Buoyancy (wood vs. lead)

[numbskull]

You'd have to be very good at calculus to calculate the volume of a plug. It is easier to submerge it in a full graduated cylinder and measure the volume of water displaced. Then weigh your plug/hooks/wire/grommets and subtract that from the weight of the displaced water (which you can calculate by knowing the volume - be sure to use saltwater's density). That difference is the maximum weight you can add before it sinks.

It is much easier just to turn a body, wire and rig it, then add weights held on by rubber bands and move them around until the plug floats as you like.

There is more art than science in building a good plug.

[WoodyCT]

I've found it is more rewarding fiddling around after shaping than it is engineering before shaping.

You'll drive yourself crazy trying to design a plug based on the properties of the materials, so just make the shape you want out of a couple different woods and mess around with the weights until it works the way you want.

Don't forget to seal your plug before sea trials, or water weight will eff its action all up. For protos a quick soaking with spray quick dry urethane is the way to go. Squirt it in all the holes, saturate the body and then stick it in a ziplock bag for a while so the urethane will soak in before drying, then take it out and let it dry a day before swimming.

[Nebe]

[BigFish]

First off from here that looks like Red Cedar! Second...is that Tim Kazrynski from the "Police Academy" movies??