It is all Rods fault

[Bait O' Eggs]

Rod went and showed the article yesterday on how the acrylic heads are made for tuna lures. I tried to ignore it, but tonight I had to take my first stab at it. I wish I had a few different things which I will round up for the next lures.

First I got some casting resin and brass tubing for the center of the lure. I slightly flared the ends of the tubing.



Then I tied on some feathers to a short piece of brass tubing.



Not really knowing how I was going to put a hoochie over the acrylic head I decided to just tie it on and cast the hoochie in the head of the first prototype. That way it couldnt go anywhere.



Then I glued some eyes on the tubing. I wish I had some bigger eyes, but it was all I had without making another trip to the craft store.



Then to give the center of the head some color I glued on some glitter to the shaft. The article Rod showed me used sequins, I dont have any of those so I improvised on the prototype.



Then I packed the end of the brass tube with wax so I wouldnt get any resin in the shaft and cast the entire unit in a plastic container. I wish I had a different sized mold, like a test tube or such but this is all I had which was even close to about the right size.



I hope it is cured tomorrow so I can pop it out and see what I ended up with.

I am sure the future ones will be better and more creative. Thought I would share the early part of the learning curve.

[Mark Mc]

Hi Roy....pretty cool....that's going to be one big-arse head! With that much extra diameter, you could drill some holes and make it a chugger.

"Roy's Lure-Time....brought to you by the Binford 6400 tuna lure, the lure that explodes when it gets bit."

BOE,
Make some bullet head molds out of bondo for casting.

[corrirod]

That's awesome Roy! :shocked:

Do you have any prescription pill bottles laying around? They might be a little smaller in diameter.

How about some small diameter PVC tubing? Shotgun shell casing?

Just throwing out some ideas. Great job! [img]graemlins/applause.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/applause.gif[/img]

[skein]

I'll take 12. Six in purple and black, six in Mexican flag.

And I have some empty shotshell hulls out in my layout blind if you need 'em. I'm open 24 hrs, not like those wimpy craft stores that close at 7.

Kidding aside, those are pretty cool.

Skein

[northriver1]

Discounting labor to zero what was estimated cost to make?

[Bait O' Eggs]

The cost on the resin was $17 for a 32 ounce can but I had a 40% off coupon at Michaels bringing it to $10. The resin hardener was $5. The brass tubing was $3.50 for 3 feet. The wiggle eyes are like $3 for a 100. I have enough feathers left over from my other tuna jigs to make Mel a new dress. :shocked: Big hoochies arent cheap, but the little hoochie in the pictures came from MarkMc. Need to make a head that I can easily change out the hoochie on

I figure I can build about 30 +/- of these heads for less than $20 or $25. The count is based on the fact that I used a one ounce cup for the first head trying to figure this out, and I have a 32 ounce can of resin.

I wouldnt mind trying to adds some lead in the head also. Not sure what I will end up with, maybe junk, maybe I will figure it out.

The mold is my biggest problem at this time. Anything hard like PVC, and they will be hard to get out of the mold. Thinking about making an indent is clay and casting them in the clay [img]graemlins/idea.gif[/img]

This morning the head was basically cured but still tacky on the touch. Maybe I needed more hardener, but I moved it in the house where it is warmer and it will cure faster.

[corrirod]

This morning the head was basically cured but still tacky on the touch. Maybe I needed more hardener,

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helv">Roy, in the magazine article they said this was the hardest part of the whole process. They said getting the correct recipe of resin to hardener is a trial and error process but once you get it figured out for each style of head they'll all come out perfect.

I wonder if you could use a mold releasing agent to make it easier to get them out?

Great job dude, keep us all posted on the progress!

Johnson's Paste Wax works good as a release.

[BUGLEMAN]

That is really cool. What about super glueing lead bb's to the tube, or wraping it with med diameter lead wire and then wrapping the lead with chelane prior to casting the head?

[edsr]

Hey Roy - First thing is they look Awesome!! I've got some stuff for you to cast into those heads. Also have some special double stick tape that would make sticking things into the molds easier. I think that some of the other molds that you have been using for tuna feathers will work for the resin casting if you use a release agent, i.e., wax, etc. You know the bondo molds that you showed me how to make would easily adapt to this type of casting. I wonder if Popeye would know about this stuff he is the plastics man.
edsr

[edsr]

How bad does that stuff smell?
edsr

[Bait O' Eggs]

Ed, How close do you want your nose to it

It smells pretty hot when it is liquid. I didnt see a flame warning on the label but would have to believe this stuff would burn easily as a liquid.

Once cured I dont think it kicks off to many fumes. The stuff is for casting your favorite knick knacks and displaying them.

I had several bubbles in it when I mixed it, I wanted to heat it to allow the bubbles to rise and pop but felt I didnt dare get a flame out. This morning all the bubbles are gone So I guess the slow cure allowed them all to float out of the mix.

Again thanks for the suggestions, I have several ideas on where I think I am headed with this process. Of course with other input I may end up somewhere else

[corrirod]

I especially like how the measurement graduations are still on the head!!

Hopefully tuna can't read or they may think something is up!

Seriously though, it turned out pretty well other than the proportion.

The other thing they said was difficult about making thes is keeping the tubing in straight so that the lure runs true.

[corrirod]

Hey Roy, not sure if you have any already or not but if you want a Zuker to use to make a mold let me know and I'll send you one in the mail. Let me know.

Corrirod,
Offset tubing makes the lure do tricks. I have a few made this way.

BOE,
Stir GENTLY to avoid bubbles.

[Bait O' Eggs]

Keta - I tried to stir gently, more of a folding motion

Then all of a sudden I decided to kick it up a notch and "BAM" I had bubbles.

Rod, I have a Zuker, the only store bought lure in the box Gonna try to pattern the next head proportionally correct. I picked up the resin last night and couldnt help myself, I had to cast a head in something, and the top off the pepto bismo bottle was the closest thing I had :blush:

[Reel Creel]

Roy,

looks great.. [img]graemlins/applause.gif[/img] marc and I just bought 24 zukers. Maybe we should have waited a little longer. And I think Rods right about the measurment marks tipping off the fish. The thing looks great!!!

[BUGLEMAN]

That is just Crazy cool!!!!!!!!!!!

Ok the first thing I need is 6" fly tying vice.

And BOE you are watching way to much of the food channel. :grin:

[ 02-19-2004, 04:56 PM: Message edited by: BUGLEMAN ]

[rcl187]

Nice looking chickens....

For those of you who don't know: If your going to buy stuff at Michaels (the craft store)and don't have the 40% off coupon just ask the lady behind the counter when you first come in and she'll usually hand one over too you. Especially if your a guy because they know you don't typically visit these kinds of places and they want your $$.

As for getting the head out of the mold. What if you added some oil or pam (like the cooking stuff) to the plastic cup first. It might ruin the resin but then again it might make it slide out real easy. Probably worth a shot.

You don't want oil in the mold.

[Bait O' Eggs]

Just popped the head out of the cup. It came out of the mold without to much grief.

I am not happy with the head shape, but think this will work out fine. :grin: The resin cured with the ratio I used. I really like the volume measurements in the side of the casting The article Rod showed me, they used lead pellets glued to the center of shaft for additional weight. Gotta walk before I run.

Gonna drill some holes thru this head to allow it to create smoke.

Now on to the better shaped head with the lead inside, and the removeable hoochie skirts.

[TillamookChinook]

I am SO impressed with your fly tying vise.
The Salty Dogs ROCK!!

TC

[Bait O' Eggs]

Crabby - I think there are hundreds of ways to make this kind of head. I played around a little this weekend and made 3 more different heads.

Not having a mold that was exactly what I wanted, I took a piece of steel that had a rounded nose and pushed it into a piece of modeling clay for a mold. I also found some small teflon bushings that are about the right diameter for a hoochie to slide over and put them on the back of the head. I think I could either tie on feathers or a hoochie or both to this teflon piece.



First one was the green head from the piece of steel indented in the clay. My modeling clay was kind of hard and old, so I then stole a tub of playdoh from the kids :shocked: and made a couple more. I just used my finger in the playdoh for a template The first attempt in the playdoh was the pink one and I didnt do a very good job of making the mold symetrical [img]graemlins/1zhelp.gif[/img] so the last one I did, I checked that it was a little more symetrical and I added some glitter to the resin, which basically made it so you could barely see the eye buried withing the head

Still got some tinkering to do, but I am sure any of these will fish, and the off center pink one will probably do some dancing while being trolled.

Having fun waiting for the tuna to get back off our coast.




[ 02-22-2004, 07:41 PM: Message edited by: Bait O' Eggs ]

[corrirod]

Those are awesome Roy! I've said it before and I'll say it again,

"You Da "handy"Man!"

[crabbait]

Roy - What do you think about using hollow core lead instead of brass tubing? Would it be too soft for the line running through? Could you use tubing on the ends with lead hollow core for the center portion?

[jcarufo]

From what I've seen, most commercial and custom heads are done on a lathe. I think if you made the tubing and casting long enough you could chuck up the rear tube, form the head and then step taper the rear for hootchie and feather attachment. Trim the excess tube and.....Great Project though! The original color combination is beautiful and should be deadly. By the way, for weight how about drilling out the center of an egg sinker the diameter of the tubing? They come in lots of different weights, are symetricle, can be painted any color and eyes can be glued to the sides. Only a thought.
Jean

[CATCH AND EAT]

Gimme a break, that crap won't fish. (as I slowly turn and walk away with my hands in my pockets and my nose in the air). :grin:

Looking pretty good Roy. Can't wait to see you catch your first tuna on one of those babies that "won't fish".

[Puffin]

where did you get your feathers? I have a mold for lead heads and need feathers

[Puffin]

I have not cast any lead heads wet but mold makes several sizes I will bring it to the tuna meeting and see if you could make heads with it or cast a mold from one of the heads maybe horse trade

[Bait O' Eggs]

I have been getting my feathers at Anglers Workshop in Woodland.

I cast a couple big heads tonight with the big ol honkin eye (24 mm) that sees all :shocked: These are far closer to what you see in the store for the really big fish lures. Colored plexiglass on each side of the tube, lead weighted, and some flash tape on the sides of the plexi.

I wish that resin would cure quicker, I am dying to see what they look like

BOE,
Put 5 times much hardener in and then put it outside. Make sure the fire department is on standby :shocked: