Hand carve to plastic

[scott harley]

I had some mold max 30 lying around so I thought I would try and make a lure from design to casting.
This is the result

 

[scott harley]

This is the master in the works

 

[scott harley]

Getting ready to get a clean parting line

 

[scott harley]

Mold box done

 

[scott harley]

First half done

 

[scott harley]

Both halves done

 

[scott harley]

Wire form done

 

[scott harley]

First one is done. I am using smooth cast 300, the working time is super short st 3 minutes. De mold time is 10 minutes. This first one has 10 percent micro balloons.

 

[scott harley]

This is the first one out of the mold with my master. It must be said that I haven't used micro balloons before and I wasn't expecting the amount of expansion so my part line was horrible.

 

[scott harley]

Float testing, the one in the left is the Second one out of the mold with 30 percent micro balloons and is more how I want it to float.

 

[scott harley]

This is one with hooks, it weighs just over 60 grams. And sinks slowly tail first. I would prefer it to sink level. How would you guys suggest ?

 

[Tackle-holic]

Nice!

 

[scott harley]

Thanks

 

[Slimy Salamander]

Nice work. Are you going to paint them?

 

[scott harley]

Thanks ya I will eventually paint them, I just want to get their action dialed in first. Thanks for the comments

 

[Dr halibut hoffman]

Long time since someone has been doing any DIY lures on here..and its a good one mate! Have you rigged one with a clip and leader and seen how it sinks? To weight maybe a split shot on your wireform before casting? I've also seen guys drill holes in the bottom and lead them to fine-tune the balance afterwards.

 

[scott harley]

Thank you sir, I haven't clipped a leader on yet but with hooks it sinks tail down slowly now sure what that will mean for its action, what I think if It sinks horizontally it will swim subsurface and Dart around erratically

 

[Dr halibut hoffman]

You have to throw it and see it swim..some walk the dog lures I've got sink tail first slowly, some not..

 

[scott harley]

I was aiming for a subsurface darter type of stick but I think it's shape is the limiting factor here having said that it only needs 3 grams in the front of the lure to sink level. You are right the only way to know what it will do is to take It for a swim. There are so many factors to consider for Example orientation of the line tie, weight vs buoyancy, body shape, center of gravity etc etc combinations are endless. So tuning a lure is daunting to say the least so any input from chaps that have done this thing before should at least give me an idea of what to look for while testing because I don't often fish sticks.

 

[bassbug]

scott harley wrote:

This is one with hooks, it weighs just over 60 grams. And sinks slowly tail first. I would prefer it to sink level. How would you guys suggest ?

play with hook sizes, or drill a tiny hole near the front and add weight until you happy then seal
btw, nice creations