Hi Ranger Tim,
I use .032 brass for all my blades and cut it with a table scroll saw. Holes are drilled on a drill press. Careful drilling brass... it can catch in the bit.
Most of my lead bodies are made with the Do-It Bottom Bouncer molds. Between the three Bottom Bouncer molds available you can cover just about every blade bait size you can imagine. They also make very good in-line spinner body molds.
As far as action, they vibrate really really well. The start to vibrate much quicker than a lot of commercially made blades.
There is a science to making blade baits. Its much more than a piece of metal with a chunk of lead cast on it. You will see that the placement of the line ties, weight, weight placement, hook size, and metal type all can change the action. The brass is very forgiving as it adds a little weight throughout the blade and not just in the belly. It gives the bait a much smoother swimming action and not just a shaking action. Also on the fall, it reacts slower and doesn't just slice to the bottom.
There is a company that made a blade bait out of brass, and then changed to what appeared to be thin stainless. The blade shape and body weight were exactly the same. The action and fishability were completely different. The brass was much better.
I have one design that after dozens of tweaks I got it perfect. Its a size that can be used for larger gamefish. You'd call it a big bass bait, perfect for pike, and a smaller musky size. It works very well fished as a traditional blade bait. But this one will "swim" perfectly horizontal like a crankbait if you straight reel it. I really like it in the summer when fish are 20-25 feet and the only option is to crank the super deep divers like Mann's 20+ or a Luhr Jensen Hot Lips Express. Those and many other super divers are great baits but if you crank a Mann's 20+ all day your wrist and forearms know it. This blade fishes the same depth, and deeper if needed, with no effort at all.
Sorry about the manifesto, don't get me started on blade baits!!! I get psyched!
Marc
