[RipLip]

Does anyone know of a good place to have a custom mold made other than the usual big guys that we all deal with? I've had a couple at a place for 3 months now and still no luck. It wouldn't be bad if i had a couple updates that were on track but after calling and emailing numerous times I finally hear from them and they say next week. After 2 weeks I start the process all over for the same answer. If I could find someone familiar with bait molds that doesn't sell everything and isn't too busy to handle a couple molds that would be great and my blood pressure can go down. Thanks for any help.

[MONKEYqpHUNTER]

i sent you a pm

[RobShaw-BasSport]

Yeah, I know the feeling and many of us know who you're referring to. Makes you want to purchase your own cnc mill!

[RipLip]

That would be great to be able to afford a CNC but we all have a profession and I'm a electrician not a machinist. So like most I want a professional to make something for me instead of myself hacking something together and not being happy with it. You know how you want something done right so you can just use it over and over? I love the aluminum molds for there durability and the end product. I just can't find someone to make them for me and at least keep me in the loop. I guess it is my fault sending the master and just being s@#$ out of luck now that spawning season is here. I made a couple silicone ones but they are terrible. I guess lesson learned

[wrm-n]

I don't know who your talking about... but... I have a machine shop (don't make molds) LOL but the longest part of a custom mold is making the program. This person may be very busy with orders he has already been payed on. I have worms I need to copy that have been with me for almost a year, I can't put in front of people that I already have their money. I do think he should be answering your emails though... just the right thing to do.

[MGrant]

Riplip I am a design engineer for a large machine shop, and would be willing to offer some help in getting some custom molds made. I am just getting started in pouring my own baits and have asked the guys on the side to make me a mold that I modeled up. (For free lures of course)If it is something I could model up in 3-D, the shop I work for could cut it. Let me know if you are interested. I attached models of what I am going to have them cut.

[King Bait Co.]

MGrant Is that a future soft bait or a new mini bomb for the Air Force(lol). Riplip I would take him up on the offer. I don't know the details of the deal or the money involed if any but from my same problem you are having point of view. I would go with a silacone or POP molds first. I checked at eight shops that have a CNC one would do it. They either didn't whant to touch it or it was to small of an order to wast their time. The one that would do it wanted $600 to make five two cavity on sided molds. Now I don't know if your doing a custom mold you came up with or a copie of someone's else's bait. With the silacone or POP molds you can make more for your money. POP is $10 a twentyfive pound bag and do it your self scew up ten times and can still get ten plus molds out of the bag. I am having some silacone molds made for me it is not as ceap as POP but but a lot lot cheaper then aluminum molds. You have to rember the fish eating your softbaits isn't thinking what type of molds you made them with. If your doing it to make money really look at the big guys (Berkley, Strike King, Etc) baits their not that good as one belives. Hand poured baits have something theirs don't charater(sorry sleepy late ) thats way people pay more for hand pours. I have gotten up to $7 dollars for a 25 pack of 4" paddletails. I had a $1.50 or less in cost in the bag. I think someone Pm'ed you on silacone check it out it's worth it.

[RipLip]

Mgrant, Thats pretty much what I'm looking for. I guess if I can't get my master back I will have to mill another out of wood like I did last time. Does that shop make them in 2 piece? It looks like the ones there working up for you are one piece. Thank you

[RipLip]

King, they are my own design and I milled one out of wood for a master. With the ongoing deal a price was already agreed on and 6 weeks ago they were supposed to be done. Still no word. I've already spent a lot there because I have around 20 Al. molds. I figured I was a good customer and this wouldn't be an issue. I want a full round 2 piece which rules out silicone and I'm not a huge fan of a 2 piece POP mold because I really haven't seen any good ones that are precise on the details. I personally failed greatly at making pop molds myself so I just walked away from them. I did a few silicone for fishing last year and they worked well but looked like crap. At least the bass didn't care. Thanks for the help.

[MGrant]

The mold design I am doing will be a single cavity two piece mold, which I will prove out in machining pour a few and then make a large number of cavity mold for more pouring. I do most of my molds with POP though. Even two piece ones. I do not use commercial POP, instead I go to the craft store and buy POP for crafting, much finer powder and much better mold. I make a wood frame mold with a piece of glass for the base. I use 3/8" Dia. steel dowel pins for locating the two halves when I pour.

The paddle tail is commercial DAP pop, which I was not real happy with.
The 5" finese worm is crafting POP and made a beautiful mold and bait.
Let me know if your interested I would be happy to try and work something out.