rubber would be eaiser.

Maybe i'm wrong?

[emeryj]

Revtro,

I found that the simple recipe they give on the Del-mart site works well right off the bat. If it's weight you are trying to fine tune... then you add or subtract salt.

If it's softness or even lack there of... there is plastic hardner and softner.

The Del-mart website has an "A-Z" color chart that's pretty extensive, even some of the most popular Yamamoto colors. I think you can find them on the forum page.

Just know this when it comes to salt and color... the more salt... the more color you have to add... the less transparent it will be. And vice versa.

I just bought a $9.00 hotplate ar Wal-mart and a $10 stainless steel sauce pan and bent my own pour spout with a pair of pliers.

Alright... since the only time I have to get on line is at work... I will not be back until Wednesday next week. I'm off to kill Bambi!

If you have anymore questions please get a hold of me, I will do my best. Also don't be afraid to call Del or April, Del's daughter, and they will answer some of your questions and get you really fired up about pouring.

Until then... see ya!

Josh

[MBell]

Tom,
Just use coffe mugs in a cheap microwave, it will save you time and plastic. You can also get the plastic hotter and easier to pour especially when you use a lot of salt for senkos. The hole in the senko molds aren't that big and clog easily, so the hotter the better. Like I said do this out in the garage with some ventilation and this time of year you will need a heater. To pour good you need about 45-50 degrees. Anything below that cools the plastic too much to pour. Don't pour out of the coffee mugs, transfer to a small pan, like what lurecraft sells. Remember to use calhoun plastic form del mart, it's just easier to deal with(you will need softener for senkos).
-Matt