Lets get the ball rolling...
I've got a bunch of maple blanks cut and turned the first 1/2 dozen into some needles.

I'm toying with a fat needle. Those look great. Bigger profile. How is the sink rate?
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Starting to mess with some ideas. I plan to do a long thin needle in the 10-12" range and going to try a hand carved jointed swim bait.
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Has a request for a jointed pike I make from my current 1 pc version. Started making these a couple years back. Diving and surface. Some wood composition differences form the 2 versions. The proto caught relatively quick but unfortunately a bigger fish had its way in the rocks. My tester was quick to point out he needed another. Nonetheless I documented the specs and built a hand full . The divers are built with different woods ( ayc & birch/maple. This allows the tail action to lessen than the surface model. I'm not a fish but I think bottom dwellers move lazily through structure especially during slack tides. Which we know us a prime tone for large to hunt.
I incorporate the Creek Chub style loop in front half and recess the front loop in tail section to tighten joint for casting and believe it or not it also has a developed knock especially on the surface model.
Ill elaborate more on the front section wiring in another post if anyone is interested.
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I didnt make too much progress this week. I got the rest of that batch of needles turned but then I took a timeout to clean the basement to reduce the amount of sawdust that was getting tracked upstairs...

Since its snowing and was doing some plug weighting, I decided to turn min pencil poppers. 4" long. 4gr tail wt. The went well last year.
Make a nice little surface needle too. I would post pictures but they're on phone. It would be great to have that option on the site.
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Lets get the ball rolling...
I've got a bunch of maple blanks cut and turned the first 1/2 dozen into some needles.

Those look exactly like the ballerinas I make, patterned after one by Capesams. It is very similar to a spook, which I have called them before. It is really the only plug I can create repeatedly well. Interesting you call it a needle

Made a small batch of some Nike’s this week that are ready for a test swim and started work on figuring out the steps in a few bottle plugs.
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Today looks like a paint day. My mini pencil poppers are ready for color. Ill base color some pearl white and yellow then accent them with hot pink , red &chartreuse. These little buggers are 4" and weigh in <1oz. They're made from clear pine. With one or 2-#4 hooks sit in water tail down. Works like a regular pencil. Fresh or salt. Slow retrieve on top. Mini needle. Largemouth smash em.
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Today looks like a paint day. My mini pencil poppers are ready for color. Ill base color some pearl white and yellow then accent them with hot pink , red &chartreuse. These little buggers are 4" and weigh in <1oz. They're made from clear pine. With one or 2-#4 hooks sit in water tail down. Works like a regular pencil. Fresh or salt. Slow retrieve on top. Mini needle. Largemouth smash em.
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Sounds like they’d work on albies as well. Hope to wrap up some odds and ends today but starting a big house project tomorrow so gonna have to change gears
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Oh yeh Albie snacks for sure!
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I feel like I'm in slow motion and very rusty. Just out of practice I guess. I did get my drilling and sanding done last week and hopefully I can steal a few hours to get them sealed this afternoon.

Finally got out to do some testing in the salt water today. It was much colder than I expected but worth it regardless. Tested four new plugs Im working on. A 2oz Danny flat glide needle that’s a level moderate sink a bottle darter and a Nike clone. Supringsly the Nike swam the best. I miss read the original Floyd roman plans from the professor on the first one but wanted to test it anyways and it swims amazing!! I have the weight more forward than the plans and a smaller lesser slope on the face but the action was impressive. Which to me was great becasue I’m ok to make some plugs similar to other builders but always have to have your own stuff. Only way to learn is to keep testing and keep tweeking. I’ll take some videos next time but hands were frozen. Enjoy the week
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I have some 6" needles in the works which I am weighting a bit differently than I use to. I'm waiting till it get to 40 to test.

Painted plugs this afternoon. Have a couple new designs to test and a new rod build. Warming up this week.
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I have some 6" needles in the works which I am weighting a bit differently than I use to. I'm waiting till it get to 40 to test.

Once it hits 40 you’ll be out on the new fairway mowers over the club hahaha 😝
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I got my needles primed this morning. Ive got some nice pine leftover from last year so was thinking I might try and turn a few fat swimmer prototypes, something along the lines of a nike.

Weighted my pine slim version of BM jrs. Come in at 1.2 oz. Dive a couple feet. 4 gr tailweight. Mid lip.slot cut. lefty 1 hi slot. 5 gr belly wt.
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Before changing duplicator for baseball turnings I spun some 11.5" needle bodies for next year.
A few more weeks of paint and epoxy then its off till next season.
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Just finished up some curly maple bottles and needles for an auctio have to transfer some pics to my laptop to get them up on here. Happy daylight savings spring is right around the corner
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Higgie how r u sealing the maple?
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Trying two separate methods. Etex with denatured alcohol and heated and dipped in helmsmans cut with min spirits. Dried then done a second time few days later.
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I used both methods. Epoxy is time consuming when doing big numbers but i do it on occassions . Like hardening soft wood swimmers or small maple runs.
Helmsman 60/40 is my go.to. i did heat them plugs but stopped since i had issues drawing too much sealer into wood. I thought they were dry but as the finished plugs sat , the sealer leached thru the finish and popped it off the wood. It did a good penetration but I left it in too long(45min). I do 45 min to 90 min , no heat. With heat I was increasing weight over 7 grams. I did do 5 minute soak after heating which increased 1 or 2 gr. The plugs that leached I stripped and left for a month to dry out internally. After that the weight dropped some and paint held up. Sealer nightmares. Never had them until I tried something different . Thats how we learn. Good luck.
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In the past for maple and birch needles and darters I’ve had decent luck but never hurts to try something new
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I hear you. I did 9 thin body swimmers. It took me 24 cc of thinned e tex to seal. I dump into small pie plate with plug head in mixing cup . Once it goes thru wirr hole i pour into hook hole drain again. Then with gloved finger spread lightly the epoxy on entire body. Hang to dry. Whats nice is 24 hrs later u sand and paint if u choose.
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Wow its been a month since i posted on building. I kept busy readying bodies for next winter. Decided to turn bodies, drill , fill & seal.
Just recently I found some pine and cedar so I figure to make a few diving jrs, slim jrs .and easy to use 2 oz pencil poppers. Once i test these new builds ill finish them for use this season.
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Hi Gents - I have a few plugs that need to be resealed, and one, a old G2, that I really want to fish this year. What would you suggest? The paint is compromised to the base material. thanks - Kieran

Spar varnish thinned 60/40 mineral spirits.
That plug usually is pine. Are u stripping plug down to bare wood and removing hardware?
If ur doing 1 plug u could epoxy seal it. Basically u need to seal the thru wire hole, hook hole, lip slot and nose and tail end grain. Once stripped heat then pour in thinned 2 part epoxy. Thin with denatured alcohol 25%. Messy process. Use a catch pan , wear gloves. Not necessary to do outside body but u can once u have the inners coated. I rub the remaining epoxy with my hand on body. Hang to dry. Sand in a day or so. Prefer 24 hr cure epoxy or e tex.
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Lets get the ball rolling...
I've got a bunch of maple blanks cut and turned the first 1/2 dozen into some needles.

Those needles don't work.

I hear you. I did 9 thin body swimmers. It took me 24 cc of thinned e tex to seal. I dump into small pie plate with plug head in mixing cup . Once it goes thru wirr hole i pour into hook hole drain again. Then with gloved finger spread lightly the epoxy on entire body. Hang to dry. Whats nice is 24 hrs later u sand and paint if u choose.
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See, this is why I only build out of AYC. i don't need to go thru all this sealing rigmarole. I did get a ton of mahogany from Ross that I will work with this winter.

I know it aint Sunday, but here's a few things I've been puttering with, spun up most of them when it was monsoon season in July in an effort to do something fishing related...
what I have there are some 1.5 ounce needles and slim swimmers, those are all made from WRC … there are 4 darter blanks there for Pinkney style 3 ounce darters, I make mine out of Ash these days, I like it better than maple, it's just a tad more stable...also pictured are some goo goo eyes,made from AYC, sealed with Tung oil,paint is createx with E-tex outer shell.. the Conrads are made from Mahogany, sealed and painted like above... also there are a few pikies there.. those are spun from WRC..finished like he rest.

Hi Joe. Glad to see ur still turning. Always had a good time talking to u and others at Plugfest.
My building season is here now. Plan on doing my needles , pikes. Probably bring back 1 or 2 older designs lip swimmers.
I see u still doing the tung oil sealing. I dont do maple often because the spar sealing doesnt offer any cracking guarentees. Whats ur mix ratio?
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Hi Joe. Glad to see ur still turning. Always had a good time talking to u and others at Plugfest.
My building season is here now. Plan on doing my needles , pikes. Probably bring back 1 or 2 older designs lip swimmers.
I see u still doing the tung oil sealing. I dont do maple often because the spar sealing doesnt offer any cracking guarentees. Whats ur mix ratio?
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I use the tung straight..let them soak 15 minutes, ,hang wipe off exsess..dry in a few days no bleed through..tung oil has been used to preserve boats going back hundreds of years... all my rifle sticks and wooden long bows are preserved with tung oil. I also use it to seal the ice fishing tip ups.
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Is there much weight difference in the ash to maple?? I have access to a bunch of ash currently and have always been under the impression it splits out much easier than other woods for plug building
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Is there much weight difference in the ash to maple?? I have access to a bunch of ash currently and have always been under the impression it splits out much easier than other woods for plug building
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Maple is more dense with a tighter grain, I've had good luck with ash and birch, ash is pretty stable wood, I
I've used it for ice fishing tip ups for years, all Jack traps are ash.
Birch splits easy, you have to seal it well, same with maple,
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Looking great, never seen an ash darter before; how does the lip hold up against rocks compared to maple?

Looking great, never seen an ash darter before; how does the lip hold up against rocks compared to maple?

Ash is very durable, like I've said, it is the primary wood for ice fishing tip ups, those things take a beating.
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Ash is grainy but tough. Positioning grain vertical would help lip from shaving off. I have plenty broken ash bats. Old growth tighter grain would be good for plugs.
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Tony C, and some random needles.

Nice shapes. One thing on hand turning is u can change on the fly.
Some unique weighting in them.
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New sealer I’m trying, thin as water.

I had good results with water based polyurethane, dried quick and hard, rattlecans adhered well
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I have been using a rattle can triple clear for my top coat. Gave up on epoxy as I don't keep the plugs long enough to justify the work involved.

I see a wide lip on the slim. As Artie Johnson used to say "very interesting"

I see a wide lip on the slim. As Artie Johnson used to say "very interesting"

Produces a bit more "wiggle".

maybe more than just a bit, depending on the retrieve speed

Started cleaning the shop this weekend got some blanks set did some thru drilling and spun a couple maple blanks for darters. Also started to refurb a couple
Old Gibbs pencils for fishbones. Been so busy hard to get in the shop but winters gonna fly so nows the time. I’ll work on posting some pics next Sunday go Pats!!
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I hate that D and R or whatever the new name is won’t let you walk through the yard anymore to pick out lumber does anyone have any other suggestions in eastern MA?? My best bud from childhood has a sawmill and solar kiln in the Berkshires where I get the majority of my wood but would like something closer when I’m
In a pinch
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I have a few guys waiting on me for needles. Been so busy with firewood, clearing snow and rebuilding the loader frame on the tractor that I haven't gotten into the shop yet. Promised the bride I'd clean up my 2/3 of the basement so I'll spin this week.

Ross, I haven't forgotten.:hihi:

when I clean the basement my 2/3 becomes 9/10. I'm just saying

:huh::huh:when I clean the basement my 2/3 becomes 9/10. I'm just saying

I have a few guys waiting on me for needles. Been so busy with firewood, clearing snow and rebuilding the loader frame on the tractor that I haven't gotten into the shop yet. Promised the bride I'd clean up my 2/3 of the basement so I'll spin this week.

Ross, I haven't forgotten.:hihi:

No worries my friend.

I found some more mahogany baluster cut offs... Been SLOWLY cleaning my shop as well. In order to get a foothold, I had to put most of my plugbuilding tools, turned blanks, and finishing supplies into containers. Only the lathe left on the bench. For now. It is slow, painfully slow.

This weather is just killing my plug building. I spend a ridiculous amount of time working on Firewood. Saws, clean, sharpen, tractor maintenance. Hauling wood for 2 stoves. The upside is we've only burned 130 gallons of oil since November. That includes hot water. 5 cords of oak so far.

Atom Juniors, Spooks, and a few other things.

Tommy nice selection of plugs. You liking that dupe I see!
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Tommy nice selection of plugs. You liking that dupe I see!
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LOVE, also having fun stealing whatever wood I can find in the house. My next victim, a crochet set.

LOVE, also having fun stealing whatever wood I can find in the house. My next victim, a crochet set.

I did the same in beginning. Drive by peoples houses scrounging thru bulk trash for pine and maple. Remodeled my kitchen and used the pine dividing spindles for my first pencil popper.
Old wood was much better than some wood today.
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Poplar Needlefish, I heard poplar doesn’t seal very well?

Poplar Needlefish, I heard poplar doesn’t seal very well?

Not the best wood to use in water. Nonetheless I made a novelty 15" needle recently with a piece. Sealed w/ 60/40 spar and turps. Took.it out for testing. So fat no cracks. Oh and it swam perfect for my liken.
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Not the best wood to use in water. Nonetheless I made a novelty 15" needle recently with a piece. Sealed w/ 60/40 spar and turps. Took.it out for testing. So fat no cracks. Oh and it swam perfect for my liken.
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Awesome Billy! That’s something I need to fish more this year, big needles. I see how productive they are for larger fish, but always get hung up on trying to get used to fishing them.

Awesome Billy! That’s something I need to fish more this year, big needles. I see how productive they are for larger fish, but always get hung up on trying to get used to fishing them.

Tommy, you know I love needles but all my biggest fish, on lures, have come on Dannys. 3 to 4oz and White with a red chin. For what it's worth, my biggest fish have al been on rigged eels.

My rendition of a J.Habs Egg (Unpainted plug). Cherry

Tommy, you know I love needles but all my biggest fish, on lures, have come on Dannys. 3 to 4oz and White with a red chin. For what it's worth, my biggest fish have al been on rigged eels.

Interesting Paul, I always thought there was something to slimmer bodied plugs that culled out the larger fish. Maybe the tendency to have a more lackadaisical motion to them. Large dannys would completely contradict that, but, it’d all depend on the bait present in that time and place.

Interesting Paul, I always thought there was something to slimmer bodied plugs that culled out the larger fish. Maybe the tendency to have a more lackadaisical motion to them. Large dannys would completely contradict that, but, it’d all depend on the bait present in that time and place.

When the pogies are around, the big white Dannys are deadly. Once there were schools of pogies all over the Bay. Guys were snag and drop and live lining. I was throwing a big White Danny around the edges of the schools and I was hooking up on every cast.

Some, Alaskan Yellow Cypress Spooks.

Like the shape.
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Some, Alaskan Yellow Cypress Spooks.

I have one of your spooks and I don't want to fish it. It looks too nice!

Working on the Dalecki darter, I think I have got the body roughly down. Using two different templates, and turning the neck 3/32in off center. These are my tests just using cedar. Getting some hardwoods soon for the finished products.

The lip angle is 39 degrees, I have not determined the proper slope angle yet. Maybe another member on the site who has already made a few of these can give me some tips? Hint hint

:eek:
I just realized, it is no longer 2021. Going to start the 2022 thread

Interesting Paul, I always thought there was something to slimmer bodied plugs that culled out the larger fish. Maybe the tendency to have a more lackadaisical motion to them. Large dannys would completely contradict that, but, it’d all depend on the bait present in that time and place.

So here's a slimmer body Danny I just made. 2.5oz.

So here's a slimmer body Danny I just made. 2.5oz.

Nice Paul, good color!

Nice Paul, good color!

Thanks Tommy. Not the quality you make but it's ok for one at a time.

Some, Alaskan Yellow Cypress Spooks.

Those are awesome.