I made a stencil vacuum box a while ago got it set up today with the heavy duty shop vac and a box of acetete film to things try. The new lipless cranks from Do-It work slick but I am going to have to make some resin Half-bait castings with flat sides to do the thicker crank and stick baits. No problem there and next on the list.
The acetate film I used for transparencies to use with an overhead projector when I taught a Panfish and Crappie class at our local comminuty ed. I also used them when I travels and did seminars at Gander Mountains and other bait and tackle companies plus I got good use from them when I went into one of our local high school's outdoor biology classes and worked with the students during the fishing phase of the class. Jig making, jig tying, soft plastic bait making....did it all with them then went along on the field trips to assist in getting them on the right path. Great times.
The vacuum box is simply a box with a top od perforated stainless steel sheet and a floor drain fixed in the bottom. A couple wraps of duct tape secures the shop vac end to the drain fitting. Works slick.
I'll be making some plaster casts of half baits then will seal the plastic mold with thinned out seal coat and couple times them make resin casting that will fit flat on the steel fabric without all of the depth a whole bait has. I'll do both sides of each bait in resin.
Right now I simply leave the bait in the stencil and mark the areas to be cut out with a fine magic marker. I'll be using either a Dremel of a hobby knife to do the cutting. As I make the plaster castings and then the resin castings I'll get some pictures up so ya'll can get an idea of what I am doing.
