Making Mack Stripes
 

I never do it because they alway look terrible when I try, I know that some guys cut or burn stencils and some use a dremel to make a metal template...I think this is going to work pretty well...I've used this latex for years for mold making, Michael's has it...I printed a mackeral pic doubled back to back and taped it to the plug, the resulting template will be fit snugly to the contour of the plug, for different size plugs simply enlarge or reduce the image on your computer before printing...this stuff will last a long time if you boil it briefly to vulcanize it...I have molds that I've been using for 20 years..

Decent idea. one thing I like to do is use a hair dryer on the stripes before I pull the template off so not to smudge them. Let us know how it works out for you.

I like what I see...but I need you to take me by the hand and give me a step by step. I'm having trouble getting from the printing to the mold. Yeah, I was like this in school too....

I'm spraying some right now...pretty good result..much better than all previous attempts of mine, I'll take some more process pics when I get this one wrapped up...

thanks ScottW mighty nice of ya

they came out OK, it was fairly easy and not as frustrating as previous attempts at this...I will add the steps w/some pics...but I used powerpoint to get the image the way that I wanted it....printed it, cut it out and taped it to the plug body with scotch tape...applied the latex mold...you can use a brush but it will clog up as you go along so something small and blunt is better, like the opposite side of a fine paintbrush depending on the detail...let each coat dry...several coats.. 3 or 4....powder it a little before removing so it doesn't stick to itself...I imagine you can make all sorts of patterns by printing them from images.....

Very cool! :kewl:

Funny, I'd just use a paintbrush :)

-spence

getting there.

sweet, much better then mine, i used a old bicycle tube and cut it out with scissors...:tm:

haaaa..... you do have the sexiest mack stripes Paul....

Looks cool but is it hard to build the mold?

no, it was pretty easy, like paint-by-numbers...the latex is thick so it doesn't run all over the place...I'm making another one now, this one will extend down over the belly so that I can fit it snug when I spray the stripes...I will take more pics...

If you wanted to go nuts, you could make multiple molds off of your master mold and be able to paint multiple plugs at once.
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What a great, original idea. Nice work scottw

Have you tested to see if it leaves a residue behind that might interfere with your clear coat? Seen that happen a few times and boy does it suck! :hs:

-Dave

Won't the fish get used to the same pattern and know it is a plug?:biglaugh: Nice work and original too.

the one that I've finished is twirling now, no issues...no silicone in this product(latex, water, ammonia), and it's doesn't touch the plug while it is curing because it is covered w/tape, the ammonia could eat into a previous coat possibly but they don't come in contact when you are laying it out...I could see that a silicone product would definitely be a culprit if you stuck it on your plug in a similar manner, that stuff seems to leave residue even after it is cured.... I've used this latex for masking for years and never had any problem with adhesion over the masked areas and subsequent coats...

finishing up
 

a couple of pics to finish up, remember if you want to try this to put a little powder on the latex before pulling it off of the plug so that it won't stick to itself, I might try Saran wrap to wrap the body instead of tape next time, in the pic I used the back end of an airbrush needle to spread the latex and lastly...the result...ready to fish! I also really need to thank George from Left Hook for the sweet Trophy Hunter bodies that he sent me to paint....

Hi my name is Mark, and Im brand new to the forum. I live in Florida so not many striped Bass here, but am very interested in plug building, and there is lots of terrific information here! Your mackerel stripes are very cool!
Thanks for sharing!

Those stripes came out great. Thw whole paint scheme came out great. Love the level of detail...

Excellent. Thanks. I may have to give this stuff a try. Awesome idea and I think that plug looks awesome.

Hi Mark, welcome.

Awesome tutorial and he does have some damn sexy mack stripes :rotflmao: