I've done a few non-lathe plugs. It really depends on the shape you are after. For a lot of plugs that are rounded, you can use the lathe, then finish with a beltsander, band saw, sandpaper, etc. A friend of mine has one type (Musky jerkbait) that I've done by cutting the shape on the band saw, then hand sanding to get the final shape. A lot of freshwater crankbaits can be done that way. Takes longer than using a lathe. For the bandsaw ones, I take one that I've completed, lay it on a photocopier, and make several copies. These are used as a template for making other ones. Use double sided tape to attach the template to the wood and cut away. If they are smaller, you can stack a couple deep and make the cuts. After that, its just some beltsander/hand sanding to finish up. I'll also mark on the templates where hook hangers and weight holes need to be to keep those all the same too.
Jigman
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