Crankbait bill angle

[Hookemdown.]

I'm ready to cut my slot for my CB bill.  Where do I cut the Slot, at what angle?

[THEbassmaster]

depends how deep you want it to dive. if you want it dive deep, put it about straight out from the body, and make it long. if you want it to dive shallow, you can either A. make it smaller, but at the same angle, or B. put it at a greater angle down. here are some pics to help describe it. (oh, and i think where the line tie has something to do with it, hopefully someone else will correct me if im wrong.)

this one will dive pretty deep

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a310/nhoman27/100b1110.jpg

this one will not dive deep at all

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a310/nhoman27/100_0716.jpg

id love to see some pics when it is done.

hope this helps

aaron

[Hookemdown.]

I'm making a shallow runner, thanks for your input.  I was just curious if there was some angle that the bill had to be at for it to run correctly.  It's my first CB by the way so I'm still learning.

[jasone]

It may seem like a no-brainer but I would get a lure that I want to simulate (depth-wise) and copy that angle.  Just keep in mind that longer lips of course will go deeper.  

Aaron is right though about the shallow and deep angles.  

It is hard to be precise.  After you get it dialed in, you have to make a template.

J

[Justin2255]

Would anyone happen to know the best way to cut the bill besides by hand. I mess up more than I actually make lol

[Bdnoble84]

11 hours ago, Justin2255 said:

Would anyone happen to know the best way to cut the bill besides by hand. I mess up more than I actually make lol

I struggle with this as well. Do you use a band saw? I make an outline of the shape i want then cut larger than the shape. I then use the bench sander to try and get to the shape i want. I think for that it takes a good eye though, something i dont have.

[Chris Catignani]

On 10/11/2021 at 8:03 PM, Justin2255 said:

Would anyone happen to know the best way to cut the bill besides by hand. I mess up more than I actually make lol

I been using a scroll saw...

[MickD]

For plastic that is sort of fragile, easily damaged, you need high rpm and slow progression into the material.  Like Dremel tools of some sort. Not sure which.  But experiment, try different things.  No one can tell you the right angle to cut your bill slot.  Try a few options and see how they work.

[OldManLure]

On 10/11/2021 at 9:03 PM, Justin2255 said:

Would anyone happen to know the best way to cut the bill besides by hand. I mess up more than I actually make lol

 

On 10/11/2021 at 9:03 PM, Justin2255 said:

Would anyone happen to know the best way to cut the bill besides by hand. I mess up more than I actually make lol

Check out the Dremel MotoSaw.  Perfectly sized, easy to use, and reasonably priced.  It is also the perfect tool to rough out your body shapes.

[Bdnoble84]

I use the bandsaw, i do it on the rough blank before i start shaping, however its still a struggle. 

[BassNJake]

Marling baits does a video on crankbait angles on micro cranks

 

[Munkin]

On 10/11/2021 at 9:03 PM, Justin2255 said:

Would anyone happen to know the best way to cut the bill besides by hand. I mess up more than I actually make lol

 

15 years later

 

[BBug]

I just stumbled onto this thread but thought I would put this out there. You can buy several different types of lips from supply catalogs like Jann’s or Lurepartsonline. My biggest issue making cranks was cutting the lip slot correctly. I have yet figured out a way to get it done the same way every time.