Anyone make rubber bait molds?

[Sundowner]

Or know anyone who does?

[niko]

I've made some, beamie and I poured bunch of stuff a couple of years ago. Timmah does some cool stuff

[Mike P]

Mike used to sell silicon molds at M&Ds. Don't know if he still has them.
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[beamie]

Yeah, Like Niko said we fooled around a bit with some big rubber a couple years ago.

What do you want to know about it? your imagination can really be fun as to what colors to do.

We made molds of plaster, they last a while, sometimes they crack. You can make silicon rubber molds too. Lots of info on line. It is a cool winter project.

[zimmy]

I make them out of 100% silicon sealant. Haven't made a ton, but enough to get a couple of good molds out of it. There was a pile of info on that other sites lure making section. I found a site that sells scraps from their commercial rubberbait production that I melt down. It makes each bait about 1/3 of the cost of liquid plastisol. I can find the site if it is of interest.

[Nebe]

When I was making surf hog eels, I would carve a wood model. Then I would seal the wood with epoxy to it was not porous and make a mold of that out of 2 part RTV silicone. Then I would make several hard resin "plugs" out of the mold to use to make a production mold. The production mold should have as many cavities that can accommodate your melting capacity. It's easy and a lot of fun.
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[Sundowner]

I briefly looked at some stuff online. I'm the kinda guy that needs to be able to see it happening and ask my questions then. I have 2 different lobsters/crayfish that don't have a maker on it and I can't find it anywhere online. There are the small legs, antenea, and protruding eyes that make me skeptical about trying on my own.

Thanks,
Bob

[fish4striper]

Tiny detail is tough to get with a gravity pour. You usually need a pressure system with venting to get the air out to fill small thin detail. Also the need to clamp the mold so it won't flash at the small areas.

[oldroe]

I've messed with plaster paris molds mostly for fresh water.

The hand pour are open on the top so your baits are flat on top.

A 2 piece gravity fed mold works for stuff without much detail.

With the help a tool & die friend we came up with an injector made from a air cylinder purchased from Princes Auto. I have 3 cavity dropshot molds that work well.

So the basics are micro wave purchased at yard sale, welders gloves. You will start by closely monitoring temp of plastisol , soon I just eye balled it. You need micro wave safe measuring cups for the handle.

The problem with purchased plastic containers to make your mold is they are way to big or have ridges on the side so getting the mold out is difficult. We made ours out of inter locking hardwood flooring and kept the shinny side in.

You can re melt plastic baits. Don't use power bait or any of the smelly ones. The problem with re melt is no control of colour and how hard or soft your product will be.

If you have a bait no longer available or want something not available it's time well spent. I'm trying to develop a bait that crosses from largemouth to smallmouth better. To save $1 a bag not for me.

Thiers ton more details to get good product just ask I might have answer.

[zimmy]

An observation: commercial producers need to make baits that hold up best as possible. They have to find a balance between durability and action.

The best thing I have found by pouring my own is that I can can make very soft and flexible lures. If one tears, I grab another and remelt the torn one. In my experience, the softer the plastic, the better the wiggle. Not sure if it directly leads to more fish, but it certainly affects my confidence.

[Got Stripers]

I might know someone who has, just bumped my ad on the classified.

[oldroe]

The formula for plastic is different for commercial injection than what you buy from Jann's tackle.

Jann's come in soft, medium, and hard.

Buy making your own plaster molds you can take apart baits in your collection and crazy clue them together ending up with a size and shape that you want.

I go to tackle swaps and buy plastic for there shapes in competition with the guys buying to melt.