What do you think?

[olsarge]

Okay, I often get crazy thoughts when I am making baits.  Some work and some don't.  So today I was hand dipping some tube baits for crappie when I got the idea of converting a worm mold into a tube mold.  The idea is to fit the mold with cut down dowel rods much like what we use for core shots only bigger around.  Liberally oil the rods, insert them into the mold.  Inject them.  Then remove the rods, cut the bait to the appropriate length.  Then cut the tails.  I don't see why it wouldn't work.  What do you guys think?  I chose to use a dowel rod until I find an appropriate size.  Then I can change it to metal rods as I see fit.

[ctom]

Why not? If its a mold you can sacrifice go for it. Remember, your are only hampered by the lack of your own imagination.

[hawgthumper]

I say go for it. That’s what innovation is all about. Otherwise we wouldn’t have stuff like electricity and running water!

[olsarge]

Why not? If its a mold you can sacrifice go for it. Remember, your are only hampered by the lack of your own imagination.

The beauty of it is that I won't have to sacrifice the mold at all.  Insert dowel rods in to shoot tubes, take them out to shoot worms (at least those are the thoughts that are rolling around in my head)

[olsarge]

This is the process that I used.  First I had to pick a mold and I decided that my 4 inch carrot mold had the circumference for a tube bait that I wanted.  Next I had to figure how I was going to get the rods so I decided to use a cut up coat hangar cut to size (the tail on these carrots are so small I knew that I wouldn't be able to close the mold if I made them full size so I chose to cut them to 3 3/4 inch.  I liberally greased them and placed them in the mold  and injected them.  The baits came out perfect.  I cut them down to 2 inches and cut the tails and put one on a standard Ned head .  when it cools off I will fish them and let you know how they fish.  The beauty of this system is I now have 3 choices.  1.  Shoot the mold as it was meant to.  2.  Insert the rods and make my tubes.  3. Insert the rods, inject the baits and this time just cut off the last quarter inch of the bait, put it back in the mold and shoot your core shot/tail color.  Pretty useful alteration.

[Muskygary]

So a coat hanger wire did the trick? How hot was the plastic you shot for your core color?

[olsarge]

Temp was 346 when I shot the core.  Using Bait plastics 242 blend which is a little thinner than the essential that I used to use .  It also withstands heat better