First I would just like to thank Smitty for a great site and Skippy for asking me to be involved with such a great bunch of builders. I wanted to do something different but also wanted to stay within the one week build deal. I went with something I'm familiar with but went with a new shape and different lip setup than I usually do. So here's my Monster.


I started out with a piece of Alaskan yellow cedar 1" thick X 1 7/8 wide. I trace my outline from my template onto the wood.

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Then I cut out the blank on the bandsaw.

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Then while the blank is still flat I cut my lip slot and drill through the eye mark with a very small drill bit all the way through the blank. This keeps you eye lined up on both sides. I will show this later.

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Now I start to lay out my lines on the bait. I have a collection of small sections of lexan and polycarbonate that I lay flat on the table to make a mark on the bait that will be equal on both sides and eliminates the need for a centerline or measuring. I use a thicker section for my tail marks for a thinner tail. I use a thinner section for my head marks for a thicker head section.

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Then I just connect all the marks with a flexible metal ruler. Here is what it looks like all laid out.


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I'll post more in a bit.

From here I will either use the bandsaw or sander to remove the excess wood outside my lines. I use the bandsaw for bigger stuff and will just use the sander for smaller plugs.

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I have a set of magnetic rubber jaw pads that I use to get a grip on the plug while I shape it. They are great as you can use a good bit of pressure and not mar the wood at all.

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I chuck up the bait in the vice and use a strip of sanding belt to shape the bait. I use a piece of used 80 grit belt as it removes enough wood easily but is not overly aggressive.

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I just keep flipping end to end and front to back and keep an eye on keeping things even.

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At this point I will take a forstner bit on my hand drill and using the small holes I drilled earlier as a pilot drill my eye holes.

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Now I will do some hand sanding with a sanding sponge and the bait in my hand. I use a medium grit sponge in the 150 range for this. Now the bait is taking shape.

I will do a final sand with a piece of paper and smooth out all the sanding marks. And the bait is starting to take shape.

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I wanted to do a full sealed bait but with the one week time frame I thought I would just do grommet and tail wrap. I drill for my grommet which I recess and drill for my belly weight.

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Now into sealer and primer and we will be ready for paint.

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Alphabaits: Very well done, even "I" feel as though I might be able to do one the way you explained,and illistrated it so far! Thanks


Bluesfish

looks great, i enjoy seeing how you do handcarves, ive never done them. Ill have to give it a shot!
thanks for the how-to, looks awesome!

GREAT JOB ALPHA...... LOVE THE PROFILE OF THE PLUG! YOU GUYS ALL MAKE IT LOOK SO EASY.......

awesome work greek, big fan of your work drool drool drool

Etch

Now I'm ready to paint. I set out my colors I want along with some water to clean in between color changes. I use a Paasche VLST Pro that I cut the screw on bottle connector off of. I like the features of the brush but did not like the bottle adapter. The mod was easy and painless with a dremel and cutting wheel. I also plan to clip the handle in the rear for access to the needle without having to unscrew the whole handle assembly. It would make clearing a paint blob real easy. This brush is lightyears ahead of my other brush [a peak X-3] and didn't break the bank. I got the brush kit and hose for around 60 bucks.

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Something I like that I have been playing around with lately is painting the backs of clear eyes to get some other colors that are not so standard. The options are really endless with these as you can paint whatever color you want and also add dots or stripes or whatever you want to them. I just hold the eye in a pair of forcepts and shoot whatever color I want then hit it with a hair dryer to dry it and they are ready to go on.

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Always inspiring Ted, this place is really like finding gold for lure builders.

wow awesome job job well done