A few more crankbaits

[bassguy2004]

The crankbait bug has really taken hold of me and I seem to be spending alot more time in the garage with sawdust on me. My wife now calls me Geppetto. These need hook eyes and such and then will be ready for paint. Here are a few pics

[betursweetbass]

Nice work buddy, you're not alone, my second passion is balsa wood sailplanes, I know how easy it is to get "hooked" on working with wood. I love the smell of CA glue burning into balsa in the AM.

[pig n jig]

Bassguy, Let me know what you want for one, once you have finished them.I like the #575 bait. The next thing is would I fish it , or keep it in my display case with the rest of the stuff I got from people at this site ?Thanks to Mac, I was looking to build on a addition to hold all of the things he has sent me over the years. P N J

[crankybait]

nice... what kind of wood is that? i use balsa and it doesnt look anything like what youve got. they look very smooth... and what are those bills made out of? ive come up witha few bill idea but couldnt bend plexiglass... i tried boiling and heating it, butnothing works

[WTL]

You can bend plexiglass with a heat gun, but I'm not sure if you would need adult supervision.

[pig n jig]

Submerging plexi glass in boiling water will work, once it has been heated enough, it bends quite easily.It is best to make a fixture to form it to as it will bend easily , but not always the way you want it to.P N J

[WTL]

Thats true PnJ, it takes practice to get good at bending plexiglass - and the more minute the bends the more difficult.

[crankybait]

yeah, first i was wanting to try out a jitterbug bill. then itll get more complicated... i just boiled it for a minute or so in already boiling water. didnt want it to melt or something... then i just use 2 pliers, but it just snapped

[WTL]

It will bend easily if you get it hot enough.

[flfireman]

Looking forward to some finished products. Look good so far.

[lizardsrule]

Nice work BG, they look good. I need a few in Thin ones in chartreuse LOL. The river ate several of mine LOL. They really do look great, can't wait to see the finish you put on them.

Lizards

[planxdownfall]

damn thats pretty sick. nice job

[Deacon]

Jerry you the Man...those look great! Next time your going to go out and test them let me Ill join ya!

[WTL]

BTW, I didn't mention it but the craftsmanship on those lures looks supurb. Making crankbaits isn't so easy.

[cullin8s]

Plexiglass is brittle, and very brittle in cold temperatures. You will be better off if you can find Lexan to work with, it has much better qualities for lure lips. Hope this helps, and nice looking baits by the way.

[BassMoJo]

Hey NICE JOB.. Deacon how much that fish weigh ?

[bassguy2004]

Thanks guys for the kind words, my wife is beside herself, I keep tracking shavings in from the basement, I suppose I'll have to vacuume the carpet.
Cranky, the first and fourth baits are made of pine, and the diving bills are covered with tape to protect them. The third bait is made out of redwood. The first one is a copy of a 128 pointer and the third one is similar to a Norman style body. I'll be making it a large body but shallow diver. The second bait is made out of bass wood. The second and fourth ones are shapes I came up with while messing around. I picked up a Dremel and boy does the sawdust fly. They are smooth because after the initial removal of material and after they are the shape I want them, I sand them very carefully with 60 grit to 200 grit sandpaper. Then I seal the wood to make them water proof and I use that for the base coat for paint. I did purchase pre-made diving bills with line ties and I did buy some Lexan and stainless steel wire to make my own diving bills, hook eyes and line ties. It has been fun and I still have a whole bunch of wood, so I'll be making many more.
Deacon you'll be the first one I call to try them out.

[crankybait]

i see... i have a rotary tool as well, and have used basswood broomstick handle and some random wood with amazing grain from my back yard. i was going to buy lexan but couldnt afford it...i only had 5 bucks. i usually us a dremel to get a basic shaping, then i use 60 grit sandpaper to do more shaping, then i get to 140 grit, then i go straight up 220 or 250 grit.. never has mine come out like that. i usually use white as a basecoat, so im interested to see how these come out. what do you seal them with? epoxy? i usualy use epoxy at end but if te results are good ill try it earlier.
thanks

[bassnman30]

How many have you thrown away from not being what you expected. I had about a 60% rate. Now I'm down to about 30%.

[Snake2715]

Great work makes me envious!

Really really nice work. I look forward to seeing them finished.

[bassguy2004]

Originally Posted by bassnman30

How many have you thrown away from not being what you expected. I had about a 60% rate. Now I'm down to about 30%.

bassnman30, you won't believe this, but I'm batting 1000. I have not had one that didn't work. So after this post they'll probably go to s#$t in a hand basket.

[pig n jig]

Bassguy, It's to he!! in a hand basket, where I come from. Do you think this is something that you would like to get into for profit, or is it just a hobby ? P N J

[bassguy2004]

P N J, oh, yeah you're right. Well anyway, right now it is only a hobby because it really isn't cost effective. My time, even though it is my free time, is very valuable. So having said that, I just make them for my own use and probably give a few to friends that fish and maybe give a few to my club for raffle prizes at our annual awards dinner.

[Carolina_Chip]

very nice bait designs! Look into using micarta for your lips. Its a wonderfully superior product over anything else.

1/16 or 1/32 is a good thickness.

You have a great talent!

Chip

[Tnbasser]

Very, VERY nice work, Bassguy.

You have found a very good hobbie, methinks.