want to make mold for soft plastics

[Casey=SeededPro]

hey i am tired of spending $30 a month on soft plastic lures..

what is the easiest and best way to make a mold for your soft plastic lures?

im trying to mold anything from worms to frogs to jig trailers, anywhere from 3" to 12"

[Jig Man]

There are a number of ways to make a mold or you can start out with some from a place likes Jann's Netcraft. Since you are going to have to have plastisol, dye, glitter, softner, etc. you might as well spend a few bucks on one or more of their molds to use as you gain experience in making baits.

I make my molds from Bondo. I use a non stick pan. I glue the baits to it. Spray them with cooking oil. Mix up the Bondo. Pour it on and go away until tomorrow. I take the mold out of the pan. Peel out the baits. Touch up the edges of the bait cavities with my Dremel and am ready to pour some plastics.

When I pour plastics, I spray my molds before every pour with garlic spray.  That keeps them slick and puts a scent into the baits.

It isn't perfect but it works for me.

[bigfruits]

what i did was get together with a few friends and ordered some aluminum molds from bob's tackleshop and del-mart molds. i still have not recieved the molds from del as i made some custom orders but bob's are great and im sure del's will be as well. its a little expensive but if you get a few people to chip in it wont hurt as much. lurecraft has some cheap molds although i havent seen them.

i will also try making my own molds with plaster of paris or resin. this is definately the cheapest way to go.

i recommend you visit the tackleunderground forums. it is a forum dedicated to tacklemaking. plenty of info on making molds, choosing colors, choosing plastics etc.

hope this helps

-z

[Casey=SeededPro]

thanks i just picked up some plaster of paris like an hour ago from our local Wal-Mart! and im looking for liquid plastic! i searched some craft stores and lowes and wal-mart. and i cant find it!

[bigfruits]

i dont know where to buy locally but these are the 3 most popular plastics available online

http://www.del-mart.com/shop/home.php?cat=248

http://www.lurecraft.com/catalog.cfm/plastic%2dproducts/liquid%2dplastic

http://www.fishingworld.com/M-F-Manufacturing/Category.tmpl?Cart=122697961190523871&Lvl1Cat=LIQUID%20PLASTIC&Lvl2Cat=Regular%20Plastic

check out this thread

http://www.tackleunderground.com/forum/soft-plastics/3857-best-plastic.html

[zbass]

I also use the bondo resin for my molds. It is quick and easy. The only draw back is it does not do well for two sided molds because of the shrinkage factor.

Zbass