Owasco Posted April 13, 2011 Posted April 13, 2011 I've been doing a little research on how to make soft plastic baits. Everything from mixing the materials to making my own custom molds. I have been thinking about trying to do it for a few months now. It doesn't seem terribly difficult and it seems that once you have the equipment and molds at your disposal, making the baits is a quick process. After reading many articles and watching many videos I thought I should check with all my pals at "The Resource" to see if anyone is making them. Surely there must be some of you folks making your own handmade soft plastic baits. So, can you give us any tips, or show us some pics? In your opinion what is the best way to aquire the materials? Just buy plastisol? Melt down old plastics? Do you make your own molds or do you buy them? Are there bothersome fumes? Do you feel they work as good as storebought baits? Etc. Etc. I'd love to hear from some of you and pics are encouraged! Edit: Tried to change the "there" to "Their" in the title. Quote
NateFollmer Posted April 13, 2011 Posted April 13, 2011 Lots of guys on here make their own stuff. May sound odd, but I make custom molds for a few guys, but I still have yet to pour anything myself haha First thing you need to do, figure out what style of baits you want to make and what colors you want. Start small, maybe get a pint of plastic, two or three colors, a few small things of flake and a mold or some RVT. If you get a mold, don't worry about the RVT, but you can use the RVT to make molds of existing baits. Quote
Bass Dude Posted April 13, 2011 Posted April 13, 2011 I've been making my own plastics for about 3 years now. I love it. It gives you the freedom to make anything your imagination comes up with. I make my own POP molds, but am looking to get into making the resin molds. I buy plastisol rather than using old plastic because that way I can make the colors I want rather than having to use whatever color of old baits I have. Go to Bearsbaits or lurecraft to buy your stuff---They have all you need, plastisol, coloring, glitter, molds, etc. Also, register yourself on the website tackleunderground. It's a forum for all kinds of lure making, including plastics, and the people on there are extremely knowledgable. I will warn you....this can get addictive and very expensive!!! Once you realize all the options you have, you'll want to buy it all. Think about it...how much tackle do have...you'll end up with 5times as much crap to make the lures!! Quote
NateFollmer Posted April 13, 2011 Posted April 13, 2011 I will warn you....this can get addictive and very expensive!!! Once you realize all the options you have, you'll want to buy it all. Think about it...how much tackle do have...you'll end up with 5times as much crap to make the lures!! x2 That's why I mentioned planning exactly what you want to make and what colors you use them most. When I looked into getting started, I wanted it all. I think I had about $5000 figured up into all the stuff I wanted. I guarantee you I wouldn't have even used 1/8 of that stuff if I had bought it all. Another thing is, that plastic coloring goes a LONG way, so don't be like me and think you need the biggest color bottle you can buy, the smallest will do. Quote
Siebert Outdoors Posted April 13, 2011 Posted April 13, 2011 I've been doing it for about 4-5 yrs. The molds are the most expensive part then all the colors and glitters. Like said above start small with your favorite color. Quote
Super User Jigfishn10 Posted April 13, 2011 Super User Posted April 13, 2011 Is one particular style of bait more expensive than another? For example: Is like a tube more expensive than say a stick bait...Material, Molds, Tools etc.? Just curious Quote
NateFollmer Posted April 13, 2011 Posted April 13, 2011 Tube molds are more complicated... I wouldn't say more expensive though. Bearsbaits makes a cool tube mold, but most people dip a rod into the plastic and then cut the strands. Obviously, the more plastic you have in a bait the more it's going to cost to make, but I think the increase in plastic is minimal to the overall cost. I think I read somewhere that 1 oz. of plastic will make 5 5" senko style baits, but I don't know that for sure LOL Quote
Super User Jigfishn10 Posted April 13, 2011 Super User Posted April 13, 2011 Thanks Nate. I know Jig Man makes tubes as well as other soft plastics. His tube baits are really nice. Quote
Siebert Outdoors Posted April 13, 2011 Posted April 13, 2011 the more complicated the mold the more its going to cost plus the harder it will be to pour. The injectors are nice for this. I wish I had one. Same with baits. Bigger, more expensive because of the amount of plastic it takes. Quote
FuzzyGrub Posted April 13, 2011 Posted April 13, 2011 I've been doing a little research on how to make soft plastic baits. Everything from mixing the materials to making my own custom molds. I have been thinking about trying to do it for a few months now. It doesn't seem terribly difficult and it seems that once you have the equipment and molds at your disposal, making the baits is a quick process. After reading many articles and watching many videos I thought I should check with all my pals at "The Resource" to see if anyone is making them. Surely there must be some of you folks making your own handmade soft plastic baits. So, can you give us any tips, or show us some pics? In your opinion what is the best way to aquire the materials? Just buy plastisol? Melt down old plastics? Do you make your own molds or do you buy them? Are there bothersome fumes? Do you feel they work as good as storebought baits? Etc. Etc. I'd love to hear from some of you and pics are encouraged! Edit: Tried to change the "there" to "Their" in the title. I have been doing it only for a couple of seasons. In fact, just packed up all my stuff, and now the focus is to get on the water. I can answer all or most of questions. It might help to narrow it down to start with the couple of bait styles that you use the most often. The other key decission is how much money are you willing to spend for the "feet wet" stage. You can find some pics by drilling down in this link: My Tackle Making There are numerous baits I've made that are not posted. In your opinion what is the best way to aquire the materials? For plastisol, colors, glitters, additives, etc, I buy only new. Once you decide on baits and molds, probably would buy from same supplier to save on shipping. Just buy plastisol? Need to know type of baits. Need to choose between Soft, med, and hard. Also, floating, neutral or sinking. Some of those come from picking the hardness, but certain brands have different qualities. A good starting point may be medium, along with buying some softner and hardner. Melt down old plastics? Yes you can do that, but need some new plastisol and heat stabilizer to mix in. Need to seperate out certain bait types, and you will be limited to opaque colors. Good to do practice with. I generaly make jig trailers with remelts. Do you make your own molds or do you buy them? I have made POP and resin molds, but mainly use 2 piece alum, with some rtv 1 piece. I have purchase some new, but about 2/3's used. Are there bothersome fumes? Yes. Fumes very from brand and heating method. You need a vapor mask ($30 @lowes), safety gloves, ventilation, etc. Do you feel they work as good as storebought baits? For the most part, yes, but depends on the bait/mold. BTW, I'm only 40 minutes from you. While I poured my last batch last weekened, if you have other questions you can IM, or if you are still on the fence by next winter, you can come inhale some fumes. Quote
bocabasser Posted April 13, 2011 Posted April 13, 2011 Lots of guys on here make their own stuff. May sound odd, but I make custom molds for a few guys, but I still have yet to pour anything myself haha First thing you need to do, figure out what style of baits you want to make and what colors you want. Start small, maybe get a pint of plastic, two or three colors, a few small things of flake and a mold or some RVT. If you get a mold, don't worry about the RVT, but you can use the RVT to make molds of existing baits. what do you make your molds out of? can you make a mold for a delong? Quote
NateFollmer Posted April 13, 2011 Posted April 13, 2011 what do you make your molds out of? can you make a mold for a delong? I model my baits on the computer and cut out the mold via a CNC machine. We use Corian for our molds, easier to machine and modify than aluminum is. If you send me some photos of what you want, I can see if it's something I could do for you. Quote
bocabasser Posted April 13, 2011 Posted April 13, 2011 I model my baits on the computer and cut out the mold via a CNC machine. We use Corian for our molds, easier to machine and modify than aluminum is. If you send me some photos of what you want, I can see if it's something I could do for you. this is gamblers 16". http://www.***.com/Gambler_ER16_16_Worm/descpage-G16RT.html it is their version of the delong. here is another http://creationbaits.com/images/600_BlackSnake_16.jpg Quote
Super User SoFlaBassAddict Posted April 13, 2011 Super User Posted April 13, 2011 this is gamblers 16". http://www.***.com/Gambler_ER16_16_Worm/descpage-G16RT.html it is their version of the delong. here is another http://creationbaits.com/images/600_BlackSnake_16.jpg Bruce, how's that Gambler worm? I haven't had a chance to use any of those yet. I like the DeLong's, but I hate paying for them. Quote
NateFollmer Posted April 14, 2011 Posted April 14, 2011 Oh that'd be an easy one to do. How much are you willing to pay for a mold? PM me and we can discuss details. If you can find more people that one it, I could make them cheaper than just doing 1. Quote
Vodkaman Posted April 14, 2011 Posted April 14, 2011 That is a lot of worm to pour. Will it have to be injection? Dave Quote
River Rat316 Posted April 14, 2011 Posted April 14, 2011 I see no reason that couldn't be poured, looks like one of the easier hand pours. Quote
NateFollmer Posted April 14, 2011 Posted April 14, 2011 Only need to inject if you have tiny parts or hard turns. That can be poured just fine, just have to do it quick LOL Quote
Super User Jig Man Posted April 15, 2011 Super User Posted April 15, 2011 I make my own baits except for topwater, jerk, and crankbaits. I have a bunch of molds most of which are homemade out of Bondo fiberglass resin. These molds are 1 sided and cost about $5 each. I also have sticks, grubs, and tubes in 2 part molds. I used to dip rods to make tubes but had to cut the skirt so I bought injection molds and injectors. That runs about $300 for the stuff to do 2 tubes with double injectors but with tubes being $50/100 now and I use about 200 per year then it won't be long before I catch up. Quote
NateFollmer Posted April 15, 2011 Posted April 15, 2011 Nice looking tubes! Is that's Bear's mold? Quote
Super User Jig Man Posted April 15, 2011 Super User Posted April 15, 2011 Nice looking tubes! Is that's Bear's mold? Yes it is. I went ahead and bought the double injectors with the adapter for doing lams. It works great. Now I can have any color tube that I want. My bubble gum sticks are working well but I am missing fish on the so I made up a bunch of bubble gum tubes. They worked very well Friday. I have never seen that color in a store. Quote
NateFollmer Posted April 15, 2011 Posted April 15, 2011 Yes it is. I went ahead and bought the double injectors with the adapter for doing lams. It works great. Now I can have any color tube that I want. My bubble gum sticks are working well but I am missing fish on the so I made up a bunch of bubble gum tubes. They worked very well Friday. I have never seen that color in a store. Yeah I've never seen bubble gum tubes either. Smallies love that color and tubes - combine the two and you have a winner! Quote
Super User Jigfishn10 Posted April 15, 2011 Super User Posted April 15, 2011 Jig Man, I was wondering how long it would take for you to view this thread! Sweet stuff! Quote
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