Something new for me, 3D printing lures

Been too long between updates unfortunately so I thought I would put up a progress shot of my current luring addiction, 3d printing lures. I have been working on these lures for over 6 months when I have the spare time. Don't know whether I will be able to get any decent paint on these before they are tested on Barramundi but don't really think it will matter.

Larger lure is 150mm and smaller is 125mm. Both designed to be slow floaters. Designed in CAD and then printed in ABS. Each contains a moving weight system for better casting and has internal rattles.

Should be interesting to see where this goes...

Barra Lures again

Finished the last of the barra lures before heading north, again few different methods amongst them to see how they go. These are all pressure cast, handmade eyes, 120mm, weighted for a slow float with 60lB spilt rings and owner 4X hooks.

For some Barra

Put these ones together for an upcoming Barra trip, wanted to try a couple things and see how they hold up under a bit of pressure. A new shape for me, hopefully they pay-off. Lure specs are,

- 120mm in length
- Pressure cast urethane resin
- Dive to approx 1m
- Weighted to slow float with 60lb split rings and Owner ST66 treble hooks.

Holographic FInish

Bit of a sad face at the moment on the lure making front, these are all that I have to show for the last couple months. Just some testers to check weights for holographic finish and the layering which has to go into it. Both 75mm baits, very slow floaters, moulded with handmade eyes. These have 4 layers of epoxy.

Some Bream Lures

Churned out a couple lures for a friend, these ones to fish for bream in my local lake.

First two are 75mm, all handmade. Starting to like this shape, just got to come up with some more colour schemes.

Second pair a couple smaller ones I have been working on for a while, starting to take shape. Again, all handmade. These are 55mm

The group shot

Some new lures

A few lures I have finished for a fellow Aussie lure maker. These ones going up north, hopefully to wrangle with some barra.

First two I have been working on for the last 18months, it has taken me heaps longer than initially planned but such is life. Not 100% on carved scales yet, time will tell.

First two with hand carved scales into the body, face details, handmade eyes and thru wired. These are 75mm long and slow floaters. Scales look great on the finished product, time will tell if they are practical

Second two with painted scales, hand carved face details, homemade eyes and thru wired. These are 100mm long and again slow floaters.

The group shot

Some small baits

Couple of the latest, have been meaning to try thru-wire lures with the tow point in the bib as I like the final lure action. Took a while to get a harness that I was happy with but that is just part of the challenge. Also tried out a couple new paint schemes for me, nothing fancy, just trying to keep it simple.

Also completed a repaint and slight re-mod of a lure for a mate, this was a lure from another local manufacturer but it did not have inset eye's, it does now :)

Some new Baits

These ones are just testers but in the end pretty happy with how they came out. The smallest one is a stuff-up but will still catch fish. All three have tight actions with the spotted lure diving the deepest to about 1.5m. All three are hand carved from Polyurethane foam, thru-wired and floaters. The two large ones are 75mm while the smaller model is 55mm. Not much more to say on these ones,

Couple Repaints

Slowly getting back into the swing of things, had a couple repaints outstanding for a mate. These are repainted Jitterbugs, 

Closest one in this pic is completely stripped back and repainted, should be interesting to see how this one goes,

Second stock but addition of some red on the belly plus a semi-gloss finish,

Third, virtually stock but recoated in a matt finish. Dont know what it is about the matt finish but gee it looks good. Makes little difference in the water but out it looks great,

Been a while

After what seem's like eternity I have finally managed to get back to lure making, sort of... Been working on a couple things but starting back slow and steady.

Spent some time thinking about how I could take my lure eyes to the next stage, this is the latest,

Also dusted off the airbrush, nothing too special at this stage, just a nice and simple pattern which has proved quite successful on the local bass thus far this season,

A first for me on this one, a painted bib. I like it better than expected.

Couple New Masters

After what seems like an eternity I finally managed to get a couple new masters finished ready for the mould. Took a couple iterations of face details till I was happy but in the end settled on something nice and simple.

Larger lure is made from wood, smaller from PU. These are the third edition. To start they will all be suspenders, the longer one will be more twich-bait style and the smaller will be more traditional retrieve with some ability to twitch as desired.

The Latest

Couple Jerkbaits made for another Aussie lure maker. This shape is starting to come together, still got issues with density of the PU but working through those. These ones are destined for northern Australia fish, not what they were designed for but a good test none the less. 

Some nice and simple colours. They are 75mm long, thru wired, slow sinkers, handmade eye's and urethane body. These have the eyes which were in the previous post.

While I was at it I put together a couple lures from the two piece mould I am working on. Similarly simple colours as above, 55mm, urethane body, thru wired and handmade eyes.

Shed Update

Been doing a bit of experimenting with various eye styles, the airbrushed ones look good but wanted a bit more flash from my eyes. Came across some metallic paper at a local craft shop while waiting for the missus so gave it a try. Pretty happy with how they came out. These three are silver, red and pearly white. The pearl has flickers of green if you hold it right in the light.

Excuse the boofhead who took the pics, I really got to get myself a photo booth.

Have also been working on my two piece mould. Has taken four moulds to get something which I am happy with, nothing like trial and error to learn things!! Thankfully the silicon is not that expensive. These should give me the strength of PU and decent amount of buoyancy. 

Jerkbaits

Finished a couple Jerkbaits recently, these unfortunately didn't swim as hoped, they sunk instead of suspend. Got the ratio slightly wrong in the resin, amazing how a couple grams will change the dynamics of the lure.

Anyway, happy with the overall result, shame they are destined for the trash but such is life. Went for some simple patterns to try and highlight the new eyes that I made. 

Nothing a few more microballoons cant fix!!!!

Bring on the surface bite

Getting some poppers ready for when things heat up a bit and the surface strike kicks in. These ones a trio of frogs, a set in standard clear and another in matt clear. First time I tried the matt finish, very impressed with how it looks.

The completed set, three different frog patterns. Eyes are d.i.y black

Hopefully they go down well

Some little HB's ready for season opener

Time in the shed is at a real premium at the minute due to work commitments, however I managed to sneak out a couple little hard bodies ready for the start of the bass season. Nothing too special about these, just some stock standard colours which have proved themselves.

Bit of a mixture with slightly different colored eyes and bib shapes. Each about 55mm long and should dive to about 1.5 - 2m. All floaters.

Just need the season to start now and away we go. Should go down well.