Allright, new forum, questions to ask.

How do you guys build your plugs? I know most guys use a lathe. What kind of lathe do you use? What tools do you use?

Here's another silly question. How do you get the lures so smooth? I've used a lathe and this is probably my inexperience with it but the things I made it well uhhh chipped and stuff. It didn't look too good even after I ran some sand paper on it. So what makes it so smooth?

Last question for this post. Where do you get the ideas for your lures? How do you know if taking more wood out from point A will make the action different? How do you know how to weight it?

alright I'll try , one at a time:
Originally posted by Patrick82
Allright, new forum, questions to ask.

How do you guys build your plugs? with a light on. :) I know most guys use a lathe. What kind of lathe do you use? My neighbors, some piece o crap but it works. What tools do you use? Drill, chisels, sand paper and belt sander belts, wire cutters and drill bits.

Here's another silly question. How do you get the lures so smooth? sharp chisels and the right kind of wood, then rough sand paper moving up to about 100 grit.I've used a lathe and this is probably my inexperience with it but the things I made it well uhhh chipped and stuff. It didn't look too good even after I ran some sand paper on it. So what makes it so smooth? experience.

Last question for this post. Where do you get the ideas for your lures? in my head How do you know if taking more wood out from point A will make the action different? I don't How do you know how to weight it? guess- trial and error. the fish don't care , they are stupid

I smooth my plugs by rubbing them on slips bum.
then i have tattoo smell them:p

Thank you Slip, you answered all my questions as well ;)

BM if that doesn't work try wet sanding with 600 grit. LMAO

yeah but slip likes it. slip do you have secret powers, will i get the boot from here master, call me later, its getting bad. I may want to get out tonight to get away from it..........
hurry up will you.......................

As far as shaping, most guys use a lathe, but some do it by hand with a belt sander. Grizzly.com has some table top models.

As for tools, the list goes on and on, on the lathe you use shaping chisels. Other hand tools include.... pliers, screwdrivers, utility knife...etc...

To get it smooth... you sand it. I sand mine while their still on the lathe. I put it on higher speeds and it comes out like glass. If you decide to sand on the lathe though, you have to be very careful. If the sand paper grips to much, it could pull your hand in.

As far as ideas go. Use your imagination. If you think it looks good, make it. Wieghting it and such is all trial and error, you have to keep working on them to get them to do what you want them to.

Hope this helps!

Here are some pics of "hell"

more

more stuff

Patrick as you can see I have quite a bit of tools. Don't be intimidated, I started off with and orbital sander btween my nedds rolling a piece of dowel across it trying to make a popper. I t worked, but rather primative. As I got more into it I bout a drill press and a table saw, then the lathe. What I really need now is a band saw...but that's what santa is for.

I know that your young and money is tight, but $60 -75 dollars will by you a sander....dowels and paint are cheap. I'm sure you will enjoy it as the rest of us "dust makers".

Hey Tattoo - just to the right of your workbench there's all those fishing rods. Are those the ones that Bassmaster breaks on your 12OZ bottle plugs? :p

Seriously - looks like fun but if I did that I would need TWO rooms in the basement. Rod building and saw dust spawning just don't mix. Actually, I'd need 2 rooms and a dog house to sleep in :rolleyes: :D ;)

Here's a shot of the lathe that I use. I'll put up some more pics of the shop later.

Tattoo;
Very nice workspace! :)

Yup, those are rods, but for the sweet water.


I miss my largemouth friends....any there is something to be said about the fight of a green trout too!

I thought about building rods, but forced hot air and lots of dust just dont mix with a nice coat of epoxy.

And here is a shot of some of the shapes you can do.......

Jenty, nice idea for the chisles....I always forget where I put them when I grab a new piece of sandpaper...I'll be back goota go make something down stairs...hehehe :)

HOW did you make that bottle's mouth???????

Usually I wouldn't tell, but since you are a Plug Ho and I'm only a Junior Plug Ho in training, I guess I'm outranked. :D

I used a dremel with a sanding wheel and took my time. It wasn't to hard, the hard part is figuring the weight to use.

I tried that method, pain in the arse. Must be any easier way.

BM told me he did it once, but he wont cough up HOW!

Tattoo;

You could also cut it out with a jig saw then sand it to finish it off. I'm gonna try it tonight, so I'll let you know how I make out.

P.S. Where's my Plug Ho Training Manual? Is it in the mail? :D

the manual is actually a boot leg copy. You need to sacrafice 20 plugs to the gods in order to be on the list to receive one....

LOL!!!! The gods wouldn't happen to be........Tattoo and Bassmaster would they?? :D

and slipknot, hay we are the ho's not tattoo, he has sneaky fingers:D

Sneaky fingers, sticky fingers whats the difference.

Hey anyone that wants a drill press, Ocean state job lot has bench mounted ones, regular prices 99.99 for 19.99. I am buying one. I will be getting a lathe soon, the wifes birthday is next month and I could have sworn she asked me for a lathe. ;)

Tattoo, you wanna buy my band saw? I need(want) a new one.

Slip;

Do you use the band saw for making plugs? I have 2 of them and I can't find a use for them when I'm making plugs.

To make the mouths you could mount an appropriate sized sanding drum in your drill press, lock the spindle down so the drum is slightly below the table and hold your plug in a woodclamp. Much easier than freehand with a dremel.

Next time you go to a show take a close look at the videos and stills that an unamed wooden plug maker uses for their display.

Fishpart;

I tried the sanding drum in the drill press, the only thing is it takes a while also. I'm gonna try to 'cut' most of it out with the jigsaw, (probably this weekend at the get-together), and I'll let you know how it works out.

Slip what kind of machine is it?


I got skunked last night!

bummer

it's a Delta 16". but it's the 3 wheel model. I just put new rubber tires on the wheels.

we need a bm night...........:p

Remember, I'm not an experienced plug maker but sometimes I run across ideas while doing other projects. I'll pass along what I've done and then let you figure out if it works or not.

One time, when sanding a rounded part, we got a long dowel type piece that fit in the lathe. This dowel had sand paper on it. As the lathe turns, you just rub your piece up against it. Might work for the lip. I don't remember if the sanding piece was storebought or home made.

Also, how do you guys feel about duplicators?

I need one...but it's 300 bucks for my lathe... I love you Santa
I know he's listening :)

Duplicators are nice, I am one :D

Once you get yourself set up you can crank stuff out pretty fast. I spend more time setting up than I do shaping most of the time.