Another try at a metal plug

[BaitLobber]

Plenty of inspirational photos on the Surf Forum this week, so I ventured into the garage today. Should be playing with something more practical, like cedar, but the aluminum rod is still calling:rolleyes: I hope this will swim decently, although it will require no less than a steady retrieve due to its inability to float. The body is 3 3/8 without the lip and I'm guessing about 1 ounce. It will eventualyy get a single treble with hair on the rear split ring and of course, eyes. Pics are a bit fuzzy, still need a better camera.
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The first attempt managed a mess of blues and two shorts last fall.
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[RhinoScores]

Very interesting plug. What are the dimensions? I'd be happy to water test it for you. :D

[Reel Nice]

Very nice looking plug.. Can't wait to see it with eyes..

[Working Class Hero]

Looks nice,

It's so nice to make your own stuff. Last year I purchased some 1oz trolling weights with a ring on both ends. I pinched the top end with a pair of pliers and turned the eye upward and put on a Gamakutsu open hook. I put 3D prism eyes on and painted the metal lure.

So much better than the diamond jigs and my cost only a quarter!! It is weedless with a Gammi hook and any plastic or Gulp on the hook is a wonderful thing.

It's a wonderful thing to make your own lures. Such a thrill when you catch a fish on it.

Way to go, Lobber

[DJ COAST]

That is really really really nice and unique.

[Catch my Drift]

what machines did you use??? :rolleyes:

[bunkerfinger]

those are killer bro:)

[BaitLobber]

Thanks for all the positive comments guys:) Greg, its about 7/8 at the widest point and 3 3/8 without the lip, which I think will be trimmed after some testing. Shooting for 5 1/2 tip to tail when completed, 1.5 ounces. My first few were drilled through and wired, but with the curved shape, I kept it short because I was worried I would not be able to drill it. Since I decided to use the built in tail eyelet, that's no longer a problem.

WCH, your exactly right. The first short bass I caught on my own lure was more of a trophy in my mind than the 47" I caught a few years back.

CMD, A table top drill press, sawzall with a metal blade, vice, bench grider and emery cloth strips. Aluminum cuts and polishes very well with buffing compounds.

The only thing I'm still searching for a is a good protective clear coating that won't chip and peel off the polished aluminum? We all know how well aluminum and salt water get along:confused:

[Catch my Drift]

sounds good you should try some big smwimmers once you get the drilling down.

[henrybasstardo]

Lobber
Killer work, really impressive.
I am ofering polished lures this year. That's all I'll be doing the next two weeks. I'm getting them clear anodized. You will not find a better, more durable finish.
Anodized colors really shine with polished stock too.
For painting I have XIM No. 100 primer and sealer. I'ts a clear primer for metal. I dip them and it holds up well. An airbrush artisit can then use acrylic enamel on top and paint it anything. Some of our BB artisits will be getting some at the shows. I'm even think of getting some model paint and going to work. No time right now.

Nice work. Major hands on work.
Make sure you mask up. That aluminum is nasty, I got pretty sick from that stuff before.

If you want to ever trade I'll hook you up. I have a lot of new stuff coming. I'll be at OC 2/3, Berkeley 2/4 and Asbury 2/10. Bring that plug!
lol

Cheers

Ben

[J LITT]

really nice work with the metal, impressive.....

J LITT

[LOOPY64]

Very nice!!!!!!!!!

.

[BaitLobber]

Henry(Ben), thanks for the encouragement and info on the coatings. Looks like a paint job might be in order:o I found the perfect eyelet, in a hobby shop, an R/C plane turnbuckle end. But when drilling the whole, the bit broke...long story short, wound up doing some epoxy work to clean it up. Threw on a tail, just for a test swim, when I get a chance. Its 6" now from tip of the lip to the end of the bucktail, but I'm thinking the 2/0 hook is a bit big. Thanks Loopy and J Litt:)
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[Catch my Drift]

bass slayer..... lol :D

[smitty919]

allmost looks like a trophy for the plug of the year.

love it :D :D :D :D

[Frank Mihalic]

Super cool looking.:cool: ..
Looking at it, and being very into fly tying I would like to offer a critical eye, if you will....
I would worry about the straight line pull of the plug. Wood is always either more wood above the eye, and weight below,or a combo of both...
If the top of the metal is wider and heavier than below the line, I think that it will flip over and the lip will plane it to the surface:confused: ...
This will take some experimenting with to see for sure.....
But WOW, What a concept:) !!!
Good Luck

[Point Jude Joe]

That' s a very good looking plug!:)

[Sudsrat]

Pretty cool!
What did you mean by this?

" Since I decided to use the built in tail eyelet, that's no longer a problem."

[BaitLobber]

Frank, I certainly will take your advice as I am very new to the lure making thing, so thanks. I have to tell ya, the density of the aluminum makes a big difference and the first lures I made did not swim of act like "metal."

Sudsrat, My first batch of aluminum plugs were more of a cigar shape and they were drilled from head to tail and wired like a traditional plug. I knew the shape was going to make this a nearly impossible task for my little table top drill press, so I machined a hole at the tip of the tail for the split ring. This was the old design:
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and my first attempt looked like this, not real practical as far as weight distribution is concerned:
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The whole thing started as an attempt to make something heavy enough to cast a mile, but still retain the maximum 3 dimensional profile. he main purpose was to reach the bunker schools just outside the breakers:D

[Sudsrat]

Cool!
Yup...I remember you posting those.
Good luck with it :D