How to remove cracked bills From wood baits?

[stumpjumper16]

I have some older balsa baits with what I think are plastic coffin bills that were good baits, but some of the bills have cracked . Any ideas on how to remove and replace them without ruining the lip slot or bait for that matter would greatly be appreciated

[mark poulson]

This is only way I found to do it, and it still requires some cosmetic touch up and repair of the topcoat.

I remove the line tie, and then carefully use a bandsaw to cut a slot down the center of the broken lip,  staying away from the actual surfaces where the lip is glued to the bait.  I'm just trying to create some working space, not do a final removal.

Then I use a drywall knife (box cutter) to carefully pry the left over lip from the bait slot.

Once I get the old lip material out, I fit a new lip in, wedge it to the top surface to be sure it fits right, and then glue it in.  I reinstall the line tie, and proceed with any cosmetic repairs and recoating.

It is slow and time consuming, and still requires lots of repairs prior to being able to fish the lure again.

I stopped doing it years ago because I'm lazy.  

 

[Chuck Young]

I wonder if repairing the lip could be repaired with superglue, then an epoxy topcoat more easily.

[BobP]

I cut them out with a Dremel  fitted with a thin fiber reinforced cutoff disk, then use an epoxy putty stick to mount the new lip into the enlarged slot.  The putty can fix any rough/gauged areas and cures in about 5 minutes.  You have to refinish the bait afterwards.  It’s worth trying to simply twist the lip out of the bait before you go to this last resort method.  Old baits often have weak enough glue on the lip that a twist will work but be careful.  Too much force can break a balsa bait.

[mark poulson]

3 hours ago, Chuck Young said:

I wonder if repairing the lip could be repaired with superglue, then an epoxy topcoat more easily.

 

I haven't found a way to repair a chipped or broken lip that will hold up to grinding it against the rocks.

[Musky Glenn]

I've had some luck with a small drill bit working slowly to drill the lip out. Epoxy the new lip back in. Doesn't need repainting just to fish.

 

[stumpjumper16]

Thanks everyone for the advice. My biggest problem is that the bai have the line tie seated in a groove in the bill going about 5/8" into the bait so I think I'll opt for the Dremel disc and keep my fingers crossed.