Countdown to Plugfest
 

Finished painting a bunch with rattle cans in the garage an hour ago. So should have the spinner loaded with first round of epoxy by tomorrow. Some pencils, spooks, and poppers. I would really like to think I could get some needles done, but don't see having a chance to test and finish in time... Really liking this color shifting paint, but it has to be put on over black, so it is limiting me in getting lighter color schemes with the rattle cans. Find myself going back to a plug too soon and too often. Couple of "masterpieces" will need to be reviewed tomorrow... Will have to consider an airbrush next year.
So a little rigging and epoxy, make some duplicator masters to swap, and work on some new profiles. Would like to be as prolific as some of you guys, but will be my best effort for a Plugfest in terms of numbers. Vega was best purchase of the year!
Looking forward to reloading hardware supply, as I am getting low on a couple items, and am out of split rings. Can't wait to get some darter masters to build off of and pinch a nike from VB....

I have your bandsaw fence

Thanks for the reminder....

I turned you a pair of darter masters... 2 hook and 3 hook..

also 2 needles fish sizes...

:jump1: Excellent! Now to find something that would be as special to you as these will be for me.......

Plugs spinning here... as I am sure they are in many of your caves tonight.

I have a eelie master for you Ross...

I'm just about ready, just need to wire. A little preview picture...

as my great grandmother said when she saw the first automobile "the trains jumped the track and is coming down the road...

I've finished more plugs in the last week than i have ever done is that short of a time span...last night I worked on this pile AFTER. i put 24 more into the box for epoxy.. for the first time ever I have nothing "in process"...these are not all for plugfest, as I needed to restock.. but a good bunch of them are... I made some big trollers.. as you can see in the picture the goo goo is 8" ( Salty dog one is for you).. it's a big puppy finished it weighs 5 ounces...

no need to give me anything else.. i've got the spook (if I get it back from Nancy..she put it in her pocket book and i havent seen it since)..

She liked them purdy colors......

RF,
In your picture of the lures in the turner they are all rigged out. Do you completely rig them out (less hooks) before epoxying?

sure do... for my application it works best..I've done it both ways... and I see no advantage to wiring/rigging afterwards.. if anything IMHO, it is more work to rig them afterwards.. any epoxy that gets on the lip can easily be scraped off with a razor in seconds.....straws go over the swivels to keep the epoxy from rendering them useless.. it works for me.. you can see/feel and look at the result at PF.. you be the judge..

yes she did... I painted alot with pink sides fading to purple and gold.. she made the "purdy" comment about those.... I told her purdy got nutin to do wit those are sand eels colors!

same finished stuff, macs

All done with epoxying.... Dryer motor spindle came undone last night. So last batch suffered some sagging and blistering from the heating lamp... Will look into a fix for the spinner tonight.

Took a vacation day yesterday to get every thing in order.. i set up and packed my displays..... I loaded these boxes ... I just need to load the truck.

Oh boy.... that's 2-3 years production for me... or more! I'm just gonna hide my stuff in a corner..... You are a machine, Joe!

I've still got a pile on top of my bench I didnt rig... and a bunch hanging from earlier this season
some Saturday before the fish get here.. you should take a ride up to my shop... some of the stuff I've got/made ( some will be on display at plugfest) makes the job go bye alot faster... just my spinner(s) alone can handle 24 plugs at a whack...I can epoxy them almost faster than I can rig them...

I use the manufacturing method we use here at work.. no motion is wasted.. everything has it's place.. machines/areas are dedicated to a specific task.. I've taken the time to layout the shop so i just dont waste any time..

I use the manufacturing method we use here at work.. no motion is wasted.. everything has it's place.. machines/areas are dedicated to a specific task.. I've taken the time to layout the shop so i just dont waste any time..



My wife would LOVE you Joe

That shop visit is ON the list of things to do this spring!

Joe you have been busy. I always admired your work at Plugfest. I remember your jointed plug display a few years ago. See you tommorrow.

Holy crap Joe. You are a machine. Look forward to see them.