Tally

I use devcon 5 minute for belly weights and hook hangers and lips. never had one pull out. if you do it right, you won't have to fill or sand

have you drilled the hole in the center of the lead for the hook hanger?........ what are you using to "glue" the lead in with?

do you have a drill press?

I am searching for a powder paint that is obsolete. It is called Illusion "Aquamarine". It is no longer available from my supplier and hasn't been for some years. If you have this and want to sell it, I am very interested. Columbia Coatings had it years ago. That is what I am looking for

How much painting are you doing at one sitting? Are you using just 1 airbrush or do you have several for different applications. The most important part is going to be the regulator. Some paints require more psi than others and so do different types of airbrushes. Like Mark said, where you are going to be using it will be a big determining factor of how big or little you will get. Nothing worse than a compressor that can't keep up with what you are spraying.

Hi Mark, that is too bad but i get it. At one time this site was hopping with a wealth of information. It wasn't people saying do this or do that..... it came with an explanation of why. I don't think there was a piece of a crankbait that wasn't dissected. Maybe I can bring forth some of that since I am back and help the "newbies"....... good enough was never "good enough" Tally

Nathan, there was enough information back then that anyone could learn to make a crankbait. and make it right!! I had never made a crankbait in my life and had no desire until Skeeter talked me into it. ........ That was a day he was very sorry as he created a monster lol

Hi Nathan, yes I am still in Missouri. That was a great time in your shop!! There was some great minds in your shop that day and a blast to meet everyone. Maybe I can be a part of another get together lol..... although I have not made a bait in years, but I am getting the bug. I am still snooping around and getting up to date but I don't see many of the "old" gang. so I don't know who is really into the bait making process like we all were at one point. I am sure after reading a few post I will know lol good to hear from you and don't be a stranger Tally

Bare with me as I am playing catch up here. I assume you are talking about Coleys tutorial? Very sharp and intelligent man. after you pour, are you cutting the amount of lead off that you want? or using the entire piece? are you weighing each piece of lead that you install? A "good" scale is very important. It sounds like you have now changed the weight placement? This will also change the characteristics of the bait. Do you have some pictures of this bait and what you are doing? Just curious as to why you need to sand if the hook hanger is in the "belly" weight? or bondo? I will help you and give you my opinion. whether or not you like my opinion, it is still your bait to do as YOU please and want. Precision will allow you to make the same bait over and over. Damn I love this stuff lol Tally

Hi Travis..... really good to hear from you. That group that was in our yahoo chat was a lot of fun!! I was very fortunate to be a part of that. There wasn't anyone that was afraid to try any idea even if it was a failure, but damn it was a great group of bait makers. Nobody expected anything to be handed to them and all had a voice. Was a very unusual group as nobody got their feelings hurt from someones opinion. I miss that. Too bad we all didn't live close, we would have created some baits that would have been hot!! I have been snooping through the post an you are right, not many of the old chat guys around. The newbies to making baits have no idea what they are missing from the "old" group not hanging out here. Anything that had to do with making a bait we tried and shared. Some failures, but we did it right! The site has changed A LOT and I am still trying to figure out how to navigate it. Hope all is well in your world and don't be a stranger. Tally

Talk about memories. I was shocked to even stumble across this post from 13 years ago. Everything I learned about crankbaits came right from this site and endless hours of trial and error. I am still snooping around the new posts, but if you haven't read the posts from the past you are missing out on some really good information. A big thanks to TU for keeping these archives!!

WOW....it has been years since i have visited this site. I don't know if I am getting the bug again but I do miss all of the fantastic people I met on this site. I snooped around a bit before posting this and a lot of the "old timers" are still lurking. At one time there was a small group of us that could bounce ideas off of each other and the next thing you know, something magical happened. Yes, we all had our "top secret" ideas that never got shared, but sometimes you just can't share the "special" things. The endless hours of trial and error and the countless baits that were ruined. Hopefully the site has not slowed and the younger generation has taken what was started and improved the wealth of knowledge that was here. I will not even try to remember all of the "old timers" that were here but if you see this, please stop by and say hi. A few of them have passed on and I was fortunate to have met them. Coley and Swede to name 2. If Skeeter is still here and post's, you all need to listen!! I was privileged that he took me under his wing and let me bounce crankbait ideas off him. Not just once in a while, but daily!! I am sure at one point he wished I would have lost his number lol. If Lapala (aka Lapicky) is still here and you want to learn how to carve....... he was the best I ran across. Now for the paint master..... Blades and Baits taught me so much about painting and mixing my own paint. Although he hated my ruthless always digging and finding some things he did not want me to find.....lol At one point, I was pretty good at this (toot my own horn) but I am sure I have forgot a lot being away for so long. I did notice that Devcon 2ton epoxy for clear coat is still a topic of interest. Still trying to thin and find a better way to apply it.......... I will try to catch up on that topic but unless something changed, there is only one way to apply it. Enough for now....... stop by and say hi Tally

Happy B-day.....now we know the real reason for moving the TU get-together back a week.......lol Tally

Coley.... you are bringing back memories. The amount of micro balloons is roughly trial and error but Coley just got you close. To thick and it won't poor...to thin and the bait sinks. I have some of Coleys baits and the pours are fantastic. Tally

Well for the short time I was able to stay, it was GREAT! Work just does not allow much time off and I had a blast...fishing, bait swap and hanging out with Nathan, Deb, Gene and Coley. You have no idea how relaxed I was just getting out of the office and kicking back. Wish I could have stayed at least one more day to meet the ones I did not. Tally

WOW....looks like a good group this year. Nathan, do you have a list made of who is coming and from where???? Tally

maybe we don't like repeating ourself, when the answer is right there for you to find. I always do a search and I always find and or learn something new.....even if it doesn't work. There is no one great step to building a lure, but when you do a search....you will find what works and what doesn't and then you are really ahead of the game. meaning the trial and error has already been done for you. Read and learn....if you can't find it, POST your question.

you might try using bondo on the inside of the wood cavity. DON'T use too much. it makes a nice rattle chamber even on the dead sounding woods. tip from a wood carver buddie told me about it.

Well done Nathan!!!! Always good to see a TU member get recognized for his work!!

Great Job Bobby..... looking forward to getting my issue and checking it out:worship:

welcome to the addiction!!!! plenty of paint tips on this forum. Try the search feature and you will find enough to read for a looooonnnnnnnnggggggg time:yay: still have questions? fire away!!!

use the #3 tip. for base coating alot of baits you might use the #5. The #1 tip is for thin lines but your paint will have to be be thinned. btw....make sure you match up the right head with the right tip

use 3M spray ahesive and yes the netting stays under the foil permantely for this technique. Use foil tape and apply over the netting, using your finger to "burnished" the foil in the netting. be carefull not to scratch the foil with your nail. Can't remember who...but someone had a post on this. I will look and post it if I find it. It was fatfingers original idea but I can not find the post so maybe he will chime in

I just tried Swede's propionate pellets for the first time. I have had these for a while now and just now found the time to try it. All I can say is WOW.......I am a DA!!!!! By far, this is the best means of sealing a bait I have found so far. There is a bit of a learning curve to get the mixture just right, but when you do......it seals the wood and is slick as can be. I have sealed basswood and cedar so far with outstanding results. I ran into a little problem with runs, but after talking to swede, my mixture is still a bit to thick. btw, if you have a run, it easily sands out. What a site!!!! from plastic cups to prop!!!! thnaks Swede

Congrats........ you just gave the best compliment by using the search feature. There might be different opinions here on the how to and what is the best....but you will find your own method that works the way you want it to. Keep up the great work and start posting your baits in the gallery. As Riverman said: can't wait to steal some of your ideas:lol: