Mold making

[fish'n Jim]

Has anyone taken a blank DoIt mold(large) and had converted for pouring heads?

I bought one*, thinking I'd copy some heads that are no longer available, since the stuff out there is not worth buying.   I just wasted $25 on two baits that do not perform.

The more I get into it, I'm thinking I need to have the heads digitized and the mold cavities CNC machined.   Before I go getting quotes

I wanted some ideas, if that route is worth it?   I didn't plan on selling these, just offering to friends.   I still have some NOS baits so not urgent.  It's critical to the bait to run straight that the lead head be of the right shape and symmetric.   The guy that made these died and they sold his company but those guys went out of business and that was a few decades ago.  

I was going to do by hand but the mold doesn't come with the hook slot and normal orientation makes it very difficult to get the sides even.   Doesn't look like I can make correctly, as I thought, if I change the orientation to make it much easier to shave out by hand.  

 

Ps:I was going to do this back in the early '80s for another lure, but was able to modify my existing mold to accept the specially bent hooks I'd made.   Today those style hooks are available commercially.   Funny how those things happen.   We all kinda think alike in the end.   I also made a prototype device and had it working and they changed the design of the reels where it wasn't going to work.   I shelved that one.   Maybe this is #2.

* - they've gotten quite expensive.   I remember they were a few dollars more back in the day, but more like 2X now.

[smalljaw67]

I'm assuming you want to know from someone with experience if you can get a blank mold right by hand, correct? I tried a long time ago using a drill press with an end mill after marking my mold and making a jig to hold it in place. The end result ended up in the garbage because I was off like 1/64" on one side, no fixing it and unless you have some precision tools it wouldn't be wise. Get a quote from a machinist, I don't know if you have anyone local but it shouldn't be to bad if you can do the CAD work, if not it could run you a good bit but if the design works better than anything available commercially then it will be money well spent.

[cadman]

I can tell you this from my own experience, that your project is going to be expensive. First of all like smalljaw mentioned, you will need drawings or a 3d solid model for the machinist to use. In this day and age, since your jigs will have compound surfaces I'm sure a solid model would be preferred. This way if you go to a machine shop, they can use the model to make your mold. I design all my own molds and parts I do at work with a cad package called Solidworks. If you can't produce the model or drawings you will have to pay for that plus the machine time. The problem here is you are not doing production work, so every one of, you are making will be very expensive. If you really have to have this jig, then expect to lay out some money. I have found in fishing, that a certain jig will not be the answer to more fish. Find another jig, and fine tune your skills on that , after all they are only fish. If you want to send me a pic of the jig, I can give you a rough idea of the cost of engineering drawing time would be. Then you can go to a machine shop and ask them as well.

[fish'n Jim]

It's not a jig, but a buzzbait head.   I'm a retired engineering manager, so I know the how, costs, software, etc. but do not have access anymore.   I thought of this many times, since they went out of business but never pulled the trigger til recently.   I'd just bought some other new to market ones, and they weren't very good, so I rekindled this project.   Now, I'm reconsidering - again, but one step closer.

Thanks for the "by hand is not an option" response.   Needs a master engraver's skill.

I don't know if this is anything a production shop would want to do, without a large mark up.   Cost per is not a factor since I had no intention on selling.  That's what I was seeking.   What others' experience is with this.

I have old heads to use for 3D scan but it's probably cheaper and easier to redesign in solidworks, or other 3D CAD software.   There's probably minor improvements but I spent several years in buzzbait testing and wasn't able to improve on this one much.   Simple is best.

I've still got a small supply, but down to my last ones of the large size, and I'm refurbishing the used smalls to extend it.   But once the large ones are gone, it's too late.   So it's now or never.

ps: I made some other buzzbaits for a guy, and the hand work was cost prohibitive and I didn't see any advantage with that design.   Everything else I've used, over 30-40 years since buzzbaits came out, is not as good, in my opinion.

[Munkin]

Have you considered the Hilts Perfect Replica Mold? If I were trying to copy a bait for personal use it would be a option.

 

Allen

[fish'n Jim]

Looks like that link is bad, so I searched it and although I can't seem to find any instructions, I gleaned enough info from the web.   I guess I'm getting old and forgot about that one.   I remember when it came out but I thought they went out of business.   I have a set of old Hilts arkie jig molds laying around the garage.   I didn't like them.  

I couldn't get the online store to work, so may have to call them.   Actually less $ than the DoIt blank I bought but not sure how fresh the link is I was on, it referenced "New for 2005".  

I might roll the dice and see how it works, but see it as a stop gap.   I can see some issues with the wire and hook coming out the side depending on it's frame size but if works for a lead jig should be OK.   Thanks.

By the way, I found these people.   They make custom molds from DoIt blanks.   I'll have to call for pricing.

http://www.pouritmold.com/

[Munkin]

You can make a 2 piece mold out of silicone to pour baits.  Make sure to get the type that has a high temperature rating though. I plan on making one this winter as a prototype before investing  $500 on custom molds.

 

Allen